Zalando names London-based designer Sinéad O’Dwyer as Visionary Award winner

London-based Irish designer Sinéad O’Dwyer has been named as the winner of the Zalando Visionary Award and will make a runway debut at Copenhagen Fashion Week for SS25 in August 2024, as a result.

The designer will also receive a €50,000 prize, as well as support from Zalando for the Copenhagen show production. Zalando has an ongoing partnership with the fashion week.

Sinéad O’Dwyer was praised by the jury (judges) for "innovative designs that embrace body diversity and inclusivity through sculptural pieces that challenge conventional notions of beauty and form".

The Zalando Visionary Award aims to celebrate the makers of the future by putting the spotlight on designers and brands that focus on creating a positive social impact, while driving innovation.

Sinéad O’Dwyer "showed a dedication to creating meaningful change" by designing and producing clothing for different body sizes, reinterpreting the ‘Shibari’ Japanese bondage technique while experimenting with various fabrics.

Lena Sophie Röper, General Manager of Designer at Zalando, said: "Sinéad O’Dwyer clearly demonstrates the values that we want to see and embodies the spirit of the Zalando Visionary Award. The brand strikes the right balance of these values with unique designs, innovative solutions with a provocative, wearable and exciting collection.

"It’s fresh fashion and Sinéad’s progressive approach is what Zalando stands for – championing the new wave of designers who dare to dream and create a better future for fashion.”

O’Dwyer added: "Winning the Zalando Visionary Award is such an honour and extremely meaningful for the business, especially in this precarious time for independent brands.

"It gives us the support to continue our mission, further building on the work we have been doing to bring a more expansive and equitable vision of beauty to the world. Bodily diversity is our inspiration and driving force and we believe that designing inclusively is the only way to create ethical, sustainable, functional and modern clothing.

"We cannot wait to come to Copenhagen Fashion Week and share this work with a new platform and audience.”

As well as Lena Sophie Röper, the Zalando Visionary Award jury included new additions Giuliano Calza, Founder and Creative Director of GCDS, and Edward Buchanan, Creative Director of SANSOVINO6, as well as Herbert Hofmann, Creative and Buying Director at Highsnobiety, and Cecille Thorsmark, CEO of Copenhagen Fashion Week.