H&M unveils the winner of its 2020 Design Award

A Latvian designer has seen her folkloric fashion pieces win her the H&M Design Award 2020.

Sabine Skarule has been announced as the winner of this year's edition of the prestigious fashion prize, which is run annually by the Swedish retail giant H&M. The Latvian graduate from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, was awarded the accolade in Berlin, after impressing a panel of industry experts with a collection inspired by the craft of her homeland.

"It's unbelievable," Skarule said in a statement. "Winning the H&M Design Award is such an amazing starting point for me to begin my own label. This prize opens the door, and gives me the freedom to fulfill my dreams."

"Sabine's collection was truly amazing," added Ann-Sofie Johansson, H&M's creative advisor. "It was such an emotional collection that really touches you. There were so many different elements, so much craft and technique. It makes you want to see more."

Skarule, who will receive €50,000 in prize money to help develop her creations, drew on her Latvian childhood to come up with a knitwear collection featuring traditional techniques and folkloric patterns.

In winning the award, which aims to nurture the next generation of exciting fashion talent, Skarule joins the ranks of prestigious creatives and former prize winners including Richard Quinn and Stefan Cooke.