Jury
Michael Court, Designer Vivienne Westwood. © Afshin Feiz
A international jury with experts from design, industry, trade, communication and media will select the prize winners in two rounds according to defined criteria. First, 20 finalists will be selected from all applications. In Berlin, the two prize winners in the categories “Students” and “Graduates” will be selected. In addition, the finalists will choose a winner among themselves. The jury’s decision is not legally contestable.
The members of the Jury
Selection of finalists
Ioana Ciolacu, Bucharest, is Creative Director of the contemporary womenswear fashion label Ioana Ciolacu. She won the European Fashion Awad FASH 2011. With an MA in Fashion Design and Technology from the prestigious London College of Fashion of University of the Arts London and with design experience from one of the best international brands – Stella McCartney, Ioana has developed strong understanding of creating high quality clothes and unique designs. With a focus on shape, craftsmanship and sustainability, Ioana takes inspiration from architecture and nature combining signature graphics with tailoring techniques.
Michael Court, Designer Vivienne Westwood, London. After completing his studies at the University of the Arts Bremen in 2013 he moved to London and started working as an assistant designer for the Korean and Japanese women lines Anglomania – Vivienne Westwood. Since 2015 he is responsible for both the men’s and soft accessories collection in Japan. In 2010 he won the 1st prize of the European Fashion Award FASH. In result of this he designed costumes for the play “Arkadien” in collaboration with set designer Peter Schmidt and choreographer/dancer Orkan Dann, Hamburg Ballet. 2012 Michael Court was asked to design the costumes for the ballet Renku for the Hamburg Ballet.
Torsten Hochstetter, Global Creative Director, Puma
After completing his training as a fashion tailor Hochstetter studied fashion design at the Polimoda Institute in Florence. He began his career at S.Oliver in 1993, then joined Adidas, where, after periods in Japan and the USA, he became responsible for sport style design for the entire Adidas Group in the position of Creative Director. Hochstetter and his team have repeatedly been honored for their designs. Following his subsequent position as Creative Director for the US surfing brand O’Neill, he joined Puma in summer of 2013. He is fluent in German, English, Italian, Dutch and Japanese.
Franco P Tettamanti earned a degree in medicine at the University of Switzerland and worked as an orthopaedic surgery assistant in his native Switzerland, before becoming an award winning photographer. He has studied cinematography and photography in New York, Paris and Zurich. He lives now in Paris where he is a well established photographer in the Parisian Haute Couture Fashion industry and working for clients such as Dior, Louis Vuitton, Akris, Vivienne Westwood, Universal Music, Madame Figaro and Prestige Magazine Hong Kong. Tettamanti published his atmospheric pictures in the book “Showtime”.
Selection of prizewinners
Juergen Gessler, CEO Strenesse. The company has about 200 employees and nearly 70 years history. Innovative materials are the starting point of the creative process. Sophisticated colors based on an pure and authentic design language create the typical Strenesse style.
Gessler has a Ph.D. in statistics and studied economics and engineering. He has a profound experience in international markets like US and Asia. He startet in Marketing in automotive and was founding member at the middle east marketing consulting company PMG Middle East S.A.E. He was nearly 10 years CEO of the Porsche Design Group and Porsche Design of America. During his time the company achieved more than 50 design awards and launched new categories like the Sportswear Collection “Porsche Design Sport by adidas”, entered the mobile phone segment and created a brand icon with the Porsche Design Tower in Miami. Gessler was Executive Vice President of CLIA – China Luxury Association and member of the board of the Meisterkreis.
Adrian Sommerauer, Senior Designer, Dorothee Schumacher. After completing his Fashion Design Studies at the Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg) Sommerauer continued his education at the Royal College of Art in London, where he graduated with a Master in Fashion Menswear and meanwhile also assisted the team of Alexander Mc Queen. He then continued his professional path in Italy and France, where he joined the Studio of Antonio Marras in Milan and Sardinia as well as Kenzo Homme in Paris. Since 2012 he works as a Senior Designer for Dorothee Schumacher in charge of the Outerwear. Sommerauer was awarded with the European Fashion Award FASH in the category graduates in 2009.
Joachim Schirrmacher works as a Creative Consultant in Berlin. He offer his 25 years of expertise in fashion and design for governments, corporate and academic clients. He wrote for renowned Media like Neue Zürcher Zeitung. Since 2004 he is Project Director of the European Fashion Award FASH by SDBI.
Thomas Steinbrück, Creative Director Reebok, Boston. After studying at Studio Berçot and earning his master’s degree at the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, he worked as assistant designer for Gianfranco Ferré, Christian Dior. In 2000 he won the Moët & Chandon Designer Debut Award, his label was sold worldwide in shops like Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods or Saks 5th Avenue. He taught amongst others at the Parsons School of Design in New York. In the USA, France and Germany he worked as Creative Director for Kenneth Cole New York, Elie Saab, Porsche Design and Liebeskind.
Andrea Unterberger, head of design studio, Akris, St. Gallen. Previously, she worked as a designer in New York with Isabel Toledo, Visionnaire and Anna Sui as well as Schneiders and Amadeus in Salzburg. She completed her bachelor’s degree in fashion design at the Pforzheim University of Applied Sciences.