Iconic Lingerie - Hilary Swank, Franca Sozzani, Qi Qi, Giovanni Gastel, Wichy Hassan and Jan Rosenberg Nominate the Winner of the Triumph Inspiration Award 2009

James Nolan, 20, Great Britain With the Design "Odette and Odile" is the Winner of International Lingerie Design Award

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On the opening night of the 2009 Milan Fashion Week, fashion design students from 28 countries and regions around the world presented their lingerie showpieces at the grand final of the Triumph Inspiration Award '09 in a fabulous catwalk show in the famous design museum, La Triennale. A celebrity expert judging panel, consisting of two-time Academy Award winning actress Hilary Swank, Editor in Chief of Vogue Italy Franca Sozzani, Hong Kong's international model Qi Qi, legendary fashion photographer Giovanni Gastel, co-founder and creative director of the fashion label Miss Sixty, Wichy Hassan, and Jan Rosenberg, Head of Global Sales and Marketing Triumph International, decided which design piece is the most creative interpretation of this year's award motto "Icons".

James Nolan, 20, Great Britain, convinced the jury with the interpretation of the icon "Odette and Odile" to become the winner of the Triumph Inspiration Award '09 and will pocket not only a cash prize of Euro 15,000 but also a career-boosting limited edition of the winning piece. James Nolan will see the showpiece adapted and interpreted by the Triumph design team, leading to series production of the set, which will be sold in selected Triumph stores worldwide in 2010. The jury awarded the design "Harbour Mirage" by Katinka Poole, 28, Australia, the second prize, receiving Euro 10,000 and Shani Elkin, 24, Israel, with "Jerusalem" won Euro 5,000 as third prize.

At the grand final of the Triumph Inspiration Award '09, all competing finalists were under the scrutiny of the demanding jurors. The jury judged all entries according to the same criteria: innovation and creativity in interpreting the design motto "Icons", individuality, concept, aesthetics, quality in design and execution, as well as presentation. "Success is the result of talent and hard work. I am thrilled to see how both come together in these passionate pieces by young fashion design students - they truly deserve a stage such as the Triumph Inspiration Award", stated two-time Academy Award winning actress Hilary Swank.

The Triumph Inspiration Award, inaugurated in 2008, is a global design competition created by the lingerie specialist Triumph International. The Award challenges students from prestigious international design schools to create a conceptual showpiece-set, comprising of an under-wired bra and brief, dedicated in 2009 to the design motto: "Icons".

For more information please contact:
Karin Lukarsch
Inter Triumph Marketing GmbH
Phone +49-89-5111-8339