AFA Awards 2025
On November 12, 2025, the Austrian Fashion Association presented the Austrian Fashion Awards 2025 in Vienna, reaffirming the significance of creative ambition within the national field. The evening brought together two major recognitions: the outstanding artist award for experimental fashion design of BMWKMS and the Fashion Award of the City of Vienna. Petra Zimmermann received the former, while Laura Andraschko received the latter. Both distinctions reflect a commitment to artistic clarity and refined conceptual thought, supported by one of the most respected award structures in Austria.
Petra Zimmermann’s practice, long acknowledged in international institutions, draws strength from her ability to treat jewellery as an autonomous field of thought. She follows its history with precision and uses its fragments with conviction, creating work that carries both presence and intellectual tension. The award underlines her role as a singular figure whose perspective travels across decades of references and produces a confident contemporary language.
Laura Andraschko’s recognition by the City of Vienna highlights a designer who approaches fashion with intention and curiosity, supported by work that carries both structural discipline and emotional charge. Her practice reflects the city’s commitment to nurturing voices that contribute to cultural dialogue while maintaining strong individual identity.
The ceremony also presented pieces by designers supported through the AFA Support program or the Start Scholarship of BMWKMS, including Alessandro Santi, amaaena, Berling Bucher, GATTO, GÜÇ, Ivan Iveljic, Jennifer Milleder, Julian Schock, Pouran Parvizi, Sans Contrefaçons, and Zoli. Their work appeared within a thoughtful stage design by Stefanie Grau, styled by Daliah Spiegel, with sound by Paul Ebhart and lighting by Samuel Schaab.
The jury, composed of leading figures in design, communication, and retail, evaluated the submissions with a clear focus on artistic relevance and forward-thinking approaches. Their choice affirms both winners as important contributors to Austrian fashion culture and its international dialogue.
We also visited the showroom with the designers and genuinely enjoyed the connection.
Our gratitude goes to the AFA team for providing us an inspiring perspective on Austrian innovation in fashion, offering a firsthand view of the creativity, ambition, and vision that define the country’s contemporary design landscape.
Photography: Elif Gündüz and Mario Ilić
Words by DONALD GJOKA
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