Lichting launches new selection procedure for design competition

Lichting, the annual competition for recently graduated fashion designers, is adjusting the selection procedure. This time, graduates can register themselves via an open call, according to a press release. In addition to the open call, the seven Dutch fashion academies can each submit one designer who is guaranteed a place in the next round.

From now on, Lichting works with three selection rounds. The first round consists of selecting 25 candidates from the academic submissions and open call. These candidates present their concept, process and work to a jury. This jury selects ten participants. These ten participate in the Lichting trajectory and the final presentation. In the end, one winner will be chosen who will go home with 10,000 euros and legal assistance from Van Kaam IP, Media and Privacy.

The open call is open to anyone graduating in fashion design between January 1 and July 19 2022, at one of the seven academies: AMFI - Amsterdam Fashion Institute, ArtEZ Academy of Visual Arts Arnhem, Gerrit Rietveld Academy, University of the Arts Utrecht, Maastricht Institute of Arts, Royal Academy of Art The Hague, and Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam. The deadline for registration is July 8, 2022.

Danie Bles, owner of Amsterdam Fashion Week / Lichting, said in a statement: “Lichting has been the beating heart of Amsterdam Fashion Week for years. To be able to welcome more talent and to give creativity in every form a chance, the 'open call' has been added. In our view, this broadening with regard to the selection of talent is appropriate for 2022.”

This article was originally published on FashionUnited.nl and it was translated by Andrea Byrne.