On 1 July 2026, Belgian designer Marie Adam-Leenaerdt won the ANDAM Grand Prix, one of the most prestigious awards in the European fashion industry.

With a prize of 300,000 euros and a one-year mentoring programme, the award is presented annually to a designer whose creative vision and potential for growth are deemed particularly promising.

This recognition confirms the rapid rise of the Brussels-based designer. A graduate of La Cambre Mode[s], who previously worked in the studios of Givenchy and Balenciaga, Marie Adam-Leenaerdt launched her brand in 2023 and quickly established herself as one of the most talked-about figures on the young fashion scene. Her work is characterised by a unique approach to clothing, where modularity, the repurposing of everyday objects and the exploration of new uses come together in a collection that is both conceptual and deeply wearable.

Having already been a finalist for the ANDAM and the LVMH Prize in 2024, the designer is now taking a new step forward. This international recognition celebrates a demanding creative approach that offers a different vision of luxury: garments designed to last, to be transformed and to accompany different moments in life.

A strong signal for Belgian design

This victory is also excellent news for French-speaking Belgian fashion. For several years now, designers from Wallonia and Brussels have been making their mark on the most demanding international stages.

For WBDM, this success is particularly significant in the context of the WBDM Fashion Programme 2026, of which Marie Adam-Leenaerdt is also the first winner. The €35,000 grant awarded to the brand is intended to support its international development by boosting its visibility, strengthening its press relations and enhancing its commercial structure. This type of support enables brands to consolidate their presence at key international industry events, whether these be Fashion Weeks, showrooms or visibility platforms such as ANDAM.

A trend that is gaining momentum

This latest distinction is part of a wider trend of international recognition for the talents supported by WBDM. In 2025, designer Sarah Levy, who is also supported by WBDM, was among the finalists at the ANDAM awards and won a prize there, already highlighting the quality and relevance of design emerging from Wallonia and Brussels.

With Marie Adam-Leenaerdt’s victory at the 2026 Grand Prix, this Belgian presence within ANDAM is further cemented and demonstrates the ability of our designers to make their mark in the most competitive international networks.
The entire WBDM team extends its warmest congratulations to Marie Adam-Leenaerdt on this major accolade and looks forward to continuing to support her international development in the years to come.

At the awards ceremony, Marie told Harper’s Bazaar:

I already had the next steps in mind. This award will simply help to build on that and speed things up. Investing in marketing, expanding our distribution network, tripling the number of retail outlets, and growing the team.

But my ambitions are clear: there are so many things that inspire me and that I want to do. This ecosystem and this award will help me achieve all of that.