The Carmen Busquets Foundation is devoted to recognising fashion, art and design as agents of change – advancing projects that promote craftsmanship, culture, and sustainability.
Marking a pivotal new era in Carmen’s career, the foundations channels her award-winning leadership into a focused effort to preserve cultural legacy and creatives from underrepresented regions – such as Latin America – to recognise the vital role they play in shaping the future of global fashion and design.
Each year, a series of prizes will be awarded to designers, artists and entrepreneurs whose work integrates heritage craft traditions, innovative techniques and the employment of local artisans.
The foundation is an advocate of couture, made-to-order and slow fashion, and it encourages collaborations between the fashion and the art worlds with a commitment to inclusivity firmly placed at the heart of its mission. A series of strategic partnerships are in development with high profile organisations to amplify the foundation’s reach.
Whilst Carmen will continue to support humanitarian causes such as Glasswing International and WWF through personal donations, the Carmen Busquets Foundation’s core mission is to build a unique and lasting legacy where creativity, craftsmanship and cultural expression are recognised and rewarded as essential agents of change.
““I want my legacy to remain authentic to who I am and to reflect the values that matter most to me: honoring heritage, supporting artisans, and recognizing the designers, artists, and entrepreneurs who are sustaining culture in the 21st century.””
The Carmen Busquets Couture Prize x Latin American Fashion Awards
Image Credit: Hanna Inaiáh @hannainaiah
The Carmen Busquets Couture Prize x Latin American Fashion Awards was established in recognition of Latin America’s burgeoning couture industry with the intention of helping it flourish and gain international prominence. It is Carmen’s ambition to raise the bar and expand the couture industry.
The criteria by which the winner will be selected are:
Integration of heritage craftsmanship with innovative techniques
Implementation of made-to-order couture and slow fashion principles
Advancement of circularity and upcycling practices
Employment of local artisans and seamstresses
Economic sustainability and growth potential
The winner will receive a financial prize of $50,000 USD, tailored mentoring with Carmen plus other experts and, thanks to the Latin American Fashion Awards’ reach and PR, the opportunity to scale their impact worldwide.
The Carmen Busquets Couture Prize x Latin American Fashion Awards finalists will be announced on September 15, and the winner will be revealed live at the Latin American Fashion Awards ceremony in the Dominican Republic on November 8.
““I truly admire the work Constanza Cavalli Etro and Silvia Argüello are doing with the Latin American Fashion Awards. They’re like the Oscars for our region, celebrating the richness of our talent and making sure Latin American creativity and cultural heritage are recognized around the world. That’s why I decided to create Latin America’s first Couture Prize with them – with the hope of raising the bar and giving our region the recognition it deserves.”
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