And now, in a fantastic boost to her fledgling design career, she is looking forward to the moment when her winning design rolls off the production lines.

When it arrives in Triumph stores throughout Europe and Asia early in August, Midori’s intriguing design is destined to be the talk of the town.

Midori called her concept “Under Skin”. She says, “When women feel like crying, they tend to hide it. What this kind of delicate feeling and lingerie have in common is that both are only revealed to the important people in a woman’s life, those who are closest to her. I designed my lingerie to look like the face of a crying woman to illustrate this closeness and intimacy.”

The students participating in TIA08 were asked to interpret the theme “Female Fascination” and to create a unique showpiece including an under-wired bra and brief, that reflected the enchantment of women.

70 international design schools in 31 countries and regions took part in the competition which was judged by fashion experts including designers Viktor and Rolf; supermodel Helena Christensen; photographer Ellen von Unworth and creative director Sarah from Colette in Paris.

After winning the Triumph Inspiration Award 08, Midori met Triumph designers at the company’s design centre in Hong Kong. They discussed the developments that would transform her winning showpiece into a design that could go on sale commercially.

The result is remarkably faithful to the original. The stunning, multi-way, black padded bra (£50) sparkles with silver threads, diamanté and crystals and is trimmed with black satin and “eyelash” fringing.

The matching tanga (£25) is in nude stretch net appliquéd with radiating narrow black lines. The padded lips at the front are removable.

The set will arrive in Triumph stores in Cambridge, Cardiff, Leicester and Walton on Thames early in August. Bra sizes are 32 – 36 B & C and the brief is in S, M, L. Each item will have a special descriptive hang tag.

Meanwhile, students from top design schools all over the world are again busy creating designs for the Triumph Inspiration Award ’09. The theme this year is “Icons”.

James Nolan from Central Saint Martins will represent the UK at the grand final in Milan on September 23rd with his beautiful “swan” design inspired by the story of Odette and Odile. More news about the final on TLP soon!

I have to say it all looks very pretty and some of the other designs look gorgeous too — so I hope we can zoom in on some of those in the very near future too…

In the mean time — click any of these photos for larger versions!

More soon!

Midori Matsuo, 20 (from Japan), convinced the judging panel, and was the winner of the Triumph Inspiration Award ’08 with the design “Under Skin”. She will pocket not only a cash prize of Euro 15,000 but will also see a career boosting limited edition of the winning piece as her showpiece is adapted and interpreted by the Triumph design team, leading to series production of the set which will be sold in selected Triumph stores worldwide. German Theresa Bachler, 21, with the design “Once Upon a Time…” will receive Euro 10,000 and Norwegian Stine Fagervik-Rosèn, 28, with “Desire for Beautiful Trash” will receive Euro 5,000.

All finalists from Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and Oceania met and competed in pre-Olympic Beijing on July 31st, 2008, at the avant-garde 798 Art Zone situated in the Dashanzi Area. Here in Beijing’s bohemian quarter, the final was celebrated in the Factory Hall 706, which will be home to Switzerland’s National House during the Olympic Period, the “House of Switzerland”.

At the grand final of the Triumph Inspiration Award ’08, all competing finalists were under the scrutiny of the demanding juries. The international jury judged all entries according to the same criteria: innovation and creativity in interpreting the design theme “female fascination”, individuality and uniqueness, concept, aesthetics, quality in design and execution, as well as presentation. “What we love most is the fact that the students were asked to free themselves of the commercial side of things – almost no restraints were put on their creativity“, stated Viktor & Rolf.

The grand final the Triumph Inspiration Award, inaugurated this year, is a global design competition created by the lingerie specialist Triumph International. The Award challenges students from prestigious international design schools to create a conceptual showpiece-set, comprising of an under-wired bra and brief, dedicated to the design motto for 2008: “Female Fascination”.

This news if fresh off the press so we hope to get you photos and more details soon!