External Contests

FIT shares contests and projects that are open to the general public or to the general collegiate population only as a convenience and for informational purposes. FIT does not sponsor, organize, or endorse these contests or projects in any way, and FIT is not responsible for the accuracy, legality, content, or terms of any such contest or project. FIT encourages interested persons to carefully review the terms and conditions of any contest or project before participating and to contact the contest or project sponsor for questions or concerns.

Only Natural Design Competition 2026

Details: In 2026, the Only Natural International Student Design Competition enters its third year. What began as a campaign to inspire the next generation of designers to put natural materials at the heart of their work, is a global campaign to champion natural materials - from inclusion in the educational curriculum to their application in industry and beyond. The competition promotes the use of natural materials, challenging fast fashion as well as encouraging us to question the material choices we make in the spaces where we live.

Submission Deadline: June 30, 2026

Winners Selected: July 2026

Competition Guidelines: Create a beautiful, durable design that places natural materials at the centre of creativity. Your work should celebrate their unique qualities while offering an alternative to the throwaway cycle of fast fashion and synthetic reliant furniture and interiors. The judges ask you to consider the future of our planet and how design can combat waste. They want to see originality, innovation and visual impact in one of two areas - Fashion (apparel, accessories, footwear) or Home (furniture, interiors). They are looking for designs that are made to last and can be loved, repaired, repurposed or recycled over time. This competition is about sparking new ideas, setting new standards, and inspiring movement towards a slower, more sustainable way of designing and living. Entries are invited in two competitions: Fashion (Categories: Apparel, Accessories, Footwear) or Home (Categories: Furniture, Interiors). Fashion entrants may submit one item (e.g. a jacket, a pair of shoes, a bag) or one full look (two or more items intended to be worn together, excluding footwear and accessories). Home entrants may submit one piece of furniture or an interior object (e.g. a chair, table, lamp or textile piece). Your design must showcase natural materials as the primary focus. The entire finished piece should be made from natural fibres or materials (previous examples have included wool, hemp, leather, wood, jute, silk, cotton, bamboo or algae-based alternatives). Small functional elements such as zippers, fasteners or hinges may use other materials where necessary. The use of fur or exotic skins is strictly prohibited and will result in automatic exclusion. All entries should include: A short project summary in English, a mood board and design storytelling; sketches, technical drawings or specifications; a full list of materials used; a video introducing you and your entry (*optional but encouraged).

Enter the Only Natural Design Competition

About ARTS THREAD: ARTS THREAD is the world’s only creative student and graduate website. It bridges the gap between education and the creative industry. For the first time ever, design students, graduates, universities, schools and the creative industry can network worldwide.

Taiwan International Student Design Competition

Details: The Taiwan International Student Design Competition encourages international creative design exchange, developing creative design talents, expressing the international image of Taiwan, attaching great importance to creative design, and establishing the international design status of Taiwan. Looking toward the future, TISDC remains committed to staying in step with international trends and promoting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. With the 2026 theme being 'Resilience,' we encourage young designers to respond to our ever-changing world through innovative design. It is a call to reflect on how we—as a society interwoven with nature and technology—can stay balanced, embrace inclusivity, and adapt through impact, ultimately co-creating a world of endless possibilities. The contest features: A total prize money of up to NT$ 4 million (approx. US$ 130,000); One of the largest student design competitions in the world; Special prizes endorsed by international design associations; No registration or exhibition fees required.

Submission Deadline: July 6, 2026

Winners Selected: September 22, 2026

Competition Guidelines: Students currently enrolled in senior high school or higher (based on the deadline for online registration). Entrants must be born after April 27, 1996, and must be under 30 years of age. Female entrants who have given birth before the age of 30 are eligible for a 2-year age extension for each child born. *Fresh graduates (graduating in 2026) and new students (enrolling in 2026) are also eligible. Entrants can participate in the competition as individuals or in teams. Multiple submissions of different works are acceptable. Multiple submissions of the same work in two or more categories are not allowed. The entries must be original and created by the entrants themselves. All the concepts, text, icons, sheets, pictures, videos, audios, music, animation contents and program of
the work shall not be involved in any plagiarism or infringement of copyrights or other laws. Entries that have previously received an honorable mention or higher award in TISDC are ineligible for re-submission.

Enter Taiwan International Student Design Competition

About TISDC: The Taiwan International Student Design Competition (TISDC) has become a benchmark platform for global student design awards, gathering emerging designers from around the world. Through the competition, it stimulates creative exchange, allowing the power and infinite possibilities of design to be recognized worldwide. TISDC not only evaluates outstanding works but also continues to focus on being a “design-for-good platform,” paying attention to how design can respond to contemporary issues and promote social value.

2026 The Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition

Details: 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. It’s time to challenge the fast fashion business model and all those who say no to nature by designing beautiful, durable clothes from natural fibres that people will want to wear longer, and that will last longer.

Submission Deadline: June 30, 2026

Winners Selected: October 2026

Competition Guidelines: To stimulate thought about our planet’s future and to combat this waste, the judges are challenging you to create an original, innovative, and visually stunning design in one of three categories -apparel, accessories and footwear – made from real cattle leather. The judges also want to see how entrants approach the creation of garments that will last and be loved for a lifetime. 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. The sponsor does not accept the use of fur or exotic skins. Plastics must only be used where no natural alternatives are available. The sponsor 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 all these 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 would make a great addition to your entry. 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 the sponsor is looking for designers who will start new brands, fashion movements or style trends.

Enter the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition

Bloom Wholesale Fashion Contest

Details: When it comes to creating unique women’s wholesale clothing designs, creativity and originality matter more than ever—especially in the age of AI. Bloom Wholesale is looking for talented individuals with a deep interest in fashion to share their ideas through a written essay. This contest is open globally and aims to support emerging fashion thinkers and creators.

Submission Deadline: August 8, 2026

Winners Selected: September 26, 2026

Competition Guidelines: The Contest is open globally to anyone over the age of 16 who is interested in fashion, design, or creative arts. Applicants must currently be attending a school, college, university, or training institution. Employees of Bloom Wholesale, its partners, subsidiaries, and their immediate families are not eligible to enter. Only one (1) entry per person is permitted. To enter, applicants must write an original essay of 500–1000 words on the topic: “How to Create a Women’s Clothing Design That Sells in the Times of AI". Submit the essay along with: Full Name; Email Address; Name of School / Institution currently attending. All Entries must: Be written entirely by the entrant; Be submitted in English; Not contain obscene, offensive, harmful, defamatory, or unlawful content; Not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights; Bloom Wholesale reserves the right to remove or disqualify any Entry that violates these rules.

Enter the Bloom Wholesale Fashion Contest by emailing your entries to [email protected]

About BloomWholesale: BloomWholesale is a wholesale clothing brand operating for years. They sell women's clothing in the best price possible and their innovative team keeps researching new ideas and trends to bring about the best selling fashion items.

H&M Design Award 2026 — Supporting Emerging Fashion Voices

Details: The H&M Design Award is a celebration of creativity and a testament to H&M Group's belief in the power of emerging talent to shape the future of fashion. Each year, the award celebrates young designers whose work demonstrates exceptional creativity, innovation and respect for the craft’s heritage. Finalists are chosen for their ability to push boundaries and challenge conventional ideas in fashion. The winner receives a 150,000€ endowment and a year-long, tailored mentorship. This mentorship covers critical areas such as sustainability and circularity, production, marketing and PR, equipping the recipient with the tools, knowledge and industry access needed to launch a successful career. In addition, the winner’s collection will be produced and sold in selected H&M stores worldwide and online. The eight finalists all receive a 10,000€ endowment.

Submission Deadline: August 31, 2026

Winners Selected: November 2026

Competition Guidelines: Bachelor and Master of Fashion graduate students can compete by sending in digital portfolios of their graduate collections. H&M is looking for entries that demonstrate: Exceptional creativity – A clear and original design vision that stands out; Innovation – Fresh ideas that challenge convention and bring something new to the fashion world; Craftsmanship – High-quality construction, excellent technique, and respect for the art of making; Attention to detail – Finely considered elements that show care, thought, and skill in every aspect of the work; Sustainability– A circular mindset and environmentally conscious choices in materials and design are highly valued; Potential to start own brand.

Enter the H&M Design Award 2026 Contest

About H&M: H&M Group is a global fashion and design company, with over 4,000 stores in more than 79 markets and online sales in 60 markets. All their brands and ventures share the same passion for making great and more sustainable fashion and design available to everyone. Each brand has its own unique identity, and together they complement each other and strengthen H&M Group – all to offer customers unbeatable value and enable a more circular lifestyle.

Kyoto Global Design Awards

Details: The Kyoto Global Design Awards celebrates the diversity of design across the world, starting from Japan's cultural center, Kyoto, which has more than a thousand years of history and is one of the oldest cities in the world. With its legacy of Japanese history, Kyoto continually innovates and endeavors, bringing together history and modernity. This precious heritage has allowed Kyoto to become not only an important symbol of culture but also a hub for new economic and design development. Through the Kyoto Global Design Awards, the Kyoto Global Design Awards Committee is embarking on a journey to seek global talents and encourage designers to increase design value, promote social and commercial exchanges, and make meaningful contributions to a better world. They aim to provide a reliable platform that promotes professionalism and quality in design.

Submission Deadline: September 19, 2026

Winners Selected: October 31, 2026

Competition Guidelines: Each Kyoto Global Design Awards winner has undergone an extensive review process. Award winners are selected through a series of reviews and evaluations that look at their trend-setting capabilities and influence from various angles. The Kyoto Global Design Awards jury is composed of high-level experts from multiple fields, including design, art and culture, and environment. Entries are reviewed from various angles, with a focus on lifestyle and human nature. Judges look for designs that impact an entire field and lead to new opportunities for creative or business collaboration. Regarding the KGDA judging criteria, there are six key points: Aesthetic Excellence, Innovation, Societal Impact, Nature Positivity, Sustainability Commitment, and Functionality.

Enter Kyoto Global Design Awards

About Kyoto Global Design Awards: (KGDA) is an international design competition established in 2019, with the aim of recognizing outstanding designers from across the globe. With its headquarters in the Netherlands, KGDA intends to become one of the most prestigious design awards in the Asia-Pacific region. As a means of promoting collaboration between design and society, KGDA provides designers from around the world with an opportunity to showcase their work, regardless of their country of origin or background.