UK 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 overall winner will be chosen from three categories, their design will be professionally made, and form part of a capsule collection showcasing the best international talent and unveiled at an event hosted in Europe in October 2023.

Additional prizes to be announced at a later date.

Bill Amberg founded the Bill Amberg Studio in 1984. He is a global authority on architectural leatherwork and the integration of leather into interior spaces. Alongside architecture and interiors, the Bill Amberg Studio is renowned for its artisanal leather bags and accessories, with his iconic ‘Rocket Bag’ included in the permanent collection of London’s V&A and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Bill is passionate about sustainability and is involved in a host of mentor and social enterprises across the craft sphere. He is a board member and trustee of Cockpit Arts and the National Leather Collection, an honorary Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Leathersellers, and has honorary doctorates from UAL and the University of Northampton.

Ruth Glen runs a London-based studio working with an extensive team of industry department experts. They specialise in design, product development and the making of bespoke pieces.

Following specialist training at Cordwainers College and thirty-five years in the industry, Ruth’s experience has extended across the private, commercial and public sectors, working closely with UK and international designers from High Street to Couture.

Ruth has twenty years of teaching experience; training and mentoring the next generation of makers, honed from her time at Central St. Martins, the London College of Fashion and Cordwainers College. Ruth and her team work closely with selected BA/MA students and universities to provide them with high quality creative direction, product development and prototyping services. We have always supported students and encouraged newcomers to the industry and are currently developing an in-house initiative focusing on education and skills training.

Anna Melegh is a footwear and accessories designer turning everyday objects inside out by using the methods of surrealism. Anna has nearly 10 years of art and shoe-focused education, starting with her time at the Secondary School of Visual Arts in Budapest learning to be a leather goods maker. She then went on to complete the BA Footwear and Accessories course in Northampton and the MA Footwear at the London College of Fashion in 2022.

Anna has been shortlisted at FASHIONCLASH 2022 Festival with her animation and made it into the top 5 in the Fashion Film and Video category. She has won The Real Leather. Stay Different. Student Design Competition’s International Footwear, the UK Overall and UK Footwear Categories. She is now working at Christian Louboutin as well as collaborating on smaller projects with other designers and artists.