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.   

The Functional Clothing Contest

Details:  Team FTC 2025 invites entries for the “Functional Clothing Contest” to be held as part of the 4th International Conference on Functional Textiles and Clothing FTC2025. This unique contest aims to showcase functional clothing on the catwalk for the first time. Functional clothing could be Protective, Medical or Assistive, may enhance Sports performance or may have body shaping or any other capabilities. The functional elements should be discreet and not obvious. Innovative design, materials and construction may be used to create these clothing pieces. This contest aims to both demonstrate the possibilities of this new and exciting field and to encourage contestants to think and design creatively to incorporate functionality into clothing.

Submission Deadline: September 15 , 2024

Winners Selected: February 2025

Competition Guidelines: The submission shall comprise of : Completed Personal Information Form
A concept note of the designed clothing, indicating the functionality(Protective/ Sports/ Medical/ Assistive/ Other), and A Project Portfolio (digital) including the Research (optional), Design development, Technical Drawings, Material Swatches, HD Images/photos of the clothing designed or Rendered sketches/illustrations of the clothing design and References. A video presentation, not exceeding 1 min, explaining the main features of your garment can also be sent). Entries from Fashion Schools must be accompanied by a forwarding letter from the Head of Department. Conveyance of Short-listed concepts : October 15, 2024; Registration by the participants for participating in the show: November 1, 2024; Final Show: Demonstration of the final garment on the ramp (8th February 2025); Short-listed contestants will be required to display their functional clothing live and in person at FTC 2025. Designs must be worn by a team-member/end-user who will demonstrate the ease-of-use and functionality of the clothing, while showing their design on the catwalk. Evaluation Criteria: The entries will be judged on the following criteria by a distinguished panel of experts – Functionality, Wearability, Novelty, Aesthetics, and Catwalk Presentation.

Enter the contest by sending all materials via WeTransfer (www.wetransfer.com) to [email protected]

About Functional Textiles & Clothing Conference: (FTC) is a biannual conference held at IIT Delhi, New Delhi, that brings leading scientists, researchers, designers, and the textile and apparel industry together, to enable exchanges on latest scientific findings, design developments, cutting edge technologies, innovations, trends, concerns, challenges, and opportunities in the field of Functional Textiles and Clothing. Three editions of FTC have been held in 2018, 2020 and 2023, each of which saw participation from nearly 80 universities across the world. 

35th Fashion Zakka Design Drawing Competition

Details: This design drawing contest is sponsored by the fashion goods industry, which includes shoes and bags, and Taito City, and includes guest judges who are active at the forefront of the fashion industry. It is a design drawing contest that can only be held in a fashion goods production area.

Submission Deadline: September 30 , 2024

Winners Selected: January 2025

Competition Guidelines: Application requirements: [Leather and Textile Divisions] 1. Only unpublished* design drawings are eligible. *Unpublished refers to designs that have not been commercialized or have not won awards in other competitions. 2. Any work deemed to be an imitation will be disqualified even after being selected. 3. Designs must be capable of being manufactured. Materials, shapes, parts, etc. must be able to be processed. Materials other than leather (metal, plastic, etc.) that require special processing are not acceptable. 4. It is not permitted to attach any marks that would identify the seller, such as characters or brand names. [Leather Section] 5. Taito Ward is one of Japan's leading producers of leather products, so leather is used as the main material.

Enter the contest by  attaching the application form to the back of your design and send it by post or courier to: Taito Fashion Zakka Fair Secretariat, Oasis Styling Co., Ltd., Tatematsu Building 2F ROOM4, 7-3-6 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111-0032

About Zakka: This design drawing competition is being held in Taito-ku, Tokyo, one of Japan's leading producers of fashion accessories such as leather goods and hats. This competition has been running for over 30 years. 

Sergio Cereda Eyewear Design Award

Details:  The USA Sergio Cereda Design Award was created in honor of Sergio Cereda as a tribute to one of the most influential designers in the optical industry and to recognize distinctive and emerging talent in the United States. Sergio Cereda’s remarkable journey, began in the early 1960s, has left an indelible mark on the world of eyewear.

Submission Deadline: November 30 , 2024

Winners Selected: February 2025

Competition Guidelines: Theme and Criteria: The central theme of the award revolves around “Eyeglasses in Their Pure Form: Balance Between Proportion and Harmony, Innovation and Disruption.” We invite participants to delve deep into this theme, creating designs that showcase a profound understanding of styles and models, balancing innovation with disruption. These participants are encouraged to use their creativity with the theme. Submission Requirements: Entrants must be 25 years or younger, and currently enrolled in design school in The United States of America. Entry is free. Entrants must submit at least 6 hand sketches, graphics, renderings, physical models, and prototypes (3-D printed or handmade). Entrants are also encouraged to include any creative content and inspirations to to amplify the project’s essence. If submitting a 3-D printed prototype, please take screenshots and upload in the submission link below. Any questions, please email: [email protected].

Enter the Sergio Cereda Eyewear Design Award 

About Sergio Cereda: Mr. Cereda’s career unfolded at Samco, a division in the injection department of Mazzuchelli S.P.A. in the 1960s. His creative prowess continued to flourish in the 1970’s at Ratti in Torino, Italy, where he became one of the first designers of Persol. His portfolio expanded globally, contributing his talents to renowned collections for brands like Roy Tower, Krizia, Cerutti 1881 Roberta di Camerino. In the 1980’s , he reached new heights with his work for Luxottica on the first Giorgio Armani collection in 1988 and the initial Chanel collection in 1985. A pivotal moment came when Harvey Ross, founder of Viva International Group, met Sergio Cereda and their collaboration led to an extensive new brand portfolio, with Sergio Cereda becoming the director of design for Viva International Group. The partnership touched premium fashions and brands, including collaborations on such eyewear collections as Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, Beau Monde, Harley Davidson, Benetton, Catherine Deneuve, and many more. 

The Gallery Collection 18th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest

Details:  The The Gallery Collection Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship is a 13th Annual Create-A-Greeting Card $10,000 contest. You can design a greeting card for the opportunity to win yourself a $10,000 scholarship and $1,000 for your school. Plus, your winning entry will be made into a bona fide greeting card by The Gallery Collection.

Submission Deadline: March 3 , 2025

Winners Selected: May 15, 2025

Competition Guidelines: This contest is open to all high school, college, and university students enrolled during the time period of the contest in an academic program designed to conclude with the awarding of a diploma or a degree. By entering the Contest, applicant warrants that the submission is an original work, has not been previously published or won any award, and that applicant is aware of no conflicting rights in the submission including but not limited to copyright or other intellectual property rights.

Enter The Gallery Collection 18th Annual Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship Contest 

About Prudent Publishing: Prudent Publishing Company, Inc has been a publisher of premium, personalized greeting cards for over 85 years. Their Gallery Collection© lines of Holiday and All-Occasion cards are sold through direct mail catalogs and website only and are targeted to a corporate clientele. The cards are of the highest quality, using rich paper, heavy embossing and foil stamping.