Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium edition 13 - Dutch Fashion Foundation

Image by RVDA

Camiel Fortgens receives the 13^th Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium

On Tuesday October 15^th, Dutch fashion designer Camiel Fortgens received the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium during a festive celebration at De Nieuwe Liefde in Amsterdam. The Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium was presented for the 13^th time to exceptionally Dutch fashion talent and is organized since 2011 by the Cultuurfonds and the Dutch Fashion Foundation. The stipend consists of a financial contribution of 50.000 euro, made available by an anonymous benefactor and a pass-on trophy designed by Atelier Ted Noten.

Cathelijne Broers, director Het Cultuurfonds: “Camiel Fortgens’ clothing is artistic, wearable, inquisitive, creative, accessible, committed and inclusive. With his background at the Design Academy and his enormous entrepreneurship that has earned him world fame in Asia, among others, he is a shining example and a deserved winner of the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium.”

Angélique Westerhof, director Dutch Fashion Foundation: “I think it is a good sign that Camiel Fortgens receives the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium this time. He, together with his team, has achieved a lot in his own unique way. By staying true to himself, due to his curious look at clothing as an everyday object, he has managed to reach a large fan base all over the world.

His collections are sold in no fewer than 55 stores in Japan, South Korea and the United States in the best ‘curated’ stores. His no-nonsense approach, his democratic management, his consistent unisex collections with timeless designs, the quality and love for proportions and details, and the characteristic ‘perfect imperfection’, make Camiel Fortgens a brand to be very proud of within the Dutch fashion family.”

Camiel Fortgens, recipient 13th Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium: “We are surprised and very honoured to be granted this award. It is special to receive acknowledgment in our own country, as our work is mostly known abroad. I felt it was a good thing to embrace imperfection and show the hand of the maker in the garment. Society is filtering out human imperfection. Everything is being polished to perfection. We’re being taught to hide behind dreamlike facades. Imperfection has become almost taboo. I want to oppose that.”

About the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium
Designers who qualify for the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium have been individually running a unique fashion design label for a considerable time and are based in the Netherlands. They put Dutch fashion nationally and internationally on the map with a unique signature and have developed an exceptional quality within their collection and in their business strategy. The Mode Stipendium positions itself as an incentive and achievement prize. It is the most prestigious acknowledgement a fashion designer can receive within the contemporary Dutch fashion field. The grant enables the designer to take the necessary steps in the further development of the label and brand.

Recipients of the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium up till now are Camiel Fortgens (2024), Mohamed Benchellal (2023), MAISON the FAUX (2022), Claes Iversen (2021), Erik Frenken (2019), Bas Kosters (2018), Ronald van der Kemp (2017), Iris van Herpen (2016), Youasme Measyou (2015), Jan Taminiau (2014), Truus and Riet Spijkers (2013), Francisco van Benthum (2012) and Ilja Visser (2011).

Read more about the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium Edition 13 and Camiel Fortgens on FashionUnited:

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Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium Virtual Gallery
Camiel Fortgens’ work can now also be viewed in the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium Virtual Gallery. In this specially designed, and newly updated, Digital Gallery of Honour with fashion art, the work of designers who have received the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium over the past 13 years is highlighted in an innovative way.

Visit the Virtual Gallery to experience work by the previous recipients of the Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium