Having already bagged last year's prestigious CFDA award, American designer Alexander Wang can now add another gong to his ever growing collection of prizes. The New York-based designer has been named the winner of the 2009 Swiss Textiles Award, scooping a prize fund of €100,000 to help boost his brand's global reach.
Wang, one of New York Fashion Week's hottest design stars, beat off stiff competition from Erdem, Thakoon, Peter Pilotto, Alexis Mabille and Ohne Titel to win the prize, with each of the finalists showing their spring/summer 2010 collections in Zurich to compete for the award. The runners-up each received a textiles voucher worth €4,000.
Wang, who is famous for his "off-duty" model look and grunge-inspired designs, told WWD, "This year has been an amazing year for us as a company and as a family. Taking it forward and growing as a business has helped us realise a lot of things. The monetary component [of this prize] is always a big help, no matter what size business you are. The most important thing is to keep improving what you do and keep on moving forward. Winning the Swiss Textiles Award feels like the cherry on the cake."
Last year's winners, Rodarte designers and sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy, were also present at the awards bash in the Swiss city, where they too presented their spring/summer 2010 collection.
The Swiss Textiles Award was established in 1999 in order to help young design talent to prosper internationally, with a prize fund of €100,000 going towards the winner's next collection, show production and press relations.
Alexander Wang won the CFDA (Council Of Fashion Designers Of America) Award in December 2008 and is a favourite designer among the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Dree Hemingway and Kate Moss, as well as one-time muse Erin Wasson.
Picture: Alexander Wang backstage at his spring/summer 2010 show in New York.
alexanderwang.com
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