Ami Launches the Ami x IFM Entrepreneurship Prize

AMI creates an award for young entrepreneurs, in partnership with the Institut Français de la Mode.

AMI takes a stand to support the future generations of fashion professionals, through an educational initiative designed to encourage and develop entrepreneurship within the industry. The award is a close collaboration between the Paris-based brand and the Institut Français de la Mode, the #1 fashion school in the world. Its objective is to generate a space where the expertise of professionals will contribute to affirm the talents and skills of students by encouraging them to propose and develop a professional project of their own.

This prize underlines the dedication and attention that AMI pays to students, through Nicolas Santi-Weil, its CEO, and Alexandre Mattiussi, its Founder and Creative Director. Their commitment to transmission is a symbol of their deep attachment to the founding values of the brand — friendship, sharing, inclusion.

Set to become an annual event, the first edition of the Ami x IFM Entrepreneurship Prize will be awarded in the beginning of 2022. The transversal award involves each of the courses proposed by the Institut Français de la Mode (from Management and Creation masters, to hand craft courses): every student can participate. After a pre-selection process carried out by IFM, selected projects will be presented: the award winner award will benefit from a privileged mentorship for the duration of one year, provided in turn by each member of the designating jury.

The jury of the prize includes personalities from the world of creation, art, music and cinema, all friends of the House — among them, this year:

Nicolas Santi-Weil – CEO, AMI; Business Angel
Alexandre Mattiussi – Founder and Creative Director, AMI
Sarah Andelman – Founder, Just an Idea
Leila Slimani – Journalist and writer
Elisha Karmitz – Managing Director, mk2 Group
Max Sokolinski – Author, Composer
Pierre-Alexandre M’Pelé – Head of Editorial Content, GQ France
Deborah Papiernik – SVP, New Business & Strategic Alliances, Ubisoft
Delphine Plisson – Founder, Maison Plisson
Irma Pany – Singer, Songwriter

« A large part of AMI’s success stems from an innovative association of great style and bold entrepreneurship. This approach perfectly finds its expression in the Prix De L’Entrepreneuriat AMI x IFM. Together, AMI and Institut Français de la Mode are committed to involve young people, to encourage them to initiate the decision process, by raising awareness for the limitless opportunities they can generate as entrepreneurs. Initiating this project, giving free reign to the entrepreneurial spirit of the next generation of  leaders, is a huge source of pride for me. »

Nicolas Santi-Weil, CEO, AMI