International Student Design Competition
2023
We are delighted for the third year to host the International Real Leather. Stay Different. Student Design Competition 2023, a search for the best new designers around the globe and for those who want to promote slow style and a more sustainable future for fashion.
Are you concerned about fast throwaway fashion and unsustainable materials? According to Greenpeace, synthetics – made using petrochemicals from the oil industry – now make up 60% of our clothing. These clothes not only take hundreds of years to biodegrade but are often cheap and poorly made. The result — nearly one billion items of clothing, each typically worn just five times — are thrown away every year.
In the meantime, leather, a natural by-product of the dairy and meat industries and our growing demand for food — from burgers to milkshakes, can be used to make items that last a lifetime and, when disposed of, biodegrade quickly. Leather is a perfect solution to one of fashion’s biggest problems, but each year almost half of the world’s cattle hides are just thrown away.
To encourage thinking about our planet’s future and to combat this waste, our judges challenge you to create an original, innovative, and visually stunning design, in one of three categories of apparel, accessories or footwear made from real cattle leather. They would also like to see how entrants approach creating garments that will not only last, but be loved, for a lifetime.
The competition, run with our partners at Arts Thread, opens March 1 2023, and closes on June 30 2023, midnight BST. Any entries submitted after that date will not be accepted.
THE BRIEF & DELIVERABLES
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:
- A brief summary of your project provided in English.
- Storyboards and design inspiration.
- Sketches, flats, technical specifications, and final design (the item does not need to be physically made at this stage)
- 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.
THE PRIZE
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.
THE JUDGES
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.
Stream of Consciousness
Yuetong Wang
London College of Fashion
BA (Hons) Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories
Competitions: International
Accessories
Emotionally Durable Accessory Based on Modularity
Liis Tisler
Estonian Academy of Arts
Accessory Design MA
Competitions: International
Accessories
prunel
Aurélien BOURDET
L'Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantiques
Product Design Bachelor & Digital Design Master
Competitions: International
Accessories
Ex;anté – project Perak
Andry Chen
London College of Fashion
BA(Hons) Cordwainers: Fashion Bags and Accessories
Competitions: UK, International
Accessories
MUYUM
Eliška Chromčáková
Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art University Of West Bohemia
Fashion Design MFA
Competitions: International
Accessories
FLUIDA
Viola Ponticelli
IED Istituto Europeo Di Design
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Accessories
How leather industry's off-cuts can be utilised in order to avoid landfill
Alida Xavier
Istituto Marangoni: Fashion, Art and Design
MA Luxury Accessory design and management
Competitions: UK, International
Accessories
Ata Sué | Zihita Collection
Allison Gómez
London College of Fashion
Cordwainers Fashion Bags and Accessories: Product Design and Innovation
Competitions: International, UK
Accessories
Weave
Emily Richardson
Central Saint Martins
Ba (hons) Product & Industrial Design
Competitions: UK, International
Accessories
Gauntlet modular handbag
Siddharth Yadav
MIT institute of design, Pune
Industrial design
Competitions: International
Accessories
Tessellation upcycled leather jacket
Aida Matuseviciute
Aalto University
Fashion Design MFA
Competitions: Nordic Region, International
Apparel
My Digital-Physical World
Sara Halpern
Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Design
ARTEM ANIMA X BAINS
surina bains
Birmingham City University
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Apparel
Fight or Flight
Siobhán Curtis
National College of Art and Design
BA (HONS) Fine Art International: Department of Applied Materials: Textiles, Art & Artefact
Competitions: International
Apparel
Manmade?: An Extension of the Natural State
Zoe Alvarez
Cornell University
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
Whim
Tamar Elbaz
Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
MY LITTLE MONSTER
NETA SHALOM
Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
Humanesque
Nathan Batra
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
CYBER WEST
Jozef Tomko
London College of Fashion
Ba. Fashion Design Technology: Menswear
Competitions: International
Apparel
RLSD: The Statement Hybrid
Sifana Shahzad
The Glasgow School of Art
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Apparel
Summer kisses, Winter tears
Sharon Katz
Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
MEERESKREATUREN – LEATHERBACK JACKET
Charlotte Lockton
University of Brighton
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Design
SIPHON
Hollie Haughin
Northumbria University
BA (HONS) Fashion Design
Competitions: UK, International
Design
The Good Life
Tori Jagger
Sheffield Hallam University
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Apparel
The Giger Coat
Arianna Stapley
Kingston School of Art
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Apparel
Blinkered: Falconry T-Shirt
Madeleine Morgan
University of Brighton
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Apparel
"EL DOMINGO" (SUNDAY)
Ana Del Rio Mullarkey
De Montfort University
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Apparel
Sinful Sanctity
Emilly Malcher
Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
Concious Cuts
Simone Celli
Istituto Marangoni: Fashion, Art and Design
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
Spin-to-Win
Rose Brown
Nottingham Trent University
Fashion Design MFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
Jacron Chainmail Top
Cecelia Hinds
Marist College
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
"God you look AMAZING!" "WHAT! Are you Serious?"
Mailie Halcyon Dennis
Nottingham Trent University
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: UK, International
Apparel
COWPUNK
Floyd Rorije
ArteZ University of the arts
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Design
Melaya Wrap
Peter Shonoda
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: International
Apparel
I(M)PERFECT
Sara Veneziano
Accademia Costume & Moda
Footwear & Accessory Design BFA
Competitions: International
Accessories
Beyond Bauhaus
Abigail Rayner
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Fibers BFA, Accessory Design MFA
Competitions: International
Accessories
Novus Sustainable Leather Everyday Sneaker – Mitchel Hoye University of Queensland
Mitchell Hoye
Queensland University Of Technology
Industrial Design
Competitions: International
Footwear
Natalie Circus
开云 杨
Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology
Footwear & Accessory Design BFA
Competitions: China Mainland, International
Footwear
Chasing Clouds / 逐云
腾州 应
闽南理工学院-服装与艺术设计学院
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: China Mainland, International
Footwear
Fishing Net
Hai Shihao
Donghua University
Product Design BFA
Competitions: China Mainland, International
Footwear
Surrounded by Technology
Pei Yi Dai
Fu Jen Catholic University
Fashion Design BFA
Competitions: Taiwan Region, International
Footwear
Cum-Joe—Sneakers
WEI,SIANG LIOU
Tainan University of Technology
Footwear & Accessory Design BFA
Competitions: Taiwan Region, International
Footwear
Fragile Future
Hannu Viitala
Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK)
Smart and sustainable design, bachelor of culture and arts
Competitions: Nordic Region, International
Footwear