From mentee to mentor: Alexandre Mattiussi, the visionary behind Ami Paris, is set to lead the ANDAM jury in 2026. This marks a full-circle moment, thirteen years after he himself was a recipient of the prestigious award. It's a testament to his journey and influence in the fashion world.
In July, Mattiussi will step into the role of president for the 37th edition of the ANDAM Fashion Award. He expressed his honor, recalling his own defining moment in 2013 when he received the Grand Prize from Pierre Bergé. Now, he's ready to pay it forward, supporting the next generation of creative talent.
Mattiussi's role extends beyond the ceremonial. He'll be actively mentoring the winners of the Grand Prize and Special Prize for a year, guiding them on both the creative and strategic aspects of their businesses. The goal? To nurture their labels and establish their global presence.
But the mentorship doesn't stop there. Winners of the Pierre Bergé and accessories prizes will receive guidance from industry experts: Frédéric Maus, CEO of WSN, and Pelagia Kolotouros, Creative Director of Lacoste, respectively. And for those focused on innovation, Yann Gozlan, founder of Creative Valley, will mentor the Innovation Prize winner, focusing on ecological tech start-ups in the fashion sector.
This year also welcomes new corporate sponsors. The Karla Otto PR agency and the retailer Zalando are joining the ranks. This is a significant development for the contest, which was originally established in 1989 by Nathalie Dufour, with backing from the French Ministry of Culture and the DEFI.
ANDAM has a strong track record of launching successful designers onto the international stage. Past winners include Viktor & Rolf, Christophe Lemaire, Marine Serre, and most recently, Meryll Rogge, who won the 2025 Grand Prize and quickly became the creative director of Marni.
"Supporting this organization has been a meaningful part of our journey for many years," said Alexander Werz, CEO of Karla Otto. "I’m excited to begin this new chapter and to meet the talented designers shaping the future of fashion.”
Laura Toledano, general manager Western Europe of Zalando, echoed this enthusiasm, stating that they are “thrilled to establish this partnership with ANDAM and eager to see how the designers will challenge themselves in this new edition.” Zalando aims to help emerging designers translate their creative visions into sustainable brands that resonate across Europe, focusing on long-term brand desirability.
The stakes are high, with a total endowment of 700,000 euros up for grabs. The Grand Prize winner will receive a substantial 300,000 euros, while the other awardees will each get 100,000 euros.
The complete jury for 2026 will be unveiled in late February. Finalists are expected at the end of May, and the awards ceremony is scheduled for July 1.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think mentorship is crucial for emerging designers? Share your opinions in the comments!
