Stine Riis, a Copenhagen-based designer and graduate of London College of Fashion, won the inaugural H&M Design Award in 2012. Her final collection, Decadence & Decay, showcased polished tailoring with a striking contrast of materials. Since her win, Stine has built a versatile career working with both commercial and premium fashion brands.

Minju Kim, the 2013 H&M Design Award winner, impressed the jury with her collection Dear My Friend, inspired by Japanese manga artist Junji Ito. Born in South Korea, Minju studied fashion design at Samsung Art & Design Institute before earning a master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. She currently leads her eponymous brand based in Seoul.

“Without the H&M Award, I don’t think I would have had the courage to put my own name out there as a designer. The advice and encouragement I received from so many inspiring mentors, the chance to sell my own collection, visit factories and work closely with the H&M team -- all those hands-on experiences were incredibly valuable and formative.

The H&M Award is what shaped who I am today. Even now, whenever I face challenges or doubts, I look back at the photos from that time and remind myself of the joy I felt as a young designer and the passion that brought me here.”

— Minju Kim, Recipient of the H&M Design Award in 2013

French designer Eddy Anemian took home the award in 2014 with his collection They Can Cut All The Flowers, They Cannot Keep Spring From Coming. Inspired by Tilda Swinton’s role in I Am Love and the works of French painter Ingres, Eddy reimagined floral upholstery fabrics into fluid, sculptural forms, juxtaposed with waterproof materials reminiscent of marble. A graduate of La Cambre in Brussels, Eddy has since worked at prestigious houses including Christian Dior, Balenciaga and Balmain.

In 2015, Ximon Lee became the first menswear designer to win the H&M Design Award. His innovative collection drew inspiration from the documentary Children of Leningradsky, combining organic and synthetic textures such as plastic and cardboard to create exaggerated silhouettes that defy conventional shapes. Ximon is a graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York City.

British designer Hannah Jinkins won the award in 2016 with a utilitarian approach to femininity. A Royal College of Art graduate, her winning collection reinterpreted workwear through oversized silhouettes, employing folds and staples to sculpt garments that fuse function with a fresh, feminine sensibility. Currently, she oversees the womenswear shopping platform, the CoEdit.

Richard Quinn, a Central Saint Martins graduate from London, captured the 2017 H&M Design Award with his visionary womenswear collection, which featured bold silhouettes and innovative, ethically processed fabric prints. Richard has since established his own successful, London-based brand. 

“It means a great deal to have received the H&M award; it offered a strong sense of industry support at a pivotal moment in my career. I was just graduating and the award gave me the confidence and support to continue developing my own visual language without compromise. 

Winning the H&M award at the point of graduation undoubtedly accelerated my career, providing early industry recognition and validation. On a practical level, the funding and mentorship gave me the rare privilege of time and resources to establish my own label and fully explore the Richard Quinn aesthetic.”

-Richard Quinn, Recipient of the H&M Design Award in 2017

UK native Stefan Cooke won in 2018 with a collection that reimagined everyday menswear staples—such as jeans, leather jackets and cricket jumpers—through unexpected constructions and designs. A Central Saint Martins graduate, Stefan now leads his eponymous brand and design studio.

“The H&M Design Award is something I have an overwhelming amount of good will towards. I think in a time when stability in this industry is at its most critical, the H&M Design Award is crucial, it being another opportunity for graduates to establish freedom of their creative practice on their own terms.

Winning the H&M design award in 2018 and having that industry validation gave me a sense of trust in my own instinct which would carry me though the beginning of my career.”

-Stefan Cooke, Recipient of the H&M Design Award in 2018

Priya Ahluwalia, winner of the 2019 award, is a University of Westminster graduate whose collection combined recycled and sustainable fabrics to champion environmentally responsible fashion. Drawing on her Nigerian and Indian heritage, Priya highlights the narratives behind garment waste and the creative potential of secondhand clothing. She currently heads her brand, Ahluwalia, based in London.

Latvian designer Sabine Skarule won the 2020 H&M Design Award with a collection inspired by her homeland’s traditional knitting techniques. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Arts in Antwerp, Sabine now oversees her womenswear brand based in Riga.

“The award was both a recognition and a starting point - it gave me the confidence to believe that my work, rooted in Latvian craft traditions and personal storytelling, could resonate within an international fashion context. It felt like a validation of the path I was taking and a gentle push to continue with even more courage.

It opened doors and created visibility at a crucial moment in my journey. The support allowed me to expand my practice; connect with people and institutions I might not have otherwise reached and gave me the foundation to establish SKARULE as a brand. On a personal level, it reminded me that perseverance and authenticity matter and that recognition can come when you stay true to your vision.”

-Sabine Skarule, Recipient of the H&M Design Award in 2020