The Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition returns for 2026 and the sixth chapter of our global search for bold, future-facing design talent.
This is your opportunity to design with real leather, challenge the fast fashion cycle and showcase your work on an international stage. Previous finalists have presented their work in London, Milan and Taipei, with each year opening new doors for the designers involved.
Have you got what it takes to stand out globally and shape the future of fashion?
Head to rlsd.internationaldesigncomp.com to view this year’s entries. Stay tuned for the shortlisted designs.
Pick your favourite design: People’s Choice Award voting now open.
The People’s Choice vote for the RLSD International Student Design Competition is now open. Browse the project profile pages, find your favourite and click Vote just beneath it. And don’t forget to tell your friends – every vote is important!
Please note only one vote per person is allowed, so make it count. Head to rlsd.internationaldesigncomp.com to make your vote.
You are asked to use leather as the inspiration for a single item, either clothing, shoes, or accessories. Entries must be at least 50% cowhide leather by surface area and use natural materials wherever possible. While exceptions may be made for items such as zippers, snap fasteners, the overall design will be evaluated holistically, and a comprehensive list of materials must be provided upon submission. It is important to emphasise that natural materials should be used whenever possible. Please note that the use of fur or exotic skins is strictly prohibited. We 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 the following elements:
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 we are looking for designers who will start new brands, fashion movements, or style trends.
Apparel
Footwear
Accessories
Designs must be made of at least 50% leather from cow hide.
Any other materials used must be natural or organic materials, for example wood or any natural fibres.
No fur or exotic skins. Our mission is to cut waste and utilise materials that would otherwise be sent to landfill.
Designs will be judged hollistically on all materials used, these must be natural or organic where possible.
Each of the three category winners will receive a trophy, certificate and Invitation to display their work at an International Event. See all prizes at rlsd.internationaldesigncomp.com
Indian students can submit their entries via the RLSD International Student Design Competition, bringing their work to a global stage.
India’s design heritage is shaped by craftsmanship and hands-on knowledge of materials. Leather has long been valued for its durability, adaptability and ability to evolve with use, carrying the story of both maker and wearer.
Visit the India page to learn more. Sign ups now closed through the International Competition..
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
2025 INTERNATIONAL FINAL AWARD CEREMONY, TAIPEI, TAIWAN
Click the below images to find out more about the finalists!
Click the below images to find out more about the winning designs!
Almost half of the world’s leather hides, created by our ever-growing demand for fast-food – burgers and milkshakes, are just thrown away every year. Our student design competition puts some of this waste to use.
Want to learn more about how using leather cuts waste, landfill and carbon? Or about its durability, versatility and timeless style? Download our educational materials.