On October 11th, MAD (Brussels Fashion & Design Platform), WBDM (Wallonia-Brussels Design Fashion), Flanders DC (Flanders District of Creativity), Le Vif Weekend and Knack Weekend once again honoured the established and future talents of Belgian fashion. The title of Designer of the year of the 2018 Belgian Fashion Awards – a Belgian designer or designer living in Belgium – it is awarded to Glenn Martens, creative director of Y/Project for his new vision on fashion. Y/Project – the Paris-based label that combines conceptual and inventive detailing with playful proportions and a witty take on historical references – is Pitti Uomo’s Next Guest Brand in January 2019.The winners of the Emerging talent of the year – awarded to a young Belgian talent, Belgian label or designer installed in Belgium that shows a strong concept or a great creativity – are Olivia Borlée and Elodie Ouedraogo for 42|54. Designed in Belgium by 2 Olympic medalists 42|54 is a sophisticated line of functional sportswear. The two designers, who successfully link sport and fashion through their label of Athleisure wear, continue to develop it in Belgium and abroad.The Most promising graduate prize is awarded to a young student from a Belgian fashion school who has graduated in June 2018. It is given to Federica Di Leo of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Antwerp for her graduation collection aimed at allowing a woman to be strong and delicate at the same time. The jury prize awards a Belgian designer or designer living in Belgium, whose work in her/his own name or for a fashion house has particularly appealed to the jury. It is awarded to Martin Margiela, for his entire career and his obvious impact on the history of fashion but also on today’s collections, and more than likely the ones to come.
