The Real Leather. Stay Different. Vietnam 2026 Student Design Competition reached a triumphant climax in a glittering event at the Mai House Saigon Hotel. The celebration highlighted the extraordinary talent emerging from Vietnam’s design community.
The Overall Winner was Nguyen Tran Trong Nghi of Ton Duc Thang University, whose apparel entry, Champa – The Legacy, captivated judges with its craftsmanship and storytelling.
Trong Nghi will now go on to the International Final taking place on October 29 in Bangkok, Thailand. He will join fellow winners from around the world to compete for the coveted title of Overall Winner of the International Design Competition.
The competition brought together participants from 20 arts and design universities and colleges across Vietnam, all competing for honours in one of three categories: Footwear, Apparel and Accessories.
After long and difficult deliberation, the judging panel named the following category winners for their standout designs:
| Category | Winner | Design |
| Footwear | Luu Thi Ngoc Anh | Giai Nhan Xuong Moc |
| Accessories | Nguyen Huynh Khanh Nhu | IN & OUT |
| Apparel | Nguyen Tran Trong Nghi | Champa – The Legacy |
| People’s Choice | Nguyen Hoang Minh | Ma Dao (Footwear) |
Each winning design demonstrated a distinct style. There were architectural footwear silhouettes, accessory pieces that played with structure and form and apparel that wove cultural narrative into every seam.
The journey to the finale was not easy! An initial round of 212 online submissions was whittled down by the organising committee, with only exceptional concepts advancing to the prototype stage where ideas on paper had to become garments and objects on the runway.
Finalists rose to the challenge with complex structural shaping and precise silhouette creation to bring their visions to life. The result was a runway of pieces that each told its own story, fusing contemporary design language with masterful craftsmanship in leather.
Guests in attendance at the final event included Travis Stahl, Agricultural Attaché, US Department of Agriculture, Jane Li, Vice President, Leather & Hide Council of America and Nguyen Duc Thuan, President of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO) and co-organiser of the competition.
The event was a huge success, showcasing bold, breakthrough designs while confirming Vietnam’s rising influence on the global stage of sustainable fashion. The future of Vietnamese design looks bright!
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