\nH&M has crowned Chinese designer Ximon Lee the winner of it’s 2015 Design
\nAward, as the young designer becomes the first men’s wear designer to win
\nthe award. Not only has the 24 year old Parsons graduate won a cash prize
\nof 50,000 euros, but in addition he will also receive guidance from a H&M
\nmentor and has been given the opportunity to further develop pieces from
\nhis winning collection to be sold in selected H&M stores. <\/p>\n
\nLee was revealed as the winner after he presented his collection on
\nTuesday, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm. His winning
\ncollection consisted of 22 looks which incorporated many layers, bonded
\ndenim mixed with trash bags which had been transformed into textured vinyl.
\n“Ximon’s collection captivated the jury with its contemporary yet poetic
\nmood, with a strong feeling for fabric and an incredible attention to
\ndetail,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M’s head of design for new development.<\/p>\n
\n“It’s a very big surprise for me,” said Lee to WWD, who previously worked
\nat 3.1 Philip Lim and Calvin Klein. Although his designs are created for
\nmen, Lee enjoys the thought that his designs will also appeal to women and
\nbelieves they can be worn by women as well. “Men’s is such a niche market.
\nBut I think men’s wear is really changing nowadays. Men’s and women’s are
\nreally starting mixing, it’s not the idea of unisex, but people are really
\nwilling to try different looks.”<\/p>\n
\nThe designer explained that this collection was inspired by the documentary
\n“The Children of Leningradsky,” which focuses on a community of homeless
\nchildren living in a station in Moscow during the post-Soviet era and
\nthe subsequent trip to Russia. Lee says that the documentary reminded him
\nof his own childhood and growing up in the far northern region of China,
\nnear the border with Russia. “The surrounding and the setting reminds me of
\nwhere I was born, and some of the very vivid memories from early childhood,
\nthe gray Soviet architecture of my home town, and the cold.”<\/p>\n
\nHe hopes that the award will help him launch his own label in the future.
\n“I want to create my own contemporary brand. Men’s wear is getting quite
\nboring, and it is time to put some focus on American men’s wear based in
\nNew York.”<\/p>\n
\nEarlier this month H&M revealed that Polish designer Magdalena Brozda had
\nwon the people’s prize winner, an award which is open to voters. Her
\ncollection is based on positive and ‘festive ideas’ that surround death,
\nand she incorporate a mixture of unconventional materials in her designs
\nsuch as leather, paper and organza. Brodza is currently in the process
\nof setting up her own label, to be based in Geneva.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
H&M has crowned Chinese designer Ximon Lee the winner of it’s 2015 Design Award, as the young designer becomes the first men’s wear designer to win the award. Not only has the 24 year old Parsons graduate won a cash prize of 50,000 euros, but in addition he will also receive guidance from a H&M … <\/p>\n