Announcing the 2024 award-winning brand of the 2nd “JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD”
Announcing the 2024 award-winning brand of the 2nd
“JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD”
A brand support program hosted by the Japan Fashion Week Organization
The brand support program established by the Japan Fashion Week Organization last year, aimed at nurturing and supporting new talents with the potential to excel in the global fashion industry, will be offered again this year for the 2nd time. Through JFWO’s mission to “create designers from Japan to the world”, this program selects grand prize-winning brands in two divisions, a physical division (JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD) and a digital division (JFW DIGITAL GRAND PRIX). To the award-winning brand giving a physical presentation, JFWO will provide a year long support to broaden opportunities for brand growth and raise global recognition.
Furthermore, with regards to digital presentations, from this year, rather than judging seasonally, the award-winner will be selected through a year-round judgement of collection presentations in digital format in both the 2024 S/S season to be held in August 2023 and the 2024 A/W season to be held in March 2024, along with the brand’s promotion videos in participating in both seasons, and brand image videos.
Here, we are proud to announce that a judging committee was held this past June 19th, and after strict examination of designability, originality, future prospect, and integrity, the following brand has been selected to receive support as the award-winning brand of the physical division of 2024. We are planning for an award ceremony, along with an opportunity for the press to interview the award-winning designer after their show presentation. Details will be announced at a later date.
※The award-winner of the digital division is scheduled to be determined and announced around late April 2024.
JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD 2024 Judges (in random order / titles omitted)
JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD 2024 Judges (in random order / titles omitted)
『SULVAM』 Designer, Teppei Fujita
『Chika Kisada』 Designer, Chika Kisada
The Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters, marie claire Business Office, marie claire Editor in Chief, Katsuto Tai
The Mainichi Newspaper Co., Ltd., Liberal Arts Department, Writer, Yuri Hirabayashi
INFAS PUBLICATION, INC., WWD JAPAN, Writer, Tasuku Minoshima
MATOI PUBLISHING, “QUOTATION” Editor, Kiwamu Sekiguchi
Comment from the judging committee
Comment from the judging committee
The brand shows prospective of a bright future, by presenting a show presentation in its growing stage. Furthermore, it has aspects of being a uniquely “Tokyo-like brand”, with its cutting with a Japanese aesthetic, production of materials by Japanese craftsmen, etc.Receiving high evaluations for the choice of materials, color coordination, and their artistry in reconstructing traditional skills by adding their own unique interpretation, “KANAKO SAKAI” has been chosen as the award-winner, unanimously.
JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD 2024
KANAKO SAKAI
Presentation schedule: August 28th (Mon.), 13:00～ @Shibuya Hikarie, Hikarie Hall A
KANAKO SAKAI
With their clean cutting, unique and expressive selection of materials, combination of colors, and items created by adding new interpretation to traditional skills thereby formed into modern reconstructions, the brand was launched from the Spring/Summer 2022 season.
As their brand mission, they hoist, introducing the wonders of Japanese culture and production skills which Japan prides to the world, by fusing it with the brands creations.
Designer: KANAKO SAKAI
The designer, Kanako Sakai, became independent after accumulating experience at NY and domestic designer brands.
Started the brand, KANAKO SAKAI, bearing her name, from the 2022 S/S season.
Comment on winning the award
We, the KANAKO SAKAI team, are so very honored to receive such a wonderful award. Approximately 2 years since the launch of the brand. The brand exists thanks to the support of many people, and however slightly, we hope to make this a show that repays our appreciation to those people who support us. This being our very first runway show, we ourselves are excited in seeing whether we can deepen the worldview of KANAKO SAKAI, what the potential of the brand is, by challenging ourselves in doing this. The team is working as one to do our best in making this a memorable show. We would be very honored and happy if as many people as possible would take a look!
Physical Division, Special Recognition Award
fluss
Of all the nominee brands of this support program, fluss, a brand highly reputed by the judges for its future prospect, has been awarded the Special Recognition Award. The brand will present an exhibit of their collection at the official venue of Shibuya Hikarie, 8F, CUBE, during the event term, between August 28th (Mon.) ～ August 30th (Wed.).
We are planning an opportunity to interview the award-winning designer, during the exhibit term. Details to be announced at a later date.
fluss
Started in 2022 S/S. Centering around knit wear, developing items reflecting the moods of today. A brand suggesting a new image for mankind.
Designer: Hikaru Kodama
While being enrolled at Rikkyo University, studied fashion design at coconogacco. After graduating, studied knit wear design at Central Saint Martins, in the UK. During this time, experienced interning as a member of the design team of Thom Browne New York, Ports1961. After graduating, accumulated experience as a designer at a domestic brand, and started their own brand, fluss, in 2022 S/S.
“JFW Brand Support Program” support contents
【JFW NEXT BRAND AWARD 2024 (physical division)】
■Support contents: The below support will be provided towards giving a presentation of collections in physical show form at Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2024 S/S scheduled to be held in August 2023, along with continuously giving a presentation of collections in physical show form at the following Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2024 A/W scheduled to be held in March 2024,
➤Awarding of trophy
➤\2,000,000/year (excluding tax) prize money
➤In presenting a collection in physical form at Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2024 S/S scheduled to be held in August 2023, exemption from paying both fees for use of Official venue, and participation registration fees. Furthermore, other opportunities, such as aggressive communication with JFW Official medias, etc., will be granted.
➤Exemption from paying participation registration fees to participate in Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2024 A/W scheduled to be held in March 2024.
※If Official venues are used for the presentation, exemption from paying venue fee.
【JFW DIGITAL GRAND PRIX 2024 (digital division)】
■Support contents: The below support will be provided to brands participating by digital presentation form in both Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2024 S/S scheduled to be held in August 2023, and the following Rakuten Fashion Week TOKYO 2024 A/W scheduled to be held in March 2024, towards their digital presentation of their collections, promotion videos of the brand, image videos.
➤\1,000,000 (excluding tax) prize money
