PARIS, France - Designer Alexandre Mattiussi - who launched menswear line AMI in 2010 – was awarded the Andam prize on Thursday night and took home the prize money of 250,000 euros. The competition is aimed at recognizing emerging talent in France.

“It is great to be rewarded for a menswear brand,” said the 32 year-old designer to AFP. “It shows that it is not just Haute Couture and embroidered skirts that count, it is also a shirt, a jumper, the guy you cross on the street on the way to buy croissants in the morning,” he continued.

Alexandre Mattiussi says he draws inspiration from the street to put together his creative yet accessible collections. His aesthetic is easy, chic and cool.

“Financially speaking, this is great. It will reassure the bank and the investors,” he said. Mattiussi presented his first collection in January 2011, after having graduated from the Duperré school in Paris. He started his career at Dior Homme and Givenchy before moving on to work for Marc Jacobs.

Aside from the prize money, the designer will receive two years of mentoring from OTB boss Renzo Rossi, who will advise on creative direction, management and commercial strategy. Prestigious Canadian department store Hudson’s Bay has also agreed to buy the designers next collection and Swarovski have given 10,000 euros worth of crystals to be used in the production of his next line.

Designer Christine Phung took home the second place prize worth 75,000 euros. Phung graduated from the same school as Mattiussi before going on to study at the IFM. She worked for Christophe Lemaire, Chloé and Vanessa Bruno before launching her own line in 2011.

The jury this year included Pierre Bergé, Sophie Delafontaine from Longchamp and Emmanuelle Alt.

The Andam - or the National Association for the Development of the Arts and Fashion – was founded in 1989 as part of an initiative from the French ministry of Culture. Previous Andam include Martin Margiela, Viktor&Rolf and Christophe Lemaire, designer of womenswear at Hermès.