Paris, March 14 {No.2000-21} - UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura will present young designers with the Prizes of the third Chic Chinois Competition, jointly organised by UNESCO and the Felissimo Group of Japan, on March 15.

An exhibition of the award-winning works and of those short-listed in the competition will be held at UNESCO Headquarters from March 16 to 31.

A unique event of its kind, the Chic Chinois Competition offers young designers from around the world the possibility of interpreting traditional Chinese aesthetics anew, of capturing and revealing its spirit in fashion and interior decoration designs. The Competition marks the continuation of the Design 21 Project which was launched in 1995 by UNESCO and the Felissimo Group on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations. One thousand one hundred-seventy designers entered the competition with projects representing "a new way of life in harmony with nature" on the theme of Chic Chinois. One hundred twelve candidates from 32 countries were short-listed last July in four categories: fashion, fashion accessories, furniture, home accessories.

The laureates of the Competiton are: Wu Tong (China), Grand Prix, best design in all categories (US$10,000); Chu Yan (China), First Fashion Prize (US$3,000); Maria Isabel Rueda (Colombia), Fashion Accessories ($3,000); Dale Firman (New Zealand), Furniture (US$3,000); Honda Takashi (Japan), Home Accessories (US$3,000). Eight other prizes, rewarding laureates from China, Iceland, Israel and Thailand, are given by several sponsors.

The exhibition opening and prize-giving ceremony will take place on March 15 at 6.30 p.m. in the Hall Ségur in the presence of UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, the CEO of Felissimo, Kazuhiko Yazaki, and Annette Goldstein, President of the International Jury.