London-based French designer Faustine Steinmetz has been awarded the €25,000 Swarovski Collective Award for 2017.
The award, which is now in its third year, recognises creative talent, innovation and craftsmanship within the collections shown by Swarovski Collective members over the SS17 and AW17 seasons.
Steinmetz was selected by Nadja Swarovski and a panel of industry experts to receive the prize, which, as well as the €25,000 cash, also includes the year-long crystal product and financial support provided to all Swarovski Collective members over the two seasons.
Steinmetz’s two collections explored denim in all its cultural and aesthetic facets, combining hand-dyed indigo yarns and recycled denim with delicately embroidered Swarovski crystals. “Her sustainable and ethical design approach, and the innovative and visually stunning use of crystal in her collections make her a unique talent and an emerging role model for the industry,” said Nadja Swarovski.
Of her win Steinmetz said: “Working with Swarovski helped us to use the codes of that very elevated universe and incorporate them into denim. On a personal level as a designer you really have to believe in your product and your brand, it’s not always easy, so to have that validation from Swarovski is amazing – that the brand trusts and challenges designers to push the boundaries of crystal in fashion is inspiring.”
One of the judges, Dazed Media CEO and Co-founder Jefferson Hack, described Steinmetz as a “magician”. “[She is] a technician of fabric, so adept at manipulating textures that she is an almost supernatural dreamweaver. She has brought magic, light, stardust and invention to her Swarovski imbued collection and she is a shining example of where craft, creativity and technique converge into effortless beauty. It was Faustine Steinmetz’s daring ideas and delicate handling of Swarovski crystal that really impressed me. She is the modern edge of British Fashion.”
