PARIS — French fashion competition ANDAM has enlisted former chief executive officer of LVMH Fashion Group and Dior Sidney Toledano as president of this year’s jury.
This year also sees the arrival of AMI among the sponsors of the design competition, now in its 36th edition.
Toledano, who currently serves as an adviser to LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, as well as president of the Institut Français de la Mode fashion school, will also serve as mentor to the top prize winners.
“Continuing my commitment as IFM president to support the training of the future professionals in the fashion industry, I will be very happy to support the upcoming winners of the ANDAM Grand Prize and Special Prize and to share with them my passion and my experience which, I hope, will contribute to the development of their creative business,” Toledano said.
Toledano, a founding member of ANDAM, will mentor the two winners for one year on both the creative and strategic dimensions of their businesses, in order to develop their labels and establish quickly their global reputations.
“Sidney Toledano’s passion for creation combined with his experience and know-how in the fashion industry are inestimable and unique. As president of IFM, his commitment to transmit is important to him. It seems to me that the two winners of this edition will have the chance to hear wise advice from Sidney Toledano, which will be remarkable for them,” ANDAM founder and managing director Nathalie Dufour told WWD.
The winner of the grand prize will receive 300,000 euros, and the runner-up 100,000 euros.
AMI founder and artistic director Alexandre Mattiussi
Courtesy ANDAM
For AMI founder and artistic director Alexandre Mattiussi, joining the corporate sponsors is a full-circle moment after taking home the grand prize in 2013, a win that, he said, “changed [his] life and the history of the house.” He will also serve as mentor of the Pierre Bergé Prize, which is awarded to a French brand and has a 100,000-euro purse and a year of guidance to support its growth.
“For me, this represents an accomplishment for the ANDAM awards and its 35-year history, this is the first time that a former winner returns as patron,” Dufour said of AMI joining its supporting ranks.
“This moment is special as Alexandre Mattiussi from AMI stands out for its exceptional growth, genuine spirit and sincere human and ethical values. This is an extremely positive and comforting message for the younger generations. A success that has brought together creation, talents and leadership that prioritizes upholding the values,” she added.
Nathalie Dufour
Courtesy ANDAM
“Seeing Alexandre Mattiussi link the tremendous success of his brand AMI with ANDAM is both a symbol and a promise: symbol of a winner who, after being supported by our grand prize, is willing to share his success with the new generation; promise of the long-lasting impact of ANDAM, which reveals and supports the greatest talents of the fashion industry,” said ANDAM president Guillaume Houzé.
French leather goods brand Longchamp will open its doors to the slate of finalists in the accessories category, offering them access to its stock of materials to help in the development of their future projects.
ANDAM also awards the Innovation Prize to an ecological-focused tech startup in the fashion sector. The judges are looking for solutions in materials, production, distribution and circular economy.
Yann Gozlan, founder and president of Paris-based start-up incubator Creative Valley, will serve as mentor in this category.
The complete jury will be revealed in February. The finalists for the prize will be named in May, with the winners unveiled on June 30.
