PRESS RELEASE

October 2007


Amsterdam, NL - On Thursday November 1st 2007, the first edition of the Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Awards will take place in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. An honorary tribute highlighting distinguishing fashion design talent in the national fashion industry. The main award, a prize of 25,000 Euro, is directed to supporting the designer most likely to succeed in positioning his or her label on the international market and realizing his/her mission.

NOMINATED
The Dutch Fashion Foundation has established an objective committee of (International) Dutch fashion professionals and opinion makers from the cultural and economic field. They selected together the final seven nominees that will present their oeuvre and ambitions to the jury and public on November 1st. The final nominees are: Jan Taminiau, Francisco van Benthum, Mada van Gaans, Spijkers en Spijkers, Klavers van Engelen, Jeroen van Tuyl and Daryl van Wouw.

INTERNATIONAL JURY
The jury forms a strong representation of the international fashion industry as they are all experienced and internationally renowned professionals, working within varying angels of the fashion system. Jury members are: Maria Luisa Poumaillou (fashion expert and owner of several high profile fashion stores in Paris), Colin McDowell (senior fashion writer Sunday Times and creative director Fashion Fringe), Valentina Maggi (head-hunter Floriane de Saint Pierre & Associes), Bernadette Wittmann (project manager Bread & Butter), Barabara Francin (founder and director of ITS International Talent Support festival in Triëste), Cecilia Jesi (International buyer AGA-Group, representing Neiman Marcus, Milan) and Christine Ellis (International buyer AGA-Group representing Bergdorf Goodman, Milan).

CREATIVITY MEETS COMMERCE
The Mercedes-Benz Dutch Fashion Award will be awarded following the consecutive shows of all seven nominees. Hereby highlighting the current best of Dutch fashion, presenting it in a clear overview for the international fashion industry and thereby creating the ideal occasion for creativity and commerce to meet and inspire each other in the light of further profiling and strengthening the position of Dutch fashion on the global market. This initiative offers also a presentation- and connection platform with international exposure, on the highest imaginable level of Dutch fashion.

STIMULATION & SUPPORT
Since 2001, the Dutch Fashion Foundation strives to strengthen the economic and cultural value of Dutch fashion nationally and internationally. The Dutch Fashion Foundation manages a network of top fashion creatives and business relations and enables them to collaborate effectively in the best mutual interest. DFF stimulates and guides this process.

For more information, please visit www.dutchfashionawards.com and www.dutchfashionfoundation.com.

For more information, interview requests (also with jury members), attending the event on November 1st and free for publication visuals, please contact:

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