35th edition of the Hyères Festival: The creative madness of the Belgian Tom Van der Borght rewarded

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The international festival of fashion, photography and fashion accessories in Hyères (Var), rewarded the Belgian Tom Van der Borght, who presented his fashion show to participants, jurors, students this Sunday, October 18 in the Villa Noailles. His credo? Clothes made of recycled materials “that nobody wants” and that one must “dare to wear”.

One of the rare fashion events to have been maintained in these times of health crisis, ended this Sunday, October 18, with the distinction of a colorful and zany collection, multiplying ornaments that move like mollusks or antennas.

The designer Tom Van der Borght seduced the jury and the public of the city of Hyères by winning the Grand Prix of the 35th edition of the Hyères International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Fashion Accessories in the fashion category, as well as the Public Prize of the city of Hyères.

Macramé, patchwork…his luxury is to give a second life to pieces destined to be thrown away. Like stocks of sequins that he buys back from local shopkeepers or samples of vegetal fur, which he has made into an electric blue and yellow coat.

In his collection, a sweater in tangy colors is made from plastic filaments used to display prices. Or a “sea leather” bag made from fish skins recovered from the sushi industry.

Free yourself from all restrictions

“The future of fashion is not to remain in a very restrictive and conformist box, it’s time to free ourselves from all restrictions“, says performance artist Tom Van der Borght. This 42-year-old boy, who is fighting a degenerative disease, says he sees “in constraint and limitation, the key to many things. Personally, I see this collection as a resurrection. Dealing with what we have, finding strength even in difficult times, looking at things differently, like a new reflection on haute couture for example, are all opportunities“.

Note that the grand prize of the fashion accessories jury went to French designers Ddiddue and Juana Etcheberry.

The duo, brother and sister in the city, which offers a refined aesthetic in contrast to the fashion winner, but with a similar approach, makes caps from objects “destined for landfill” . “We intercept rubber boots, paraglider canvases, basins of parachutes, flower pots. They are reworked by making topstitching (…) in a Japanese style, like old samurai fabrics“, Juana Etcheberry explains.

Hyères 2020, a special edition

Jury chairman Jonathan Anderson, founder of the JW Anderson brand in Ireland and artistic director of Loewe, judged the runway shows from his home to decide the finalists.

“The health situation forces us to make these choices, so we’ll have to have even sharper eyes than usual“, said the festival’s founder, Jean-Pierre Blanc.

American model Kaia Gerber, daughter of Cindy Crawford, was also a member of the jury. For Olivier Gabet, director of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and another member of the fashion jury, the most important thing is that the festival was able to continue.

Due to health measures and social distancing, the inauguration of the Festival was spread over two venues, a live area dedicated to the juries and a broadcasting area on the square in front of the Villa Noailles. The festival, initially planned for April, before being postponed due to the confinement, had been offering screenings, workshops and exhibitions for all fashion enthusiasts since Thursday.