Mango, the Spanish fashion design firm, has announced the launch of the first Spanish fashion awards for young talent.

This contest, which has been given the name El Botón (The Button) – Mango Fashion Awards, has backing in the form of co-organisers from the five most prestigious international design schools: Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, in London, the Institut Français de la Mode in Paris, the Istituto Marangoni in Milan, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp and the Escola Superior de Disseny in Barcelona.

With this award, Mango aims to launch a project that will help foster and strengthen the international presence of young talent in the field of fashion. The contest, which will award a prize of e300,000 (to date the largest prize awarded in an event of this kind), will select ten finalists from among thousands of participants from all over the world. The finalists will then present their creations to the media, international fashion buyers and the judging panel, which will consist of acclaimed professionals in the world of design.

Mango public relations director Ninona Vila said: “We are in a sector that is growing more and more competitive. Launching a collection involves a financial investment that many young talents cannot afford and so they are left by the wayside. Our aim is to help foster and strengthen creativity in the world of fashion.”