Danial Aitouganov wins Lichting 2016 Fashion Award at AFW

Danial Aitouganov received the biggest accolade in Dutch fashion by winning this year’s Lichting 2016 fashion award. The Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) graduate was awarded a cheque worth 10,000 euros, while the Public Choice Award of 3,000 euros went to fellow AMFI graduate Marlou Breuls.

The runway show and awards ceremony were held earlier this week during the opening of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Amsterdam. Fourteen alumni of seven Dutch fashion academies showed their designs at the Gashouder in the Dutch capital. Each candidate was allowed to present five looks per graduate collection to the jury and an assortment of fashion press.

This year, the jury consisted of creative director of United Nude, Rem D. Koolhaas; fashion forecaster Ferry Schoew; head of creative management Denim Boss Orange & Green, Michael Kampe; and menswear designer and creative consultant, Bram van Diepen.

This year, Amsterdam Fashion Week celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary, with Lichting ringing in its eleventh year. All the winners of the past Lichting awards were therefore in attendance.