The Real Leather. Stay Different. 2026 International Student Design Competition will assemble its most exciting judging line up yet. Spanning fashion, footwear, education, media and entertainment, the panel will head to Bangkok for the competition’s sixth edition.
The winner will be announced on 29 October at the iconic Jim Thompson House, a landmark synonymous with Thai craft and international artistry. Here’s who’ll be making the call.
Christopher Koerber — Managing Director, Hugo Boss Ticino
A long-standing RLSD judge, Christopher has built his career across the upper echelons of global fashion, from senior roles at Tommy Hilfiger to his current position at Hugo Boss Ticino. A big-picture strategist, he brings deep expertise in brand management, operations and consumer-driven design.
Adrien Roberts — Fashion Education Consultant
Few people have shaped global fashion education as consistently as Adrien. Over 11 years as International Director at Accademia Costume & Moda in Rome and Milan, 16 years as International Trustee of the Graduate Fashion Foundation and as founder of Global Fashion Graduate, he has helped shape the careers of designers worldwide. A Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Art alumnus, he remains one of the industry’s most connected advocates for the next generation.
Polpat “Moo” Asavaprapha — Founder & Creative Director, ASAVA Group, Chairman, Bangkok Fashion Society
Thailand’s most famous designer brings genuine star power to the panel. Trained at Parsons and shaped by stints at Armani, Max Mara and Marc Jacobs, Moo returned home in 2008 to build ASAVA into a luxury house with genuine global reach. He recently dressed BLACKPINK’s Lisa for her visit to Buckingham Palace. As Chairman of the Bangkok Fashion Society, he’s the perfect link between local expertise and global influence.
Ashin Zhou — Innovation Designer, New Balance
With 14 years spanning Nike’s Innovation Kitchen, Levi’s and now New Balance, Ashin brings serious technical and creative firepower to footwear. A specialist in performance design, emerging materials and trend forecasting across running, basketball, trail and track, he was named an Outstanding Designer by the China Leather Association in 2025. He also judges the China Strait Cup Industrial Design Competition.
Sonia Couling — Model, Actress & MC for the Bangkok Final
Hosting the evening is one of Thailand’s most recognisable international faces. Born in Bangkok to an English father and Thai mother, Sonia speaks five languages and her modelling and acting careers have taken her across three continents. She produced and presented Thailand’s Next Top Model, won Best Actress at the Thai TV Gold Awards, flies as a Royal Thai Air Force reserve pilot and, if that’s not enough, competes in polo.
Josslyn Shi from California College of Art has been crowned Overall Winner of the Real Leather. Stay Different. International Student Design Competition at a glittering final event held at the U.S. Embassy in London.
There's something about woven textiles that gives an organic texture like no other – be it wicker, wool or even leather, the latter of which has been synonymous with entwined techniques for centuries.
Supreme, North Face, Vans, Napapijri and Timberland are on the map thanks to VF Corporation. So if you want to know the eco footprint of your boots, jackets and sneakers, read on.
Meet Congcong a content marketing director from Shanghai!
Jessie Western is a brand with values we can really get behind. Their pledge? Minimal waste and no plastic.
