Sinéad O’Dwyer sets standards for inclusive design at the Zalando visionary award 2024

Sinéad O’Dwyer sets standards for inclusive design at the Zalando visionary award 2024

Sinéad O’Dwyer sets standards for inclusive design at the Zalando visionary award 2024

Sinéad O’Dwyer has been named the winner of the Zalando Visionary Award and will make her debut at Copenhagen Fashion Week in August 2024. The London-based brand has been praised by the jury for its innovative creations that address diversity and inclusion through sculptural pieces that redefine conventional notions of beauty and form.

BERLIN, MAY 8, 2024 // Zalando, one of Europe’s leading online platforms for fashion and lifestyle, announces the winner of the Zalando Visionary Award 2024: Sinéad O’Dwyer. The London-based brand, founded by Irish designer Sinéad in 2018, creates designer garments for women, femmes, and gender non-conforming individuals that challenge gender norms. As part of the partnership between Zalando and Copenhagen Fashion Week, and as the recipient of the award, Sinéad O’Dwyer will debut on the Copenhagen runway in the official SS25 program in August.

The Zalando Visionary Award celebrates the creators of the future by highlighting designers and brands with a visionary approach to creating a positive social impact, fostering innovation and creativity in the fashion industry and beyond. With solid brand values and a clear vision for the future of fashion, Sinéad O’Dwyer has shown dedication in creating significant changes through the ongoing design, development, and production of apparel for various body sizes. She challenges traditional industry standards by supporting truly inclusive collections and a diverse selection of models. The brand’s vision is deeply rooted in empowerment and self-expression, seeking to create luxury clothing that conveys confidence and comfort to the wearer.

Sinéad O’Dwyer expressed her excitement: “Winning the Zalando Visionary Award is an honor and is particularly important for the business, especially at this delicate time for independent brands. It provides the necessary support to continue our mission, building on the work we have done to bring a more expansive and equitable vision of beauty to the world. Body diversity is our source of inspiration and driving force, and we believe that inclusive design is the only way to create ethical, sustainable, functional, and modern clothing. We look forward to being present at Copenhagen Fashion Week and sharing this with a new platform and audience.”

The Zalando Visionary Award jury comprised leaders from the fashion industry to select the winner, including renowned Founder and Creative Director of GCDS, Giuliano Calza, Creative Director of SANSOVINO6, Edward Buchanan, as well as Herbert Hofmann, Creative Director & Buying at Highsnobiety. Cecille Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week, and Lena-Sophie Röper, General Manager, Designer at Zalando, completed the jury panel with their experience and guidance in awarding Sinéad O’Dwyer for her dedication to promoting significant changes in the industry.

Giuliano Calza, jury member and Founder and Creative Director of GCDS, stated: “Accepting this role on the jury was primarily driven by countless moments of feeling unheard, wishing for a platform that could give me a voice. I am filled with deep joy and feel privileged to contribute to this distinguished cause. Celebrating an award of this caliber carries immense weight, resonating not only in the present but with the potential to inspire future generations, amplifying the ideals I admire. Sinéad’s firm commitment to diversity and pioneering innovation, in an industry often stuck in the past, is truly commendable. The importance of an award like the Zalando Visionary Award cannot be understated, as it plays a vital role in supporting emerging designers and investing in their future, providing them a platform to showcase their talent and creativity.”

Sinéad was praised by the jury for the visionary aspects of her designs and her firm commitment to innovation. Starting from the human body as a source of inspiration for her collection, Sinéad avoids traditional patterns and uses real forms, demonstrating innovation and inclusion as the foundation of her brand. She also pushes the boundaries of creativity through the development of her own style, “Shibari,” a reinterpretation of a Japanese bondage technique, and by experimenting with various fabrics in her works; knit weavings, pleated satin bands with crystal bead embroidery. The brand’s approach to design is characterized by an interest in the connection between embellishment and construction.
Lena Sophie Röper, General Manager, Designer at Zalando, states: “Sinéad O’Dwyer clearly demonstrates the values we wish to see and embodies the spirit of the Zalando Visionary Award. The brand strikes the right balance between these values and unique designs, innovative solutions with a provocative, wearable, and exciting collection. It is a new fashion, and Sinéad’s progressive approach represents what Zalando stands for—promoting a new generation of designers who dare to dream and create a better future for fashion.”
As the winner, Siné

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