ARE YOU THE NEXT SUSTAINABLE DESIGNER?

We are looking for the next emerging sustainable designer.  Fashion challenge established to promote and recognize emerging eco-friendly designers works.  You will be challenged to design a contemporary fashion-forward mini collection reimagining fashion.  To apply to the ATLSFW Student Design Challenge, you must fill in an online application by September 10, 2023. Below is a summary of the application design requirements for the competition. 

You must submit:

  • Three photos of recent original finished garments from your portfolio to demonstrate your skills and experience as a fashion designer.
  • Photos must be presented on a clean white or transparent background.
  • One mood board illustrating the concept, inspiration and color-theme of your collection. 
  • Three ready-to-wear outfit illustrations with technical drawings (minimum front side). You are not required to make any outfits at the open application stage; more details about measurement charts will be shared if you are selected at the finalist stage.
  • Information about your zero-waste technique, if applicable to your design. Applicants are required to provide exact pattern measurements.
  • Information about your textile selection for your three outfits including the type of fiber, textile and source of origin must be provided. Applicants are required to provide photo evidence of the original textile source before cutting or alteration in order to prove such textiles are available for use.
  • Answers to the eight questions about your collection, your circular design strategies and your aspirations as a sustainable designer.

Your collection must comply with the following guidelines:

  • The concept of your collection should incorporate Design for Low Waste, Design for Low-impact Materials and Processes, Design for Longevity, and Design for Recyclability 
  • All of your designs must use textile waste and/or textiles created from waste.
  • All submitted artwork must be your original creations and must not have been shown in public or any social media.
  • No changes to artworks or your textile selections are permitted after submission unless with prior approval from ATLSFW.
  • ATLSFW reserves the right to refuse any vulgar, offensive and/or inappropriate outfits. Shoes and accessories are not required to be designed but you will need to provide shoes for your collection if you reach the final.

Each photo submitted as part of your application must have a file size of less than 1MB and in .jpg or .png format (we recommend the photos’ pixels per inch (ppi) should not exceed 72 ppi). 

The deadline for applications is Friday September 15, 2023 at 11:59pm EST. Please note that you will NOT be able to amend your application including your artwork and textile waste selections once submitted. Any applications received after the competition deadline may not be accepted. After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation.

Following submission, the ATLSFW team may contact applicants for further information, such as verification of professional experience and eligibility. Applicants can be disqualified at any time for failing to meet the Terms and Conditions of Entry and any other reasons determined by ATLSFW.

The online application form is divided into ten sections and the following information outlines the topline requirements of each section. We strongly advise you to create an account as soon as possible in order to fully understand the exact information required for submission.

  1. ELIGIBILITY
    Confirm that you are eligible to enter the competition
  2. PERSONAL INFORMATION
    Fill in your personal information so that we can contact you
  3. EDUCATION
    Fill in the details about your education, starting with the most recent qualification
  4. WORKING EXPERIENCE
    Fill in the details about your relevant work experience, starting with the most recent experience
  5. PORTFOLIO
    Upload three photos of your most recent, original finished garments from your portfolio (regardless of whether these are sustainable or not)
  6. COMPETITION DESIGNS
    Upload the following:
    – One mood board

– Three ready-to-wear outfit illustrations with technical drawings (minimum front side): At least one outfit must be designed for a plus sized model.

– Details about the sustainable design techniques you have used

  1. ZERO-WASTE TECHNIQUE
    Explain your approach to zero-waste technique, if applicable
  2. TEXTILE SOURCING
    Information about your ‘waste’ textile selection/source
  3. STATEMENTS
    Write eight brief statements in response to our questions about your collection which include your circular design strategies, and aspirations as a sustainable designer
  4. CONFIRMATION
    Confirm that all the information you have entered in the application form is correct and original

REACHING THE FINAL ROUNDS

After the competition deadline of September 1 2023, the top applicants to go through to the semi-final rounds will be selected. The ATLSFW team will notify the finalists of their success individually before public announcement. 

After the judges’ assessment, the ATLSFW team will directly notify the finalists, who will be publicly announced on the www.ATLSFW.com and social media on September 15 2023. 

The Assessment will be determined by the Three ready-to-wear outfits based on the online application: finalists will turn their three submitted illustrations into complete outfits.  No changes to artworks or textile selections are permitted unless with prior approval from ATLSFW. 

  • One of the looks must be made with nonconventional materials: finalists will design the outfit based on the mood board submitted in their application. 
  • The finalist’s entire three outfit collection must:
  • Be created using circular design thinking 
  • Made using textile waste or with textiles made from waste.
  • Original creations by the finalist (both artwork and outfits) and not have been seen in public or social media previously.
  • Have been made and sewn by the finalists themselves (for the four physical creations).

FINALIST TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Prior to the announcement of the finalists on www.atlsfw.com, all finalists are required to sign an agreement with Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week stating their agreement to the dates, schedules and final terms. In brief, this agreement will require applicants to confirm that they are able to:

  • Be subject to visit
  • Send work-in-progress reports for their competition collection by the deadline of October 8 2022. This is to ensure that the designer’s competition collection is produced in a timely manner and to a high quality and standard. 
  • Have completed competition collection ready to present at ATLSFW by October 11, 2023
  • Agree to be filmed throughout the experience for inclusion in ATLSFW videos.
  • Create a video(s) that may be integrated into ATLSFW published video content and/or for marketing purposes.

Finalists can be disqualified by ATLSFW at our final discretion at any time for failing to meet the terms in the signed agreement and any other reasons as determined by ATLSFW.

WINNING PRIZE:

$2000 Cash Prize

Article Published

Business Mentorship

Additional Prizes

Applications Closed