MarediModa celebrates talent, excellence and history with a trophy born from the sea
From this year, MarediModa is entrusting Sustain Awards with all its awards: from The Link, the competition that for more than ten years has opened the doors to young European designers in swimwear, lingerie and athleisure, to the Creative Excellence Award, dedicated to the most talented brands, and the MarediModa Anniversary, celebrating the history of exhibiting companies. Three different awards, united for the first time by the same trophy — one born from the sea.
The Link: a trophy for young talent
Each year, the competition brings together projects by students and recent graduates from more than one hundred European fashion schools, who are invited to develop a mini-collection of four outfits in one of three categories. Finalists produce their collection using fabrics supplied by exhibiting companies and present it at a dedicated fashion show in Cannes. The winner of each category receives a cash prize, the opportunity to undertake an internship with a company in the sector and, from this year, a commemorative plaque featuring a base made from recycled fishing nets.
MarediModa Creative Excellence Award
The plaques will also be awarded for the Creative Excellence Award, the recognition presented by MarediModa to brands that stand out for creativity, talent and their connection with leading European fabric manufacturers.
The 2026 edition celebrates Raffaela D’Angelo, the Italian designer from Como who for more than twenty years has elevated swimwear to haute couture, working closely with Italian fabric manufacturers, and Montce, the US brand founded in 2013 by Alexandra Grief, which combines sensuality, retro nostalgia and contemporary design and has recently embraced more sustainable practices through the use of recycled fabrics.
The awards ceremony will take place on 28 October at 6:00 pm as part of MarediModa Cannes. Discover more
MarediModa Anniversary
The plaques will also accompany the MarediModa Anniversary, the recognition dedicated to exhibiting companies celebrating an important milestone at the show. This year’s honourees are:
- Seram — founded in 1986, 40 years in business
- Pirola Passamanerie — founded in 1976, 50 years in business
- Santoul S.a.s. — founded in 1956, 70 years in business
- Art Martin S.A. — founded in 1856, 170 years in business
A material with a story already rooted in the industry
The choice of material is no coincidence. A significant share of the recycled nylon used today to produce swimwear and technical lingerie comes from fishing nets recovered from the sea and regenerated into fibre.
This parallel was not overlooked when designing the awards. Each plaque — whether presented to a The Link finalist, a brand receiving the Creative Excellence Award or a long-established company celebrated with an Anniversary award — is made using the same type of raw material that, once transformed into fabric, goes on to dress many of the collections taking part in the competition.
The A4-format plaques are produced by Sustain Awards, a Barcelona-based manufacturer specialising in sustainable trophies and awards. The company works with recycled materials and low-impact processes for every piece. For MarediModa, it has designed a refined, understated award — with no virgin plastic and no disposable finishes — created so that every recipient, whether a young designer or a long-established company, takes home something more than a simple souvenir of a weekend in Cannes.
Three awards, one shared story
The Link, the Creative Excellence Award and the Anniversary celebrate three very different moments in the industry: talent in the making, talent coming into its own, and businesses standing the test of time.
From this year, however, they share the same gesture: a piece born from the sea, returning to those who work with that sea every day.
