The Stiftung der Deutschen Bekleidungsindustrie, “German Apparel Industry Foundation for the Promotion and Training of up-and-coming designers in the Fashion Industry“, thus its official name in English, was founded by Professor Klaus Steilmann, Ph.D.eng., HC. The winner of the fashion prize in 1977 by the City of Munich initiated the foundation with the award money. It is a public foundation subject to civil law and of legal status located in Munich. Its purpose is the promotion of training of neediness and talented students in the fashion industry. The Foundation pursues the goal of future-oriented promotion of young talent. It assumes a guiding role for design and industry through thematic invitations to compete, its communication and publications as well as its branch network. The Foundation will give access to the public and to provide a link between young designers and industry or potential clients.

Foundation Board
Florian Weingärtner, Chairman, Head of Marketing and Communications Consumer Goods,
Messe München GmbH
Anja Ulrich, Deputy Chairwoman, Lawyer, Messe München GmbH

Foundation Advisory Board
Joachim Schirrmacher, Chairman; Editor-in-Chief, Style in Progress
Klaus Steilmann, permanent member
Susanne Fischer, Marketing Manager Central Europe, Timberland, Munich
Marcel Herrig, Unicut Design Office, Shenzen, China
Claudia Leske, Manager, Alsterhaus – KarstadtQuelle AG, Hamburg
Joyce Thornton, Generation Now Editor, WGSN, London