Fashion Scout names i-am-chen as Merit Award winner

Fashion Scout, the platform for fashion pioneers, has named Hong Kong-based brand i-am-chen as winner of its SS19 Merit Award, a prize worth £20,000 across three seasons.

As part of the prize i-am-chen, founded by designer ZHI Chen, will receive a fully sponsored catwalk show with Fashion Scout during London Fashion Week with space to host press and buyers.

The brand was chosen from hundreds of entrants by a judging panel including Martyn Roberts, Fashion Scout’s founder and director, Hattie Crisell, freelance fashion editor (formerly of The Times), Ida Petersson, womenswear buying director at Browns and fashion stylist and show producer Joe Toronka.

Now in its fourth season i-am-chen won over the panel with its colourful and playful knitwear, inspired by the artworks of Alexander Calder and David Hockney.

Roberts said the decision was a unanimous one for the panel: "The brand was an easy decision for the judging panel to award Merit to, due to the eye catching colourways, intriguing knitting techniques and thought through design process. Fashion Scout are excited to give i-am-chen the opportunity to continue building the brand and profile here in London."

Chen is a graduate of Donghua University in Shanghai. She went on to continue her studies at Parsons School of Design in New York before completing a masters at the London College of Fashion.

She joins an impressive Fashion Scout Merit Award alumni, which also includes Eudon Choi, Phoebe English, David Koma, Roberts|Wood, Han Wen, Xiao Li, Katie Ann McGuigan, EDDA and AW18 winner Fortie Label.