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The prize includes a 10,000-euro grant from Schiaparelli and a possibility to work at its studios.

Says Korkeila, “I am very happy and surprised about the prize. The jury encouraged me to follow my own path, to listen to myself.”

Fashion professor Pirjo Hirvonen explains, “I am so excited and proud of all these students. The competition is very high and the students work so hard with their collections. Finnish fashion design has established a high international level.”

This year the The Grand Prix Prize was awarded to Swiss designer Vanessa Schindler.

Earlier this spring fashion designer Maria Korkeila was selected among ten finalists at this prestigious competition. Photographer Sofia Okkonen was nominated among the finalists of photography, and a fashion alumna, MA Eeva Rönkä among the finalists of the accessories category.

In recent years, the students of Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture have been highly recognized for their work, winning the first prizes of Hyéres in 2012 and 2013. In 2016 Hanne Jurmu and Anton Vartiainen won the Chloé Prize and received the jury's special mention.

The Hyères Festival has now created an opportunity for the former finalists to re-appear at the festival. The collections of Rolf Ekroth and Elina Äärelä have been selected in the top 10 of the current exhibition. During the festival, a collection designed by Rolf Ekroth for the French department store Galeries Lafayette was published. It was based on the Ekroth’s collection at Hyères last year.

The 32nd annual Festival International de Mode & de Photographie Hyères competition was held in France this week. Each year the competition brings together the best and brightest in their field to be reviewed by a panel of influential artists, designers and professionals from various fields of fashion and photography.

This event has been held at the famous Villa Noailles in Hyères on the French Riviera since the beginning of the 1980s and is regarded as one of the world's most prestigious design competitions.

More information:

Professor Pirjo Hirvonen
Tel. +358 50 363 6011
pirjo.hirvonen@aalto.fi

Photos from Maria Korkela's collection. Photographer: Guillaume Roujas