In 2001 Lancôme launched the Lancôme Colour Designs Awards, which combines colours and textures, beauty and fashion and still emerges from the classical model of makeup backstage during fashion shows.

The contest was initiated by Lancôme UK, organized with the best schools in the world and therefore a platform for young fashion talent on an international level. Now organized internationally in partnership with the best famous schools in the world, this contest offers a new creative process.

Three prizes are awarded during a fashion show, climax of a great evening, bringing together the media and the fashion communities. In September, 10 finalists were selected from a field of 60 top Dutch fashion school graduates. For the past five months, these finalists have been working on a 4-piece collection, coached by Lancôme and top industry professionals.

On Wednesday, the 24th of January, they presented a mini collection which represents their personal vision on the new Lancôme Spring-Summer make up collection created by Lancôme's creative director for make-up: Gucci Westman. When Gucci came up with the collection, she had in mind the traditional Lancôme Cherub, one of the three former Lancôme brand identities.

The rosy-cheeks cherub has been symbol for make-up. Gucci wanted to revisit this symbol and give it a modern twist. The result is simple and visionary at the same time: using flashy colours and playing on fantasy she developed: 'Pop Cherub'.

The ten finalists have studied at the following schools: Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten of Maastricht, Amsterdam Fashion Institute, Gerrit Rietveld Academie of Amsterdam, Koninklijke Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten of Den Haag, Hogeschol voor de Kunsten of Utrecht. Their names are Claes Iversen, Ruby Hoette, Jacquile Chew, Merel Boers, Merel de Haan, Rens de Waal, Robin Parr, Tobias Konrath, Lefke de Roos and Suse Schroder.

The AIFW catwalk schedule kicked of festively with a group show of their work, following which a professional jury awarded the Lancôme Colour Designs Awards for Colour & Texture, Innovation and Modern Femininity. Among others, illustrator Piet Paris, Glamour fashion editor (Dutch Edition) Martien Mellema, designers Jan Taminiau and Rodrigo Otazu (that evening together with the winner of the 2007 Ford Supermodel of the World Sanne Nijhof) distributed the three prices.

The announcement of the winners was given by the jury President Piet Paris with new face of Lancôme, Electra Rossellini (daughter of Isabella). The Lancôme Colour designs Award for Colour & Texture was given to Merel de Haan, because of its reference to costume history (Versailles Court) with a modern touch.

Electra Rossellini with the winners

The Lancôme Colour designs Award for Innovation went to Robin Parr, because of the amount of fantasies and moving borders and the fact that every single outfit has its own identity. The Lancôme Colour designs Award for modern Femininity went to Merel Boers, because of her perfect translation of the modern woman outfit.

Rodrigo Otazu and Sanne Nijhof - The winners

These lucky three will then proceed to represent The Netherlands in the international finals during Paris fashion week, competing against finalists from the UK, France, Australia, Japan and China.

For more information: www.lancome-lcda.com