Arthur Wagenaar is the winner of the Lichtingprijs 2026, the award for emerging fashion talent. He receives the prize for his KABK graduation collection, Monnikenwerk (Monastic Work), inspired by the endless repetition found in monastic life.
The Lichtingprijs
The Lichtingprijs has been awarded annually during Amsterdam Fashion Week since 2007 to outstanding Dutch fashion graduates. Ten finalists are selected from a pool of 25 recently graduated fashion students. The purpose of the prize and its accompanying fashion show is to connect newly graduated fashion students with professionals in the fashion industry.
Monastic Routines
Wagenaar’s graduation collection, titled Monnikenwerk, draws inspiration from the various aspects of monastic routines. He translated the repetition and introspection of monastic life into a women’s collection. For example, it includes a long, sculptural dress covered in burned pages from a book, all applied in the same manner. Several pieces in the collection are also treated with the same red paint.
Head coverings that partially obscure the face and block the field of vision symbolize the importance of reflection in monastic life. Unlike the pursuit of perfection, Wagenaar’s collection embodies the value of repetition.
Congratulations to Arthur!
