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The Philippines Student Design Competition

2023


We are delighted for the first year to host the Philippines Real Leather. Stay Different. Student Design Competition 2023, a search for the best of the Philippines new designers 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 15 2023, and closes on July 31 2023. 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 Philippine natural materials ( i.e. local or indigenous) 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. Sketches, flats, technical specifications, and final design (the item does not need to be physically made at this stage).
  3. 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.

A shortlist of the best entries will be presented to the judges, and the finalists will be asked to create their designs for the final judging element. The materials will be provided by The Tannery Association of the Philippines.

THE PRIZE

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

The Overall Winner, chosen from the three category winners by a panel of judges, will have their entry professionally made and it will form part of a capsule collection showcasing the best international talent and unveiled at an event hosted in Europe in October 2023.

Additional prizes may be announced at a later date.

COMPETITION SPONSORS

Sponsors include but not limited to Chelsi Leather & Services, GIBI Shoes, Zapateria, The Tannery Manila, Philippine Fashion Coalition

 

THE JUDGES

Ms. Mary Lazaro,  President of the Tanners Association of the Philippines.

 

Ms. Unyx Sta. Ana, Founder and President of Zapateria, a 5th generation shoemakers based in Marikina City, the shoe capital of the Philippines.

 

Mr. Julius Leano, Director of Philippine’s Textile Research Institute (PTRI), The PTRI is part of Department of Science & Technology (DOST).

 

Ms. Lilian Salonga, Director of the Competitiveness Bureau within the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI).

 

Mr. Albert Andrada, world-renowned Filipino Fashion Designer.

 

Ms. Amina Aranaz Alunan, talented fashion accessory designer and co-founder of SOFA Institute (School of Fashion and Arts).

 

Mr. Carlos Delantar, Consultant for the Sustainability Solutions Exchange.

PACENCIA: A Tribute to Memories

Kristina Marie Mariano

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Fashion Design BFA

Competitions: Philippines

Footwear

Tapatan

Tin Masongsong

Miriam College – Quezon City

Product Innovation

Competitions: Philippines

Footwear

PADAYON

Reizzane Manzon

Marikina Polytechnic College

Certificate of Technology major in Architectural Drafting

Competitions: Philippines

Apparel

Manlot Leather Jewelry

Daniela Yna Masias

Iloilo Science and Technology University

Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design Merchandising

Competitions: Philippines

Accessories

"Pintados Bakya" shoe design

Karyll Animas

Iloilo Science and Technology University

Fashion Design and Merchandising

Competitions: Philippines

Footwear

Mithi ng Diwata

Clara Canlas

Miriam College

Bachelor of Design Major in Sustainable Wear

Competitions: Philippines

Apparel

Off Cut

Reinjamin Riodique

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Fashion Design BFA

Competitions: Philippines

Apparel

MATATAG

MAC GERARDINE DE LARA

Marikina Polytechnic College

CERTIFICATE OF TECHNOLOGY- MAJOR IN ARCHITECTURAL DRAFTING

Competitions: Philippines

Design

Bakapat

Ivan Cedric Fabia

University of the Philippines

Fine Arts

Competitions: Philippines

Accessories

Hinabing Pintas (Beauty that was woven together)

Samantha Martin

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Fashion Design BFA

Competitions: Philippines

Footwear

Anakaiñosis

BEATRICE GUTIERREZ

MIRIAM COLLEGE

bachelor of design susainable wear

Competitions: Philippines

Apparel

Banyuhay (Metamorphosis)

Michael Joseph Bawar

Philippine Women's University-Manila

Master of Fine Arts and Design

Competitions: Philippines

Footwear

KUBO Sandals

Vivien Antonette Daso

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

Industrial Design BS

Competitions: Philippines

Footwear

Reviving Heritage: Redefining Bakya Shoes for Today's Style

Louise Nicole Dabu

Fashion Institute of the Philippines

Fashion Design BFA

Competitions: Philippines

Footwear

VESTIDO TERNO

Kim Ivan Delgra

Iloilo Science and Technology University

Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design and Merchandising

Competitions: Philippines

Apparel

TURN OVER

Andrei Valera

De La Salle College of Saint Benilde

Fashion Design and Merchandising

Competitions: International, Philippines

Apparel

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.