First round judging for China’s ‘Real Leather’ student design competition is finished – with more than 400 entries from hundreds of aspiring design students from the top design schools in China now cut down to just 45 finalists.
Designs were submitted in four categories: apparel, bags, footwear and fashion accessories, and put to a judging panel representing from the top leather brands in China, fashion designers and leather gurus from across the globe.
The designs, made using real leather with other natural materials, saw incredible diversity in their inspiration – from pop culture to the blissful tranquillity of plankton in the deep sea. All shared the theme of individuality and a focus on enduring style rather than disposable, fast fashion.
Shortlisted designers now have three months to make their vision a reality creating first prototypes for the catwalk with winners announced in May at an awards ceremony in Beijing. Alongside cash prizes the winner will receive an all-expenses paid internship in the USA working in the world of fashion and leather, the opportunity of a lifetime.
We will be profiling finalists as the competition continues, check them out and don’t forget you can enter the public vote for your favourite.
The competition is being run in an international partnership between the Leather and Hide Council of America and the China Leather Industry Association.
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