Dutch Nominee H&M Design Award 2013

Article featured on Design.nl

For the second year the H&M Award seeks a new talent from all over Europe. From ArtEZ graduate Thom Barends was chosen as one of eight finalists.  

In a collection that has deeper social meaning, fashion designer Thom Barends shows us his version of fashion forward.

Inspired by a newspaper article that stated ‘our’ generation is not guaranteed the financial securities our parents enjoyed, Barends started playing with the idea of a girl who is forced to live on the street, recycling her mother’s clothes.

For the H&M Design Award Barends showed a capsule collection featuring 1980s-inspired jackets, assymetrical skirts and grungy pailettes. Some pieces were reminiscent of Maison Martin Margiela classics such as a large blanket duffle coat and dress seemingly made from two different garments. Nonetheless, Barends somewhat dark take on future fashion pleased the jury headed by H&M’s Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansson.

Chosen from 19 design schools divided over 8 countries now Barends represents the Netherlands in the competition to become the H&M Design Award-winner 2013. The winner of the H&M Design Award 2013 will be announced January 29, 11:00 a.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Stockholm Fashion Week as they host their own catwalk show. He or she will also receive a €50,000 cash prize and develop pieces from their collection to be sold at select H&M stores during autumn 2013.

Watch the videos to get an idea of Barends collection and ideas.

The other finalists are Alba Prat (UDK, Germany), Maia Bergman (Saint Martins, UK), Erik Litzén (Beckmans, Sweden), Eleonora Bruno (Polimoda, Italy), Mark Tan (Designskolen Kolding, Denmark), Daniela Salazar (Ecole Couture Parisienne, France) and Minju Kim (Artesis, Belgium).


Personal note:

From a commercial point of view I would love to see Alba Prat or Maia Bergman’s collection hanging in my local H&M! How beautiful are Bergman’s materials and I am in love with the sheer panels. Prat has great use of pattern and I think her collection is very wearable. Daniela Salazar’s collection is impeccable but to be honest I could only see that looking good on a 6ft model! Minju Kim’s collection on the other hand just screams fuuuuuuuun, but maybe not realistic for the highstreet. Well who knows?