DAE Alumna Hanna Matera Wins Louis Vuitton Accessories Design Graduates Initiative 2026

Selected from more than 240 students worldwide, Matera participated in the fashion house’s graduates initiative, where 15 finalists travelled to Paris to visit the Ateliers in Asnières and the exhibition "Louis Vuitton Art Déco”, met the artisans and the Jury, and presented their design ideas.

Drawing inspiration from the exhibition’s presentation of Nicolas Ghesquière’s work, Matera’s design pays tribute to the Monogram flower. Using contrasting materials in a black-and-white palette, the bag aimed to “conjure a woman at once whimsical and strong”.

Hanna becomes the first winner to join the Louis Vuitton Design Graduate Initiative, and will undertake a series of rotations across retail, prototyping ateliers and design studios in leather goods and accessories. She says: "This is such a wonderful launch into this creative world, and such a meaningful way to enter the industry, to learn, and to work in an environment where teamwork is essential. I am eager for that."

While at DAE, Matera was granted a DAE Community Grant with Macarius Eng Chern Yual for their project (M)Art. Read more here.

Congratulations Hanna!

More about the prize and the initiative can be read here.

If you'd like to see more of Hanna's work, visit the upcoming Dutch Design Week (17–25 October 2026), where her graduation project, REQUIEM OF A TREE, will be on display.

Video provided by Louis Vuitton