Turkish shooting star nominated for French fashion award

(courtesy of catwalking.com)

Hakaan Tildirim or just Hakaan, Turkey's long-hidden treasure that took London Fashion Week by storm last season, has been shortlisted for the prestigious ANDAM award.

The very international list of this year's nominees also includes Thierry Mugler alumnus Alexandre Vauthier, former Balenciaga employee Bouchra Jarrar, Calla Haynes who used to design for Nina Ricci, Italian design college graduate Francesco Scognamiglio, and - maybe the most prominent in the bunch - Mark Fast who has been showing his knitwear at London Fashion Week for the past few seasons.

Apart from mentoring and the opportunity to show in Paris, the winner will receive a total of €220,000 (more than comparable awards from the British Fashion Council or the Council of Fashion Designers of America), made possible by the backing of numerous luxe brands (e.g., LVMH, Gucci Group) and foundations (e.g., Pierre Bergé).

French Vogue's editor-in-chief, Carine Roitfeld sits on the jury, alongside designer Alber Elbaz, writer Hilary Alexander, buyer Sarah Lerfel of Parisian concept store Colette, and Dazed & Confused founder Jefferson Hack, among others.

Previous honorees include Giles Deacon and Gareth Pugh; this year's winner will be announced on June 28.