The 40th Hyères Festival: A New Chapter 

The Hyères International Festival of Fashion, Photography, and Accessories marked its 40th anniversary last month — a milestone moment with both nostalgia and renewal. This edition felt different: for the first time, the festival was held without its founder, Jean-Pierre Blanc, at the helm. Yet, the show must go on and it felt full of promises and strong vision of the future. 

This year’s finalists explored themes of hope, gender fluidity, and the delicate balance between strength and fragility. The all-designer jury — a constellation of past participants and winners including Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Julien Dossena, Alexandre Mattiussi, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, Christelle Kocher, Pelagia Kolotouros, and Louis-Gabriel Nouchi — brought a family feeling to this year edition. 

The Fashion Jury’s Grand Prize went to Paris-based Swiss-Chilean designer Lucas Emilio Brunner for his poetic collection À Bout de Souffle. The le19M Métiers d’Art Prize was awarded to French designer Adrien Michel, while the Ateliers des Matières Prize honored the refined craftsmanship of Polish-Palestinian designer Layla Al Tawaya.

Looking ahead, the festival enters a new creative era under Hugo Lucchino, formerly of Palais Galliera in Paris. “What strikes me about the festival is its ability to adapt while mirroring creative effervescence,” he shared. Lucchino envisions expanding the festival’s scope — introducing new disciplines, expanding residencies, and a renewed emphasis on its dynamic hub in Toulon.

Bravo to all the winners — and here’s to the next chapter of the Hyères Festival, where innovation and artistry continue to intertwine under the Riviera light.

Text by Svita Sobol, Photos by Alexander Fischer