International Student Design Competition

You are asked to use leather as the inspiration for a single item, either clothing, shoes, or accessories. Entries must be at least 50% cattle hide leather and any other materials used must be natural or organic materials where possible. We do not accept the use of fur or exotic skins. Plastics must only be used where no natural alternatives are available. We would like your piece to capture one or more of the facets of leather, from beauty and versatility to strength and durability.

Entries should include the following elements:

1. A brief summary of your project provided in English.
2. Storyboards and design inspiration.
3. Sketches, flats, technical specifications, and final design (the item does not need to be physically made at this stage)
4. A short two-minute video to introduce you and your design. This is optional but encouraged, as it brings life to your project.

Please give consideration to ease of recycling, reuse and disposal at the end of the product’s life, and also think about the practicalities of commercial production, as we are looking for designers who will start new brands, fashion movements or slow-style trends.

Each of the three category winners will receive a trophy, certificate and Coffee Table Book covering the competition and including their entry. 

The category winners will have their designs professionally made, and form part of a capsule collection showcasing the best international talent, and unveiled at a final event hosted in Europe in October 2023. 

All three category winners and the People’s Choice award winner will win an all expenses-paid trip to attend the final event in Europe where the overall winner will be chosen and announced.

Additional prizes to be announced at a later date.

Gal Benjamin, is an Israeli Assistant Designer at luxury fashion brand KAWAYAN and graduate from Shenkar College of Design, Engineering and Art. In 2022 he was crowned the Overall Winner of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition.

Christopher Korber has spent most of his professional life in the fashion industry, from senior executive roles at Tommy Hilfiger to the current Managing Director of Hugo Boss Ticino. He is known as a change agent, an innovative, big-picture thinker, a strong cross-functional collaborator, and a powerful motivator and mentor who raises the performance of diverse, global teams. His expertise encompasses operations, strategy, brand management, innovation, and consumer-centric products at all stages of the life cycle.

Mike Adler works for leading celebrities, brands, fashion magazines and some of the world’s most iconic photographers. His work features in photography exhibitions, books and galleries—with recent works by Ellen Von Unwerth and Mike Adler for Fotografiska New York. His expertise and connections with many Haute Couture brands has given him a unique eye and a style celebrities yearn for. Across a career spanning 20 years, Mike has attended to the style of Josh O’Connor, Maisie Williams, Elizabeth Hurley, Emma Corrin, Monica Bellucci, Melissa George, David Guetta, Sophie Kauer, Catrinel Marlon and Pamela Anderson, among many others. What he loves about leather is its longevity and sustainability that allow fashion trends and commerciality to co-exist.

Leanne Elliott Young is the CEO & Co-Founder of Institute of Digital Fashion. She is noted globally as the lead innovator and commentator on the topics of metaverse, digital fashion innovation, inclusivity in tech, web3 sustainability and NFTs. Building business cases and creative concepts for the future; an inclusive, diverse, decentralized and sustainable one. Since graduating, she has held prestigious contracts with Nike; Global entertainment team on experiential marketing to Selfridges luxury store building retail innovation. 

Cat Taylor launched IoDF, the Institute of Digital Fashion; an emblem for change in a broken system. Co-Founding the initiative alongside Leanne Elliott Young, IoDF acts as a platform to restructure how technology and digital are used from creation to consumer, pushing tech-use towards a more democratic and sustainable future. Widely considered a trailblazer, Cattytay is leading the drive towards a digital fashion future. 

Paola Arosio graduated in Philosophy in 2000 at the University of Milan, she has worked in fashion for 20 years and in sustainability for 10. At Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana Paola is the Head of New Brands & Sustainability Projects: after a first experience in managing TV programs as “Woman under the stars” and “Fashion and Sea in Porto Cervo”, she started dealing with education, institutional initiatives, partnerships, working groups and events about CSR and emerging brands worldwide. In 2011, she started the sustainability area at Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana and today she coordinates all the activities of the department such as the annual International Sustainability Roundtable and the CNMI Sustainable Fashion Awards. Paola has also been working on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for 4 years.