Four IFM graduates named finalists at the 41st Festival d'Hyères

Sofia Castellon and Rachel Luurssen, both graduates of the Master of Arts in Fashion Design (class of 2025), are among the ten finalists of the Fashion competition. Matteo Artuso (Master of Arts, class of 2026) and Matthieu Gautier (Bachelor of Arts, class of 2024) have been selected for the Accessories competition. The Festival international de mode, de photographie et d'accessoires de Hyères will take place from 15 to 18 October 2026, at the Villa Noailles.

Founded in 1985, the Festival d'Hyères has established itself over four decades as one of the industry's most closely watched showcases for emerging talent. Each year, it identifies a new generation of designers, several of whom go on to join the studios of major fashion houses. For this 41st edition, three juries will be chaired by leading figures in fashion and photography: Chemena Kamali, Creative Director of Chloé, chairs the Fashion jury; Cecilie Bahnsen, founder of her eponymous label, chairs the Accessories jury; and photographer Camille Vivier chairs the Photography jury.

Sofia Castellon and Rachel Luurssen will present their collections alongside eight other finalists from Spain, China, France, Austria, Iran, Mexico and Belgium. The Fashion competition remains linked to the Prix le19M des Métiers d'Art, awarded by CHANEL, a major partner of the Festival since 2014, which pairs each finalist with one of le19M's ateliers d'art.

In the Accessories competition, Matteo Artuso and Matthieu Gautier will compete against candidates from Italy, South Korea, Poland, Austria and France.

This dual selection reflects the place IFM holds in shaping a generation of designers already recognised by the industry — one that draws in equal measure on rigorous craftsmanship and a singular point of view.

All finalists will present their work during the Festival's runway shows and exhibitions, from 15 to 18 October 2026, at the Villa Noailles.

Discover the Master of Arts in Fashion Design → Four pathways — Accessory Design, Fashion Design, Knitwear Design, Fashion Image — to sharpen a distinctive creative signature at the heart of the world's fashion capital.

Discover the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design → A creative program that works at once as an idea factory, a studio, a workshop and a lab, built to develop a singular creative voice.