Modemuze wins DEN Award 2025 with Unlocking Fashion Heritage

Live award ceremony

The nominees — Discover Drenthe (Drents Museum), Unlocking Fashion Heritage (Modemuze), and Wondercast (Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) — shared their nomination videos with their supporters, who voted en masse. The winner was revealed during a live call with jury members Maaike Verberk (DEN), Abdelhadi Baaddi (Innovation:LAB), and Angelique Spaninks (MU Hybrid Art House). Mila Ernst, curator of Modemuze, accepted the award digitally.

Jury report

“Modemuze demonstrates how perseverance, vision, and broad collaboration within a specialized cultural field lead to a digital product that goes far beyond technological innovation alone. By leveraging smart technology in combination with strong, also international, collaborations from the fashion and museum worlds, a dynamic and innovative product emerges that approaches fashion as cultural heritage and as a means of connection. The project bridges the gap between collection management and audience engagement and shows how digital tools can have a tangible impact on how we experience culture. It breaks down barriers, with fashion as a carrier of stories, identity, and inclusivity. Modemuze dares to take risks, continues to develop, and knows how to turn the vulnerability of the material they work with into a strength through a digital approach. The result is an inspiring, accessible product with a wow effect.”

Mila Ernst was speechless and shocked! Her reaction during the ceremony: "Wow, we didn’t expect this at all. Thank you so much for the kind words, this means so much to us."

Collaboration as a success factor

Thanks to their extensive network, Modemuze was able to distribute the nomination video through many channels and secure the most votes. A beautiful example of the power of collaboration.

Also check out the entries from Discover Drenthe and Wondercast, and read the full jury report of the DEN Award 2025.