PARIS — Come July, it will be a full-circle moment for Alexandre Mattiussi at the ANDAM fashion competition.
Thirteen years after his turn in front of its jury, the founder and artistic director of Ami Paris will be on the other side of the table as president of the contest’s 37th edition.
“Being appointed president of the ANDAM 2026 is a great honor,” he said. “Receiving the Grand Prize from Pierre Bergé in 2013 was a defining moment in my career. Today, it is with emotion that I commit to supporting creativity and emerging talent.”
Mattiussi will mentor the Grand Prize and Special Prize winners for one year on both the creative and strategic dimensions of their businesses, in order to develop their labels and establish their global reputation.
Meanwhile, those scooping up the Pierre Bergé and accessories prizes will get mentorship from Frédéric Maus, the chief executive officer of trade show organizer WSN, and Pelagia Kolotouros, creative director of Lacoste, respectively.
Alexander Werz
Matthieu Dortomb/Courtesy of ANDAM Awards
Yann Gozlan, founder and president of Paris-based start-up incubator Creative Valley, will serve as mentor for the Innovation Prize, which rewards an ecological-focused tech start-up in the fashion sector.
This year also sees the arrival of the Karla Otto PR agency and retailer Zalando among the corporate sponsors of the contest created in 1989 by Nathalie Dufour, with the support of the French Ministry of Culture and the DEFI, a body that promotes the development of the French fashion industry.
ANDAM has been a springboard for designers who have gone on to achieve international recognition, with past winners including Viktor&Rolf, Christophe Lemaire, Marine Serre and, most recently, Meryll Rogge, who won the 2025 Grand Prize and shortly afterward was appointed creative director of Marni.
“Supporting this organization has been a meaningful part of our journey for many years, as we share a passion for discovering new talent and guiding them in their communication — an approach that has always been at the heart of Karla Otto’s DNA,” said Alexander Werz, CEO and partner of the agency. “I’m excited to begin this new chapter and to meet the talented designers shaping the future of fashion.”
Laura Toledano, general manager Western Europe of Zalando, said the e-commerce site was “thrilled to establish this partnership with ANDAM and eager to see how the designers will challenge themselves in this new edition.”
Laura Toledano
Daniel Hofe/Courtesy of ANDAM Awards
“By joining ANDAM, we want to help emerging designers translate their creative vision into sustainable brand development, capable of resonating with audiences across Europe,” she continued. “Through our expertise, we can support talents in their growth by focusing on long-term brand desirability, while allowing them to concentrate on what they do best: shaping the future of fashion.”
Five companies will receive a share of the overall 700,000-euro endowment, with the winner of the Grand Prize taking a 300,000-euro purse. The other awardees will each get 100,000 euros.
The complete jury for 2026 will be revealed in late February. Finalists are slated to be announced at the end of May, and the prize ceremony is scheduled for July 1.
