On Thursday night, the 35th edition of the ANDAM awards will close out Couture week, with 700,000 euros in prize money awarded under the mentorship of YSL creative director Anthony Vaccarello, winner of the 2011 ANDAM fashion award grand prize. Come PFW, the anniversary festivities will continue with the opening on September 30th of an exhibition at MAD, featuring looks donated by every one of ANDAM’s past winners. Pieces from 2023 grand prize winner, LGN Louis-Gabriel Nouchi and the 2024 winner will also join the museum’s permanent collection.
Nathalie Dufour, the founder of ANDAM (National Association for the Development of the Fashion Arts) spoke about how fashion has evolved, what’s next, and what many people don’t know about her. This conversation has been edited and condensed. Honestly, it took me a while to feel proud, because when you reach a certain number of collaborators and participants you have keep the bar high! Also, I’m not sure I have the time.
But the widespread recognition of past winners—like Anthony, who’s now running a major house, is validating. The pride I feel is collective, for what fashion represents now. I don’t think any of us could have known that young designers and fashion would become such a huge thing, economically in terms of French industry, or in terms of power at Paris Fashion Week.
But that also happened thanks to the [luxury] groups that were formed, that have grown and that want to nurture young talents. I didn’t thin.
