Designers of the Year
Designers of the Year have stood their ground in the industry over the years and embody passion and invidiuality in fashion.
Thomas Rath
Fashion creator
During the festive gala on 20 November 2021 in the Fürstensaal of the Würzburg Residenz, international designer and fashion entrepreneur Thomas Rath received the Designer of the Year award from the VDMD and COUNCIL for ART and DESIGN.
Thomas Rath said: "I am almost overwhelmed by this high award."
He also let the 80 invited guests from art, culture and fashion at the 2G event know: "This award encourages me, especially at a time like this, that quality, reliability and passion should be the heartbeat of every entrepreneur." He expressed gratitude
to his staff and husband: "Without my team and my husband Sandro, I would not be standing here today and I am grateful to have them all by my side."
The Designer of the Year Award, presented by the Council for Art and Design and the VDMD, is officially sponsored by the Bavarian State Ministry. Among the guests were Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Bareiß (CDU) and designer Eva Lutz.
Doris Hartwich
Fashion Designer of the Year 2018
To coincide with the 30th anniversary of her own label HARTWICH, the German fashion designer Doris Hartwich was awarded the highly coveted title of "Designer of the Year 2018" in the industry. On 17.01.2018, the award was presented to Doris Hartwich by Anja Gockel, Designer of the Year 2017, at the Hotel Adlon.
Doris Hartwich: "I am really happy about this award, especially because it comes from the circle of countless colleagues. You don't have to be an expert in our guild to know that individually oriented fashion labels in Germany suffer from the strong pressure of the mainstream. My men's fashion label HARTWICH has been on the market for 30 years. That makes me a little proud and the award motivates me for the future."
Doris Hartwich has been creating fashion exclusively for men under her name for 30 years. It is thanks to her flair for cuts, unusual materials and special details that her collections also have many stylish friends on the international stage. HARTWICH stands for men with a public commitment to their own personality.
Anja Gockel
Fashion Designer of the Year 2017
The award was presented by the President and Managing Director of the VDMD during the press conference at the Hotel ADLON in Berlin on 17 January 2017, before Anja Gockel's big show in which she presented her collection "no room for doubts" in the lobby.
In his laudation, President René Lang emphasised that ANJA GOCKEL demonstrates a unique signature for her collections.
"She manages the balancing act between FASHION.CULTURE and COMMERCE. Her colours are brilliant and strong, underpinned with the basics of black and white; her shapes are clearly defined and concise. The renunciation of complicated details gives space to the colours, shapes and designs. Anja Gockel's collections have a unique presence and power. The wearers of the outfits are strong women who have self-confidence and are no strangers to "appearances". Anja Gockel, who has a strong charisma herself, lives her collections. We nominate her DESIGNER*IN of the Year and I am pleased to present her with this award on behalf of the VDMD, Network for Fashion and Textile Design."