2025 Young Designer Competition

2025 Young Designer Competition Design Brief 

Theme: ECO-NOGY SA: A Creative Vision for South Africa’s Sustainable Fashion Future

Overview

South Africa’s diverse cultural tapestry and natural beauty serve as the perfect foundation for innovation in sustainable fashion. Inspired by Techtextil Frankfurt’s ECO-NOGY initiative, the 2025 Young Designer Competition challenges participants to reimagine the future of fashion with a bold South African perspective.  

Designers are invited to merge creativity and sustainability, crafting collections that reflect the ingenuity of African design while addressing environmental and social challenges. From local craftsmanship to cutting-edge material science, your designs should position South Africa as a leader in sustainable innovation and storytelling through fashion. 

Key Themes 

1. Circular South Africa

Incorporate elements of the circular economy with distinctly South African flair. Create modular, upcycled, or biodegradable garments inspired by local materials and cultural heritage, showcasing how resourcefulness can drive design.  

2. Tech Meets Tradition  

Blend advanced technologies like laser cutting, 3D printing, or digital embroidery with traditional South African techniques such as beadwork, weaving, or botanical dyeing. Highlight how technology can preserve and amplify cultural artistry.  

3. Eco-Adaptive Design  

Reflect the challenges of South Africa’s diverse climate by designing garments with adaptability and functionality, such as heat-regulating fabrics or rain-resistant materials, while staying true to local aesthetics and needs.  

4. Reclaiming Heritage 

Reimagine South African craftsmanship in a modern context. Use traditional techniques and patterns to tell stories of resilience and identity, creating designs that connect deeply with South African roots and global audiences.  

5. Material Renaissance

Push the boundaries of creativity by using sustainable local materials such as hemp, recycled fibres, or plant-based textiles. Experiment with innovative processes that prioritise environmental preservation while showcasing luxury and artistry.  

6. Urban Africa 

Design multifunctional garments inspired by South Africa’s urban vibrancy. Draw on the energy of cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, blending contemporary aesthetics with sustainable practices tailored for city life. 

PHASE ONE

IMPORTANT DATES

Entries Open: 19 February 2025 

Entries Close: 19 April 2025 

Submission Requirements

• Vision Board: Showcase your concept with inspiration and design direction rooted in South African themes.  
• Detailed Sketches: Illustrate each garment clearly, reflecting functionality and aesthetics.
• Material Choices: Include sustainable material descriptions, emphasising local or innovative sources. 
• Design Rationale: A 300–500-word statement on how your collection captures the theme and promotes creativity and sustainability. 

Judging Criteria 

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

• Creative Excellence: Uniqueness and artistic impact.
• Sustainability: Effective integration of eco-friendly principles and materials.
• Cultural Expression: Strong connections to South African heritage and contemporary design narratives.
• Technical Skill: Precision in construction and attention to detail.

PHASE TWO

The semi-final selection takes place between 19 April to 05 May 2025.

You will be notified by the Young Designers Competition Organisers if you are qualified to move on to the next phase on 05 May 2025.

PHASE THREE

FINAL GARMENT AND BUSINESS PLAN TEMPLATE

Deadline: 30 June 2025 – Delivered to the Messe Frankfurt Offices – Office 2, Harfield Village Centre, 48 Second Avenue, Harfield Village, Claremont, Cape Town  

• Entry element three will allow for you to translate your thoughts, imagination, and concept into a final garment. 

• Don’t forget to reference your mood board as well as your initial drawings/illustrations to ensure we see your vision from sketch to final garment. 

• Have all design details been maintained as per sketch in terms of trims etc. Judging criteria: How close to the sketch is the final garment? Have all design details and trims been as close to the original sketch and communication (written and illustrated?). 

• Finalists are required to complete a short business plan template provided by ENSafrica and submit it along with their garment by June 30, 2025.

Final Showcase

Date: 9 July 2025

Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre 1

FINAL DESIGN WITH STYLING 

• You are required to create the runway look by providing your final design. 

• Please include notes on hair and makeup, shoes, accessories, and overall look and feel to walk the runway. 

• The finals will be hosted live at the allfashion sourcing event taking place at the CTICC on 9 July 2025.  

• The finals will be filmed and reshared on allfashion sourcing social media platforms 

• The Young Designer Finals will consist of ten finalists who will showcase their designs on the runway at the allFashion Sourcing Event. 

The competition is open to designers graduating this year, recently graduated (in the past 5 years), or currently in a design internship program. It features prizes valued at more than R270 000,00. A R15 000,00 cash prize for the winner and a Legal Business Toolkit/business start-up kit designed by legal practitioners from ENS valued at R250 000,00; and R5 000,00 for the runner-up. The ENS Legal Business toolkit, which must be used in 12 months, includes the following:

1. Start Up Amplifier Guide which includes a “how to” legal guide for a small business looking to get started. The Guide introduces pertinent legal aspects for a small business to consider for the establishment and operation of the company. The “how to” guide includes a summary of various areas of legal regulation, among others, tax, foreign exchange, capital markets and financial regulation, corporate governance, labour and employment law, consumer protection, national credit, protection of information, information technology, intellectual property, project finance and Environmental Social Governance (ESG);

2. up to 10 hours of legal service, including consultation with specific attorneys, to tailor the selected agreements to the winner’s needs

3.  A choice of 3 basic contracts linked to the “Start Up Amplifier” Guide, being:

• reciprocal confidentiality and non-disclosure agreement
• standard employment agreement
• intellectual property assignment agreement
• website terms of use
• e-commerce compliance checklist
• website privacy policy
• POPIA simplified guide
• Sustainability/Environment Social Governance (ESG) Statement
• Purpose-driven memorandum of incorporation 

PARTICIPATION AND PRIZE ACCEPTANCE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") manage the relationship among all participants of the Young Designers Competition, Messe Frankfurt SA (Pty) Ltd ("Organizer").

I. PARTICIPANT COMMITMENTS: 

1. Participant Consent: By participating, entrants agree to allow the Organizer’s usage of their designs and additional submission materials for promotional and related purposes. 

2. Participant Liability: All participants accept all risk and responsibility linked with their participation in this competition and the usage of their submitted designs. 

3. Design Alteration: Once the design is submitted, no alterations or changes are allowed. 

4. Professionalism: Expected from all participants throughout the competition process. Failure to maintain professionalism may result in disqualification. 

5. Regulation Compliance: Compliance with all rules and regulations for the competition is mandatory. Non-compliance may lead to disqualification. 

6. Personal Expenses: All participants must bear any expenses related to the competition, including the costs of creation, development, submission of their designs, and travel and accommodation unless specified otherwise. 

II. PRIZE ACCEPTANCE TERMS: 

1. Prize Grant: The competition winner ("Recipient") is eligible for a monetary reward of R15,000 and will also win the Legal Business Toolkit/business start-up kit designed by legal practitioners from ENS; the competition runner up will win R5000 cash. 

III. LIABILITY LIMITATION: 

1. Liability Limitation: The Organizer is not liable for any costs related to the creation or delivery of the Recipient's showcase. The fashion shows are shared, meaning the Recipient will present alongside other designers.

IV. GENERAL TERMS: 

1. Decisions: The judges' decision is final and binding. No discussions regarding this decision will be entertained after the winners' announcement.

2. Loss or Damage: The Organizer will not be held responsible for any loss or damage to entry garments during the competition, though due care will be exercised.

3. Prizes: The competition prizes are fixed and cannot be negotiated.

4. Rights: The competition organizers reserve the right to disqualify any participant found violating the rules or engaged in any misconduct. 

5. Terms & Conditions Changes: The organizers hold the right to alter these Terms and Conditions at any given time without any prior notification. 

6. Travel and Accommodation: Participants must manage and finance their travel and accommodation for the Cape Town event unless otherwise stated. 

V. LIABILITY LIMITATION AND INDEMNITY: 

1. Liability Limitation: The Organizer and any of their associated companies, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees, and agencies will not be held responsible for: (a) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled or distorted or damaged transmissions or entries; (b) any event disruptions, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of the Promoter; or (c) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the competition.

2. Indemnity: By participating in the competition, each participant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Organizer against any and all claims, losses, damages, or liabilities, including attorneys' fees, stemming from or relating to their participation in the competition or acceptance or usage of the Prize.

By entering this competition, participants confirm they have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions.