For their 2014’s cycle, H&M Design Award crowned Eddy Anemian as their winner, at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Stockholm. This French design student became a fascinating designer to the judges due to Brussel’s famed École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels of La Cambre in Belgium. In addition to the victory, Anemian did not only receive a cash injection of €50,000, but also the opportunity to develop a collaboration for H&M under the creative mentorship from Ann-Sofie Johansson. This Design Award initiative was initially supported to seek young designers consumed with the ‘It”-factor, from 32 schools spread across Europe and America, and Eddy Anemian was their chosen one.
The judges fell in love with Eddy’s collection of both romantic union and the intricate skill of detailed craftsmanship, in fabric, cutting and embellishment, quoted H&M’s creative designer, Ann-Sofie Johansson. Titled, “They Can Cut All Flowers, They Cannot Keep Spring Coming”, Anemian’s 18-piece collection made the debut to a global audience of media and press, inspired by Tilda Swinton’s character in Luca Guadagnino’s film ‘I Am Love’, combined with the French painter, Ingres. Anemian earned his golden ticket through the floral range of bold haute-couturièr that reminisced silhouettes of sea blue and forest green patchwork fabrics, cut and reassembled in fluid shapes draping the models fittingly. However, the highlight was the level of the craftsmanship and the delicacy of proportions. Anemian was mused by the idea of lacking nudity, hence the sensuality and the glamour of the aristocratic high collars cutting jackets and the overload of patterns. The pieces may look highly haute couture, but up close, they are nothing less of torn fabrics in aesthetics: wearable.
Eddy Anemian is currently finishing his final year at La Cambre, and dreams big of a label under his name. This may be an opportunity to make that dream a reality for Anemian, who will be launching his H&M collaboration to 12 countries this autumn. Be sure to not miss this golden star in the making celebrate his start to his big fashion dream! (Text Nadilla Sari Ratman)