winner of Mercedes Benz Sustainability Prize & L’ATELIER DES MATIÈRES PRIZE at 38th Hyères Festival
photo courtesy Villa Noailels by Luc Bertrand
WHO: Swedish born Petra Fagerström is a graduate of Parsons Paris fashion design program and is currently in the MA program at Central Saint Martins. In addition she has already worked at Balenciaga and is working on launching her own line as part of a five-year program with the Swedish Fashion Council’s talent incubator.
On her website it states:
“Petra Fagerstrom is an innovation driven project founded on three principles. Firstly, we are dedicated to infusing independent creative expression and storytelling into fashion, forging connections beyond aesthetics. Secondly, we are driven by innovation, aiming to challenge norms and make a lasting impact. Equally crucial is our commitment to pioneering alternative innovative approaches to production. Textile manipulation and innovation is an essential element of the brand.”
All of those principles were on display at the recent Hyères Festival where she was awarded not one, but two of the available prizes.
The Mercedes-Benz Sustainability Prize
Finalists had the challenge of incorporating materials from the German luxury cars into their designs. Praised for her innovative use of upcycled materials sourced from Mercedes-Benz vehicles, Fagerstrom transformed the spare automotive parts into wearable works of art. “The quality of her work is absolutely magnificent. We felt the need and the sense Petra wanted to give to the circularity and choice of materials she used for this look,” Charles de Vilmorin, Head of the Festival d’Hyères Fashion Jury shares.
L’ATELIER DES MATIÈRES PRIZE
Deadstock leather from Atelier des Matières was used as an aviator jacket and pleated skirt. Pleating is a major aspect of Fagerstrom’s work. She is very innovative and has incorporated a 3D technique with magical effect.
Much of her collection was an homage to her grandmother who was a parachutist in the former Soviet Union.
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