An International Move

Gareth Pugh decamps from London to show during Paris Fashion Week
Thursday, June 26, 2008

(NEW YORK) Add Gareth Pugh to the list of designers making a city switch in the name of fashion.

The 26-year-old London-based fashion darling has announced that he will stage his Spring 2009 runway show in Paris this October. This morning, he was named winner of the prestigious ANDAM Fashion Award that is supported by influential partners of the French and international fashion scene, including the Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, Galeries Lafayette, Longchamp, L'Oréal, the LVMH Group, Swarovski and Gucci Group brand Yves Saint Laurent.

As part of the honor, Pugh receives an endowment of 150,000 euros, or approximately $233,549 (the largest international fashion prize of its kind), that will enable him to develop his label and show in Paris for the first time. The official prize-giving will take place on October 3 during Paris Fashion Week.

"Showing at London Fashion Week has been amazing," said Pugh in a statement. "To now be able to enjoy the international platform of Paris will propel my business even further. My thanks go out to ANDAM."

According to Pugh's spokeswoman, no date has been set for his Paris show. "But I imagine it will be early in the week," she added.

Nathalie Dufour, founder and director of the ANDAM Fashion Award, said, "The endowment financed by our institutional and private partners will allow him to express his huge talent in Paris. His selection also shows the commitment of Paris and its institutions to attract exceptional talents and remain the true international fashion capital."

Pugh debuted at London Fashion Week in 2005, off-schedule as part of Fashion East's group show. His first on-schedule show happened in 2006, when he also received New Generation support from Topshop. The award was also given to him for his next show later that year. He recently held his 5th on-schedule show at London Fashion Week. Pugh is currently carried by such international retailers as Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Maxfield, Colette, Dover Street Market, Browns and IT in Hong Kong.

In addition to having worked with Kylie Minogue on tour costumes, and partnered with such brands as Swarovski, Moët & Chandon, Kopenhagen Fur and M.A.C Cosmetics, his work is presently included in the exhibition Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. Next month, Pugh's creations will feature in the exhibition Gothic: Dark Glamour at the Museum at FIT in New York.
JIM SHI