The Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition celebrates the beauty, sustainability and versatility of leather, while recognising the innovation and craftsmanship that the new generation has to offer.
The competition engages with young and exciting designers to directly highlight the history, application and sustainable credentials of leather as a rich and versatile material.
In doing so we look to recognize and reward creativity, craftwork and innovation in fashion & design while also creating new exciting ambassadors who can champion leather for the future.
Competition finalists have visited three of this year's leather sponsors — ISA TanTec, Simona Tanning, and Prime Asia Tannery — to gain insight into the craftsmanship and technology that go into every hide before it ever reaches a design table.
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With design inspirations ranging from a childhood on the tennis court to a sculptor's playground and the ancient art of Kintsugi, this year's Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) International Student Design Competition has uncovered some of the boldest
Tamar Elbaz, joint Overall Winner of the 2023 Real Leather. Stay Different. Student Design Competition, has just been named in Forbes Israel Magazine's prestigious 30 Under 30 Class of 2026.
The buzz around this year’s Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition is growing by the day. We’ve already been inspired by the incredible entries coming in from students and recent graduates around the world. But the
Lan Anh said of her People’s Choice winning design HORN-TO-HOPE: “It unites the strength of the rhino with the resilience of the orchid to symbolise endurance through adversity. Rhinos, threatened by poaching, and orchids, thriving in harsh conditions,
Sara’s project, Ombrage, which took the accessories title, is a unisex collection of leather goods, footwear and jewellery inspired by the primal forces of nature – water, air, earth and
Islam’s collection, Shields, took the apparel title. The designs range from structured, tailored silhouettes that emphasise the body’s shape to looser, more fluid forms that incorporate supportive
Jamie took the overall title with a collection of shoes that that was both revolutionary and highly marketable. He said: “SubTraction reimagines footwear as a modular system - personal, purposeful and circular. Bold in its rejection of convention, the
Taipei, Taiwan [28 October 2025] - At an awards ceremony held today at Taiwan’s Taipei 101 for the Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) 2025 International Student Design Competition, judges crowned Jamie Unlu O’Grady, from the UK’s De Montfort
Real Leather. Stay Different. 2025 International Competition Category Winners Announced! After a judging process made gruelling by the amazingly high standard of entries, the results are now in. Find out a bit more about our four category winners and their
Announcing the 2025 Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition category winners! After a judging process made gruelling by the amazingly high standard of entries, the results are now in. The competition featured three
The Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) International Student Design Competition has unveiled its shortlist, With 1,483 projects submitted from around the world, this year's competition is our biggest yet.
The Real Leather. Stay Different. 2025 International Student Design Competition brings together a diverse panel of leading voices in fashion, education, media and styling. For its fifth edition, the judging panel will decide on the overall winner in Taipei