Claes Iversen wins tenth Culture Fund Fashion Stipend

Tuesday saw the presentation of the tenth Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium, an award for established names in the world of fashion. None other than the Dutch-Danish fashion designer Claes Iversen walked away with the win. It is the biggest prize a Dutch fashion designer can win.Text: Patrick Stoffer
Image: SPICEThe Cultuurfonds Mode Stipendium has been awarded to talented and advanced fashion designers since 2011. Iversen goes home with a challenge trophy, designed by Atelier Ted Noten, and €50,000 given by a generous donor of the Culture Fund.

The fashion designer received the award from Cathelijne Broers, director of the Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, at Amsterdam's Felix Meritis cultural house. Here, Iversen takes over from Erik Frenken, who was awarded the title in 2019. In previous years, Ilja Visser (2011), Francisco van Benthum (2012), Truus and Riet Spijkers (2013), Jan Taminiau (2014), Youasme Measyou (2015), Iris van Herpen (2016), Ronald van der Kemp (2017) and Bas Kosters (2018) won the coveted fashion prize.

"A huge pat on the back for my work. I am very happy and grateful to be the tenth recipient to receive this award. It is a beautiful, but also tough industry to sustain yourself in as an independent, this award creates space. I will spend it carefully to further develop myself."

The commission report reveals the following about Iversen: "Claes Iversen has walked a long and seemingly confident path, in which a marketing strategy has never been leading, but the constant investigation of the contemporary essence of fashion design. Against the currents of the times, with quiet elegance and determination, sublimating one's own craftsmanship, and serving women, remained central."

Claes Iversen makes creations for Queen Máxima with some regularity and has recently launched his own bridal collection. However, this is not the first time Iversen has won awards. Among other awards, he was named Best National Designer by Marie Claire and was named Creative of the Year in 2016.