Creativity in Blue

The winners of the most important contest dedicated to the talents of denim – ISKO I-SKOOLTM – were announced in Berlin.

Defining the new denim codes: participants in the sixth edition of ISKO I-SKOOLTM were called upon to do just that. This contest is the way that ISKO, the largest denim producer in the world with a production capacity of 300 million meters of fabric per year, celebrates new talents in the industry. The company, known for its commitment to seeking out innovations able to push the limits of denim even further, chose Glashaus, a splendid historic building in Berlin with a fascinating industrial appeal located on the banks of the Spree River, as the location of the final fashion show. Students of fashion BA and MA programmes took part along with denim design professionals just starting out in their careers. Finalists had to create an entire capsule collection to “define the new codes of denim,” making the most of some of the most cutting-edge and innovative denim fabrics from ISKO. In addition to coming up with a creative theme, participants had to carry out a feasibility and fit study as well as a market analysis and a consumer target market analysis. This contest offered an all-round look at denim, awarding, for the first time, also a Young Professional: Isabelle Viengxay. One participant, Xiaohui Lyu, a student from BIFT – Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, truly stood out. She won three prizes: Best Overall Student Award, Best Showpiece, and Vogue Talents Special Mention, awarded by a high-level jury made up of names such as Orsola De Castro, Founder and Creative Director of Fashion Revolution; Sara Sozzani Maino, Deputy Editor in Chief of Vogue Italia and Head of Vogue Talents; and Francisco Costa, former Creative Director of Calvin Klein and founder of Costa Brazil, a sustainable beauty brand. The sophistication of the sustainable submissions convinced the jury to highly recommend two students: Shirin Fakhradin Araghi from AMD - Akademie Mode & Design and Bilge Hakan Gurkaynak from Polimoda.

This page, from top. A look by Shirin Fakhradin Araghi (AMD - Akademie Mode & Design), who received high commendations for the Best Sustainable Design Award. A look designed by Isabelle Viengxay, winner of the Best Overall Young Professional Award. A look by Xiaohui Lyu (BIFT-Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology), winner of the Best Overall Student Award, the Best Showpiece, the Vogue Talents Special Mention. Opposite page. The ISKO I-SKOOL™ Grand Finale.