Eight emerging designers named finalists for EcoChic Award

17 Sep '13

4 min read

These eight finalists, who are all designers or students with less than three years’ industry experience, impressed the judges with their creative use of the sustainable design techniques zero-waste, up-cycling and reconstruction. They were amongst 20 semi-finalists who were shortlisted by seven separate local judging panels across the competition’s newly expanded regions in Asia and Europe.

‘The EcoChic Design Award is now in its fourth cycle and, as a judge for every cycle, I am delighted to witness first-hand the increase in knowledge of sustainable design and the high level of originality and skills from all the semi-finalists this year. Their innovation is quite an inspiration for the development of sustainable fashion in the global mainstream fashion market,’ said Margaret Kutt, Project Manager Sustainability of Esprit and judge.

Another judge, who has also been with the competition from the onset, is Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of From Somewhere and Co-founder and Curator of Estethica.

‘Watching The EcoChic Design Award grow to become an international platform has been amazing. The award have really helped a new generation of designers to see sustainability in a different light,’ she said.

The first prize winner will design a recycled textile collection for Esprit for their global retail, further demonstrating the competition’s substantial influence on the fashion industry and retail sector.

The second prize winner will go on an educational trip to globally-leading sustainable jewelry brand John Hardy’s design and production facilities in Bali, to experience first hand their design, production and business philosophies.

The special prize winner will create a show-stopping sustainable outfit for artist Sandy Lam, which will be featured in ELLE Hong Kong’s 2014 green edition to ‘redress’ consumers’ attitudes towards sustainable fashion.

EcoChic Design Award