International Student Design Competition 2026
ARTS THREAD
📌 About the Competition
The Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) Student Design Competition 2026 is a global search for the next generation of designers committed to slow fashion and a sustainable future. Partnering for the sixth year, the competition challenges participants to fight the “fast fashion” cycle – where synthetic, oil based clothes are discarded after just a few wears. The mission is to utilize leather, a natural by product of the food industry, to create stunning, durable designs that last a lifetime and biodegrade quickly.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Category: Sustainable Fashion & Product Design
- Organizer: ARTS THREAD
- Eligibility: Current higher education students globally or recent graduates (within 1 year) not yet employed full-time in the creative sector. Must be 18+.
- Entry Fee: Free to enter
- Strict Policy: Zero Fur/Exotic Skins. Use of these results in automatic disqualification.
📅 Critical Deadlines (2026)
- Initial Deadline: June 30, 2026
- Extended/Final Portal Deadline: July 07, 2026
- People’s Choice Voting: Opens July 2026
- Final Event & Reveal: October 2026
🏆 The Prize
- Capsule Collection: Category winners’ designs will be professionally recreated and included in the RLSD Global Capsule Collection.
- Global Final: Winners are invited to the final judging event in October 2026 (travel and accommodation covered by organizers).
- Awards: Official trophies, certificates, and extensive global publicity across digital and print media.
- Selection: One “Overall Winner” and three “Category Winners” will be chosen.
🎯 The Design Brief
Create an original, visually stunning design in one of three categories: Apparel, Footwear, or Accessories.
- Material Rule: Must use at least 50% cattle leather by surface area.
- Sustainability: Use natural materials wherever possible; avoid synthetics.
- Innovation: Digital tools and AI are allowed in the design process, but you must be able to physically produce the prototype.
🏛️ Submission Deliverables
- Project Summary: A short brief in English.
- Visual Assets: Mood boards, design storytelling, sketches, and technical flats.
- Specs: A full list of materials used.
- Video (Optional): A 2-minute introductory video (highly encouraged by judges)