Nicklas Skovgaard wins Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize 2025.

The winner of the Nordic region's leading fashion award for the most promising fashion entrepreneurs was announced to Nicklas Skovgaard by Nina Wedell-Wedellsborg, Founder of the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize at an award ceremony that took place yesterday.

The Wessel & Vett Foundation generously sponsored the prizes, and the winner received a cash prize of 500.000 DKK. Furthermore, Nicklas Skovgaard will gain valuable advantages through a partnership between the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize and Copenhagen Fashion Week, which will provide extensive communication and inclusion in all the official activities and opportunities of Copenhagen Fashion Week.

The three finalists - Mfpen, Nicklas Skovgaard, and Stel - presented their collections and business brand strategies to an international jury of renowned fashion professionals holding a diverse range of experience and specialisms across the board. For this edition, the panel returned to its original “dual-jury format”, composed of both creative and business-minded personalities. The finalists were met with a uniquely comprehensive evaluation - one that combined artistic excellence, cultural insight, brand building, retail innovation, and responsible business strategy - aligned with today’s evolving industry landscape.

In particular, the creative-minded jury members focused on vision, aesthetics, craftsmanship, technical execution, and cultural relevance, and the business-minded jury members assessed commercial potential, scalability, market positioning, and long-term brand sustainability. Together, they chose this year’s winner based on a balanced view of originality, craftsmanship, business acumen, and commitment to responsible fashion practices.

“Being a finalist in 2022 was already a huge honour, and winning the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize this year feels like a powerful recognition of how much I’ve grown and try to continue growing day by day since then. My journey has always been about reshaping the familiar and rethinking the nostalgic, a process that started in childhood and was inspired by my mother’s way of dressing. Over these years, I’ve embraced slow, organic growth, deepening my creative vision and learning how to combine contrasting materials and stories to express something truly authentic. This prize motivates me to push further, to build a bigger team, and to bring my work to an even broader stage commercially while staying true to the emotional and artisanal values that define my brand. Winning now feels like a confirmation that persistence, honesty, and imagination matter, and it inspires me to continue redefining what Danish fashion can be.”
– Nicklas Skovgaard, Founder

“This year’s Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize finalists have shown that creativity and business sense can go hand in hand. Each designer impressed us with originality, craftsmanship, and a strong vision for the future of Danish fashion. Our winner stood out for a unique and emotionally rich aesthetic. The designs blend theatrical and historical influences with a modern touch, turning nostalgia into something fresh and relevant. Through precise construction and a strong sense of form, the winner transforms clothing into stories that reflect honesty, artistry, and innovation. For the jury, this year's winner represents a bold new voice in Danish design - one that challenges conventions while staying true to the designer's roots. The distinct creative vision and dedication make our winner one of the most exciting Danish designers shaping fashion today. As the designer describes the work as a meeting of realism and romanticism, this award celebrates that balance and supports the designer in taking the next creative and commercial steps. We can’t wait to see what comes next. Congratulations to the winner of Wessel and Vett Fashion Prize: Nicklas Skovgaard.”
– Nina Wedell-Wedellsborg, Founder of the W&V Fashion Prize and Board Member of the W&V Foundation

“The Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize continues to go from strength to strength, recognising and celebrating some of the most impactful designers in Denmark. The 2025 finalists are no exception - each an outstanding example of what defines Danish fashion today and a reflection of the spirit of our times. Thanks to the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize, designers from our industry are not only supported through a significant monetary prize but also recognised with the most prestigious accolade in Danish fashion and I am truly grateful for the continued partnership between Copenhagen Fashion Week and the Wessel & Vett Foundation.”
– Cecilie Thorsmark, CEO, Copenhagen Fashion Week

In 2022, Copenhagen Fashion Week and the Wessel & Vett Foundation entered into a partnership via Copenhagen Fashion Week’s talent support scheme, CPHFW NEWTALENT.

With their role as Bursary Partner of CPHFW NEWTALENT, The Wessel & Vett Foundation offers financial support to the brands part of the scheme via bursaries earmarked for their showcases during the August and February editions of Copenhagen Fashion Week. Their investment in emerging talent through their contribution to CPHFW NEWTALENT demonstrates their continued commitment in ensuring a vibrant and innovative future for the fashion industry.The collaboration is a testament to both Copenhagen Fashion Week’s and the Wessel & Vett Foundation’s continued dedication to supporting, promoting, and nurturing Nordic design talent, as well as established Danish brands who are pushing for innovation - for domestic and international growth and impact.

About the Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize

The Wessel & Vett Fashion Prize stands as Scandinavia’s most coveted and influential independent award for fashion design. Founded in 2012 by the visionary Wessel & Vett Foundation, the Prize fosters entrepreneurship and groundbreaking creativity. It not only celebrates emerging Danish design talent but also honors the rich legacy of Magasin du Nord, weaving tradition with innovation to shape the future of Danish fashion.

About the Wessel & Vett Foundation

Born from the legacy of Magasin du Nord’s pioneering founders, Theodor Wessel and Emil Vett, the Wessel & Vett Foundation carries their visionary spirit forward. Though independent from the department store, the Foundation passionately champions projects that celebrate its storied history and honor the family ’s enduring impact on Danish culture and commerce.