Designer Wataru Tominaga has been named the winner of the Première Vision
Grand Prize at the 31th edition of the Hyères International Festival of
Fashion and Photography in France.
The 28 year old designer, who graduated from Central Saint Martins last
year, beat 9 other international designers competing for the grand prize, a
scholarship which is valued at 15,000 euros. “I want to have a bit more
fantasy in clothes, especially in men’s wear,” said Tominaga to WWD. His
winning collection, which featured pleated sleeves, cotton shirting and
dyed corduroy trousers, was inspired by a wide range of designers ranging
from Madame Grès to the German brand Bless.
It is lighthearted take on men’s wear silhouettes which said to have left
an impact on the judges. “It’s unbelievable what he does, the way he mixes
prints and constructs volumes. He’s like a young Issey Miyake,” said Julien
Dossena, Paco Rabanne’s creative director for women’s wear, who governed
over the fashion jury to WWD. “He has a very pop and constructed universe.”
Other members of the jury included designer Pierre Hardy, jewellery
designer Charlotte Chesnais and Tomoko Ogura, senior fashion director for
Barney’s New York.
The Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography has acted as a
platform for many influential designers over the years, including Anthony
Vaccarello and Viktor & Rolf. “It’s a great opportunity to meet many
people. I want to find a job in men’s wear, something playful. I like
Bernhard Willhelm, Walter Van Beirendonck and Craig Green,” added Tominaga.
In addition to winning the grand prize, the young designer have been given
the opportunity to work with specialty ateliers which Chanel oversees
through its Paraffection subsidiary – a prize also valued at 15,000 euros.
Other winners of the festival included Finnish duo Hanne Jurmu and Anton
Vartianen, who were awarded 15,000 euros by Chloé, a main partner of the
festival during the last five years and Vendula Knopia from Czech Republic
who was awarded the Grand Prize winner of Photography.
Photos: Villa Noailles, Hyères – Facebook