H&M Design Award 2026: finalists and jury announced
H&M has announced the eight finalists for the H&M Design Award 2026, alongside the international jury that will select the winner of the emerging talent competition.
The finalists each receive 10,000 euros to support the next step in their careers, H&M announced on Wednesday. They were selected from bachelor’s and master’s programmes at more than 70 fashion schools worldwide. The winner will be announced in London later this year.
The emerging designers come from institutions in Tokyo, London and Paris, as well as Antwerp, Brussels and Florence. Their work spans womenswear, menswear and designs that bridge both categories. Their sources of inspiration range from love, memory and a mother’s story to the overlooked streets of London and Hong Kong, alongside archaeology and the Arte Povera art movement.
The finalists are Chico Yu (Bunka Fashion Graduate University in Tokyo); Ennis Finnerty Mackay and Macy Grimshaw (both Central Saint Martins in London); Evelina Kryvopust (Polimoda in Florence); Fantin Delattre Pirenne (La Cambre in Brussels); Jessica Lin (Institut Français de la Mode in Paris); and Yichun Liu and Yvonne Schichtel (both Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp).
“Selecting this year’s finalists was truly exciting. Each of their portfolios captures the exact spirit of creativity, craftsmanship and innovation that we wanted to champion with the relaunch of the award,” says Ann-Sofie Johansson, creative advisor at H&M. “Having them meet such a prestigious jury means they will be seen, challenged and supported by people who have shaped the industry themselves.”
Jury, prize money and new scholarship programme
Alongside Johansson, who also serves as head of design at H&M, the jury comprises model Paloma Elsesser; Beka Gvishiani of Style Not Com; IB Kamara, former editor-in-chief of Dazed; fashion journalist Luke Leitch; and creative director Calum Knight. They are joined by designers Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena of the London-based label Chopova Lowena, as well as Hillary Taymour, founder of the New York-based label Collina Strada.
The winner will receive 150,000 euros and a one-year tailored mentorship covering production, marketing and public relations, as well as sustainability and circularity. In addition, the winning collection will be produced and sold in selected H&M stores worldwide and online.
A new addition this year is a scholarship programme at Central Saint Martins at the University of the Arts London, designed to make fashion education accessible to talented students regardless of their financial background. Two UK or international students accepted onto the bachelor’s degree in fashion will receive funding across all three years of their studies. Furthermore, two final-year students will receive an annual living-cost grant for three years. By relaunching the award after a six-year hiatus, H&M aims to give emerging talent a strong start and bring their ideas to a wider audience.
This article was created with the assistance of AI.