On Friday September 6, Lichting 2024, the 18th debutante ball for the cream of the crop in up-and-coming design talent, took place midst the regal ambiance of De Hallen. The 10 best graduates from the seven Dutch fashion academies met their crowd for the first time after proving themselves to an international jury during a nerve-wrecking panel pitch.
By extending its arms to embrace design graduates via open call, Lichting has positioned itself at the epicentre of a burgeoning pool of exceptionally gifted candidates, unrivalled in talent and potential. One luminary stood out, effortlessly ticking all the boxes from concept inception to flawless execution, and above all, exuding unparalleled determination. This year, Peter Wertmann takes the well deserved first place.
Peter Wertmann graduated from KABK – Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, with his collection “Lost Product of Society”. Today, he impressed the jury with a technically impeccable collection based on profound research.
Peter shares: “This graduation collection captures the essence of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, fused with the freedom of growing up in the Swiss Alps and the structure of military experience. It embodies the contrasts between vast, open landscapes and disciplined, confined living.”
The Jury Report
This year, the panel of international jury members included Marlo Saalmink (Curator at large & Artistic Director), Meike van Lelyveld (Product Developer, Dover Street Market Paris Brand Development Team & Co-founder, The Patchwork Family), Gert Jonkers (Editor-in-Chief, Fantastic Man), and Faye Mitchell (Talent Acquisition Partner and Creative, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein)
The participants of Lichting 2024: Pauline Blind, Nouka Rous, Peter Wertmann, Jinwon Kim, Arva Bustin, Michał Zgierski, David R. Siepman, Yaroslav Grygorchuk, David Okkerse, Erin McClain.
Together, the international jury chose unanimously to select Peter Wertmann as the official winner of Lichting 2024.
Images by Peter Stigter
