The 28-year-old Danish designer wins €5,000 for reaching the finalist stage, as well as the chance to compete against five other international finalists for the opportunity to show her collection at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Stockholm.

‘There are so many talented students in Britain, so for me to be chosen to represent the UK is a really big deal,’ Riis said. ‘My dream is to start my own label, and getting selected for this competition gives me the confidence to keep going.’

Judges including H&M Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansson, ELLEuk.com Fashion Features Director Emma Sells and LFW The Daily Editor Cat Callender praised the 28-year-old designer’s refined, modern separates.

‘Stine’s collection of exquisitely constructed separates displayed the kind of elegance and polish more normally associated with established designers,’ Callender said.

Riis said she finds inspiration for her designs in the world of menswear—jackets, pockets, and suiting fabrics feature heavily in her designs—as well as the libraries and galleries of Copenhagen, her home town. At the heart of her work is an ethos of enduring design.

‘I like to communicate that clothes is something you should appreciate and invest in,’ Riis said. ‘I don’t like how people buy and throw away. I wanted to make a collection that will last more than one season.’

Watch the presentations in the video below, and find out more about the initiative at designaward2012.hm.com.

Read about Marni's upcoming collection for H&M

Take a look at the Versace for H&M collection here

<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=34561168&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=34561168&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/34561168">UK jury chooses finalist</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/barracudatv">Barracuda Film & TV</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>