Dorchester Collection launches 2013 Fashion Prize
The 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize was launched today at The Dorchester with a high profile panel of international judges from the world of fashion including Daniella Helayel*, Caroline Issa, Stephen Jones, Nicholas Oakwell, Rupert Sanderson*, and Stephen Webster.
Following the worldwide interest that the prize has generated in the fashion industry, the prize has widened to invite applications from young design talent of ready-to-wear or premium accessories brands based in countries where there are Dorchester Collection hotels: the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland and the US.
In a further move designed to encourage emerging international design talent, the prize will now feature additional panels of judges recruited by Dorchester Collection hotels in each of these countries.
"We're thrilled to continue to support upcoming designers and launch the 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize with a new international format. Our aim is to continue to attract a high standard of talent; it's been rewarding to follow the success of previous winners and finalists, knowing that the prize has helped them to make that next step to global success and recognition," states Christopher Cowdray, chief executive officer of Dorchester Collection.
Thomas Tait, Anndra Neen and Augustin Teboul, previous winners of the Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize, have since enjoyed critical acclaim for their collections and been featured in respected titles such as The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar UK, Vogue.com and L'Officiel.
*Judges not pictured
"Since winning the 2012 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize, we've had a huge amount of media attention, particularly in Paris which has been fantastic for promoting our brand", say Annelie Augustin and Odelie Teboul.
The grand final will be on 29 October 2013 at The Dorchester, where five shortlisted designers will be invited to stage a catwalk presentation. The judges of the 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize will seek to award one designer who best demonstrates original aesthetic flair, a capability for future critical distinction and commercial success. The winner's work must also evoke the spirit of Dorchester Collection's iconic hotels and, therefore, project a sense of individuality, luxury, style and craftsmanship.
Entries for the 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize must be based in UK, France, Italy, Switzerland and the US; have an established design business and have operated their brand for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. A new element of the application process includes the submission of a one minute video entry which invites applicants to present their collection, inspiration and design philosophy.
The 2013 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize carries an endowment of £25,000 to help establish the designer's brand, a two night stay at a Dorchester Collection hotel and, in a new element launched this year, the prospect of one-to-one mentoring from a selection of the judges.
Application details will be available for download on the Dorchester Collection website (www.dorchestercollection.com) from mid-April 2013 and registration will be open until 31 May 2013.
Established in 2010, the annual Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize was created to discover emerging fashion talent and build on Dorchester Collection's own established fashion heritage. It is the first award of its kind developed by a luxury hotel company.
The esteemed panel of judges evolves year to year and has included world renowned and critically-acclaimed members of the fashion elite including Manolo Blahnik, Daphne Guinness, Yasmin Le Bon, Stephen Jones, Kenzo Takada, Marchesa's Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig, Francisco Costa, Thom Brown and Elizabeth Saltzman.
Each year shortlisted finalists take part in a glamorous catwalk event hosted at one of the Dorchester Collection hotels, at which the winner is announced. The 2012 Dorchester Collection Fashion Prize was held at Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris in October, an ideal locale steeped in fashion history. Inspired by its elegance, Christian Dior, who set up his couture house nearby, named several designs after the hotel, including the Plaza and the Athénée suits. Dior's groundbreaking couture collections were often photographed at Hôtel Plaza Athénée, which he considered his second home.
About Dorchester Collection
Dorchester Collection is a portfolio of the world's foremost luxury hotels and residences. The unique properties are all legendary in their own right, with rich heritages and worldwide reputations as places offering the most sought-after experiences of good living, charm, elegance and unparalleled standards of service.
The current portfolio includes the following hotels: The Dorchester, London; 45 Park Lane, London; Coworth Park, Ascot, UK; Le Meurice, Paris; Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris; Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan; Hotel Eden, Rome; The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills; Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles and The Lana, Dubai (opening 2022).
Luxury residences include Mayfair Park Residences, London; The Residences, Dorchester Collection, Dubai and One at Palm Jumeirah, Dorchester Collection, Dubai.
