Marie Adam-Leenaerdt has been awarded the Andam Grand Prize for 2026, a decision that positions the Belgian designer as one of the most closely watched emerging talents in European fashion. The prize, valued at €300,000, includes a year of mentorship from Ami founder Alexandre Mattiussi and operational support from Andam’s network of industry sponsors including Karla Otto and Galeries Lafayette.
The jury praised the clarity of her vision and her ability to maintain commercial viability without sacrificing editorial ambition. In a statement, the Andam committee noted that her work ‘demonstrates a rare maturity in proportion control and an intuitive understanding of how clothes interact with the body in motion.’
Mattiussi, who will guide Adam-Leenaerdt through the coming year, said he was drawn to her confidence in restraint. He noted that her collections do not rely on novelty for its own sake but instead refine a consistent vocabulary of cut, drape, and fabric weight.
Adam-Leenaerdt plans to use the prize money to open a proper atelier in Brussels and invest in a dedicated pattern-cutting team. Her first post-prize collection will debut during Paris Fashion Week in September, where she will present in the official calendar for the first time.
The Andam Prize has historically served as a launchpad for designers who go on to shape the industry’s direction. Previous winners include Viktor & Rolf, Jeremy Scott, and Marine Serre, each of whom used the award’s resources and credibility to scale their operations while maintaining creative independence.
Adam-Leenaerdt, who established her label in 2020 after graduating from La Cambre Mode(s) in Brussels, has built a following for her precise, sculptural approach to tailoring. Her collections explore the tension between structure and ease, often deconstructing the conventions of suiting into garments that read as both rigorous and soft.
