Global Zoom 2019 in Vienna: The City of Music celebrates Hair Artistry

Goldwell & KMS Global Zoom guests from all over the world converged on the Austrian capital this weekend to celebrate the 17th edition of its  international extravaganza!

More than 2,500 hair stylists from all over the world convened at Reed Messe in Vienna for a spectacular weekend driven by a desire to share inspiration and creativity among the KAO Salon Division family. 

As the event unfolded, visitors were excited to learn that this is the last year that the Global Zoom annual event and the Color Zoom Challenge will take place in their current format. John Moroney, VP Creative & Communication at Kao Salon Division, explained that the 2019 Color Zoom collection –Remix– would be the last one: “This year we’re launching the 2020 Goldwell Couture Collection –Intrepid– as our creative and fashion statement, elevating and expanding it to create one single style/fashion statement across all brand visual communication, including education,” he explained. “The Couture Collection produces couture inspiration, while from a more salon-style perspective, the 2020 Editorial Collection –Go Beyond– reflects the couture trend, but with a commercial, editorial edge.”

There will be not one single fashion direction for 2020 but three specific trends: Soft Texture – out of the shower, imperfect, free texture. Understated styling; Future Glam – pared down and minimal volume, but maximum shine and impact; and Bold Sport – out of the gym and into the high street. Lycra, neoprene. Style at the speed of life.

Then on Sunday evening, guests were invited back to the Reed Messe auditorium as excitement escalated towards the announcement of this year’s Global Zoom Challenge winners. Before the announcements were made, Cory Couts, Global President of KAO Salon Division said: “This is a very  special year for Goldwell  30 years since it became part of KAO– Thirty Beautiful Years. Mr Sawada, CEO of KAO and his wife, Mrs Sawada, are our special guests this evening. Now we turn to our other special guests – our Global Zoom finalists. They is no greater bravery in our industry than to put your art in front of others to be judged, so let’s celebrate every last one of them this evening, and celebrate together as we welcome our winners onto the stage”:

COLOR ZOOM CHALLENGE 2019 GLOBAL WINNERS:

New Talent Category
Bronze: Courtney Cairns (UK)
Silver: Gzno Ooi (Malaysia)
GOLD: J LIM (SINGAPORE)

Creative Colorist Category
Bronze: Fish Lai (Taiwan)
Silver: Van Dong Luong (Vietnam)
GOLD: IRAKLI SARDALISHVILI (RUSSIA)

Partner Colorist Category
Bronze: Yan Yanchoglo (Russia)
Silver: Van Ha Hoang (Vietnam)
GOLD: YUIJIN HO (SINGAPORE)

Stylist’s Favorite Awards
New Talent: Courtney Cairns (UK)
Creative Colorist: Lauren Roma Hanlon (UK)
Partner Colorist: Richard Munslow (UK)

Don’t miss our video featuring some of the best creations by the 91 finalists from 37 countries!

After a night of partying and celebration, guests were invited back to the auditorium on Monday morning to experience the Artists’ Session – 20-minute shows by top creative teams working in both colour and styling. First on stage was London’s Hare & Bone featuring the salon’s creative director, Sam Burnett, who presented the new ‘Tainted Quartz’ collection. They were followed by “A Star is Born” by Austrian artist Mario Krankl, whose legendary experience also masterminded the opening show at the Color Zoom finals the night before. After a reprise of the new 2020 Couture Collection, the team from M&P were welcomed onstage for a technical presentation of their new cut and colour collection: ‘Reversible’. Closing the sessions was Berlin team, ICONO, featuring some beautiful colour work in their stunning ‘100k Lux’ collection.

Goldwell also announced that the Global Zoom event will be reimagined and rebranded next year as KAO Salon Global Experience, featuring the new Global Creative Awards and it’s going to be held in Amsterdam (Netherlands)!