Tom Van Der Borght, master's student at the Toneelacademie Maastricht, wins the Grand Prix at the International Festival of Fashion and Photography in Hyères, also known as the Fashion Festival Hyères. With this important award in fashion, the fashion designer from Bilzen receives 20,000 euros and the opportunity to develop a project in collaboration with Chanel, one of the biggest sponsors of this prize.

The fourteen-strong jury led by jury chairman Jonathan Anderson honoured Van Der Borght's men's collection of complex and colourful garments, which play a major role in the performing arts. According to them, the (re)use of fabrics up to and including ropes and plastic cable ties will provide a new haute couture.

In his own words, Van der Borght works with 'things no one wants any more'. With his materials, he does more than just a classic designer: he incorporates them into macramé patchworks or simply nails them together. Tom Van Der Borgt at the award ceremony: 'The future of fashion does not lie in conformist fashion, it is time to break out. Honestly: a second-hand shop thrills me more than a chic fabric fair à la Première Vision in Paris'.

The Hyères Fashion Festival is organised annually at the Villa Noailles in the southern French seaside town of Hyères. Young talents from architecture, fashion, design and photography are given the opportunity to present their work to professionals.