Hyères 2026: Yui Chen wins the fashion Grand Prix
The 41st Hyères festival has named its winners. Belgian finalist Matil Vanlint, trained at La Cambre, was part of a ten-strong fashion line-up.
Photo: Vitaly Gariev / Pexels (Pexels License). Stock photo used for illustration; it is not from the event or brand in this story.
Update, 17 October: the winners have been announced. This post has been updated; it was first published as a preview of the finalists.
The International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories in Hyères, on France's Mediterranean coast, announced the winners of its 41st edition on Saturday afternoon. The fashion jury, chaired by Chloé creative director Chemena Kamali, gave its Grand Prix to Yui Chen for a collection called "Food Cover".
The winning collection
According to Vogue, Chen is based in Shanghai and is the first Chinese designer to win the top prize. Her mostly womenswear, unisex collection was inspired by the covers placed over food and fruit baskets. Everyday pieces, such as a slip dress, were paired with foldable over-layers, including a tent-like shape in sheer lace and a coat covered in leather bows. WWD quotes Kamali praising Chen's "distinctive voice".
The other fashion prizes
As reported by Vogue and WWD:
- le19M Métiers d'Art Prize: Dieter Vlasich Obermann, for a craft-led collection inspired by "junk" treasures;
- Atelier des Matières Prize: Rachel Luurssen, for a collection mixing 1950s Hollywood glamour with ideas about body image;
- Supima Prize: Xiao Xu, for a latex-and-knitwear collection called "Uncanny";
- Special mention and Public Prize: Brais Albor Rodriguez, for a playful, squirrel-themed collection for bigger men.
In the other competitions, the accessories Grand Prix went to Sassa Ann van Wyk and the photography Grand Prix to Motoki Nakatani.
The Belgian finalist
Matil Vanlint, who trained at La Cambre in Brussels and at HEAD in Geneva, was one of the ten fashion finalists with a genderless collection. Vanlint is not among the prize winners listed by Vogue and WWD, but reaching the final ten at Hyères is already a significant step for a young designer.
Vogue reports that all fashion laureates will be shown by the Première Classe trade show during Paris Fashion Week in March and October 2027. The festival exhibitions at Villa Noailles run until 28 February 2027.
Source
Original reporting: Vogue.
Also reported by: WWD, FashionNetwork, da.paper (finalists), Villa Noailles, Matil Vanlint.
This is a short summary in our own words. Names and facts are as reported by the sources above; Wardrobe Compass has no commercial relationship with the brands mentioned.
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