The 40th International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories in Hyères concluded Saturday with a prestigious awards ceremony at Villa Noailles. Despite facing a severe budget crisis, the streamlined three-day event successfully drew large crowds and industry professionals from major fashion houses seeking emerging talent. “It was a great opportunity to put young creativity back at centre stage,” noted Pascale Mussard, president of Villa Noailles.
Brunner’s Playful Balloon Deconstruction Collection
Swiss-Chilean designer Lucas Emilio Brunner, 26, earned the Fashion Jury Grand Prix with an inventive menswear collection. A La Cambre graduate who has worked with Germanier, Palomo Spain, and Maison Margiela, Brunner deconstructed balloons and instrument stands to create a fresh Ivy League-inspired wardrobe. His signature pieces featured tartan jackets fashioned from inflated balloons, mini-tube shirting in white-and-blue poplin, and a blue latex trench coat fastened with balloon knots—demonstrating innovation that judges deemed destined for international success.
Notable Winners Across Fashion and Accessories
The festival honored multiple emerging talents across categories. French designer Adrien Michel received Chanel’s “le19M Métiers d’art” prize for technical mountain sportswear. Layla Al Tawaya won the “L’Atelier des Matières” award for her baroque leather craftsmanship blending perfecto masculinity with tutu femininity. Lebanese designer Youssef Zogheib claimed the Public Prize with soldier-inspired cross-dressing pieces. In accessories, woodworker Amaury Darras won the Grand Prix for wearable wooden sculptures. Noah Almonte’s Supima Prize win secured him a trip to New York’s Supima Design Lab in November, providing international exposure for Hyères’ creative talent.