Circular Fashion Competition 2025

Circular Fashion Competition 2025

Are you passionate about sustainability?

We welcome both emerging and established slow fashion designers, brands, and creative professionals who specialise in sustainability and innovation, and are committed to creating fashion with a positive environmental impact. Individuals or cooperative teams (maximum 3 members) can apply.

This is your chance to showcase your creative work and join the movement towards a more sustainable future!

In collaboration with the Circular Fashion Incubator CIC and the 9th Global Sustainable Fashion Week (#GSFW), we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Circular Fashion Competition. This joint initiative and award will celebrate designers dedicated to sustainable, circular, and ethical fashion, offering an inclusive platform for designers worldwide. We welcome participation from all regions across the globe, fostering a diverse and international exchange of ideas and perspectives in sustainable fashion.2025 Competition open to designers, brands, and creative professionals who specialise in slow fashion, sustainability, and innovation. We welcome both emerging and established designers assionate about creating fashion with a positive environmental impact. Individuals or cooperative teams (maximum 3 members) can apply to submit their collections in one of three exciting categories. This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure, connect with industry leaders, and celebrate fashion that has a positive impact on the planet.

Competition Categories:

1. Traditional, Cultural Heritage & Spiritual Fashion
   This category celebrates designs that draw inspiration from cultural symbols, traditional techniques, and spiritual or emotional significance. Designers are encouraged to use upcycled materials while incorporating symbolic motifs, artisanal craftsmanship, and time-honoured practices that reflect their heritage. The focus is on preserving cultural identity and spiritual values through sustainable fashion, offering a modern take on traditional garments that evoke deeper meanings and connections to the past. By creating pieces that communicate personal beliefs and nature-inspired themes, designers elevate fashion to a form of storytelling and spiritual connection, emphasising the deeper significance behind their creations.
2. Modern, Innovative & Smart Fashion
   This category encourages designers to push the boundaries of contemporary fashion by blending cutting-edge ideas with sustainable practices. Designers are invited to experiment with upcycled materials, forward-looking designs, and innovative approaches that reflect modern values such as sustainability, inclusivity, and social consciousness. Additionally, this category showcases designs that integrate technology, including smart wearables and garments with adaptive features or tech integration. The focus is on creating forward-thinking fashion that enhances functionality and promotes environmentally conscious production processes while prioritizing sustainability and innovation.
3. Upcycled Fashion Mastery
   This special category is dedicated solely to the art of upcycling. Designers are encouraged to transform pre-loved, discarded, or surplus materials into fresh, innovative pieces. This is about taking what’s old or unwanted and turning it into something stylish and meaningful, showcasing mastery in sustainable design.

Competition Brief for Participants Without Completed Designs

We understand that some designers may not yet have their final designs ready. To ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate, we are  pleased to accept alternative forms of evidence to showcase your ideas and creative direction.

Participants without completed designs can register by submitting the following:

Inspirational Mood Boards:
Showcase your vision, inspiration, and theme through a mood board. This can include images, textures, materials, and references that reflect the aesthetic and concept behind your collection.

Colour Illustration Boards:
Provide sketches or illustrations of your proposed designs, accompanied by colour schemes and fabric swatches where possible. These should clearly convey the intended look and feel of your collection.

Small Essay:
Write a brief essay (approximately 300-500 words) explaining your design concept, sustainability approach, and how your work aligns with circular fashion principles. Share your inspiration and vision for  contributing to a sustainable future through fashion.

Any Work-in-Progress Designs:
If you have partial designs or prototypes, feel free to include photos or sketches to further support your application.

These submissions will allow us to evaluate your creativity, commitment, and alignment with the competition’s goals, even if your designs are not yet finalised.

We encourage all participants to use this opportunity to share their ideas and passion for sustainable fashion. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out to us.

Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your submissions!

Deadline for Entries: 28th February 2025

Our judging panel will review all submissions and select the winner and top three finalists. Winner & finalists will be notified by email by 31st March 2025.

Further details you can find here:

https://gsfashionweek.com/circular-fashion-competition-2025/