15th Redress Design Award opens for entries and empowers sustainable future

The Redress Design Award, the foremost global competition for sustainable fashion innovation, has officially opened entries for its 2025 edition. Organized by environmental fashion NGO Redress in partnership with the Lead Sponsor, the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Hong Kong SAR Government, the competition invites eco-conscious designers with less than four years of professional experience to apply by 14 March 2025.

The year 2025 marks a significant milestone as the Redress Design Award celebrates its 15th edition, formerly known as the EcoChic Design Award. While this anniversary is a cause for celebration, it also highlights a sobering truth—the fashion industry continues to grow at an unsustainable rate, depleting natural resources and generating excessive waste.

The Redress Design Award focuses on educating and empowering budding designers to adopt circular design principles, equipping them to play a pivotal role in minimizing fashion’s environmental footprint. With 80% of a product’s ecological impact shaped during the design phase, designers are uniquely positioned to drive sustainable innovation—especially in key apparel production markets across Asia.

Valued at €1.7 trillion in 2023 and projected to grow annually by 7.4% until 2030, the global fashion industry’s environmental impact will only intensify without adopting circular design strategies.

Through comprehensive educational resources, a thriving alumni network, prestigious competition prizes, and unparalleled global exposure, the Redress Design Award provides emerging designers with the tools they need to lead the charge towards a more sustainable future for fashion.

A Critical Need for Change

Dr. Christina Dean, Founder and Board Chair of Redress, emphasises, “The fashion industry is a leading contributor to global pollution and waste. If we fail to act decisively, the repercussions will be catastrophic. To counter this, we must champion circular fashion as a transformative solution that allows the industry to flourish sustainably. Based in Hong Kong, we are dedicated to redefining fashion in Asia and across the globe by collaborating with innovative brands and exceptional designers, paving the way for a more responsible and regenerative future.”

In 2021, the fashion industry was responsible for an estimated 1.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with projections indicating a 42% increase by 2030 under current practices. There is a real and urgent need for a transformative shift towards a circular economy within this industry.

Asia Focus for Global Impact

To mark the 15th edition of the competition, in February 2025 Redress will hold parallel events in Shanghai, one of the world’s foremost fashion hubs, and Hong Kong, the birthplace of the Redress Design Award. Each event will host a curated selection of fashion industry leaders and related professionals to explore and discuss the intersections between culture, fashion, circularity, and sustainability within China.

This initiative aims to foster a dialogue on sustainability within the region’s dynamic fashion community and amplify the programme's influence across Asia, which accounts for some 60% of global exports of garments and textiles.

Victor Tsang, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, remarked, "The Redress Design Award is a significant event for the fashion industry, showcasing the immense talent emerging from around the world and gathering them in Hong Kong for cultural and business exchanges. Collaboration is essential to inspire a new era of sustainable practices that resonate globally. The CCIDA is pleased to support the award to reinforce Hong Kong as a dynamic hub for fashion and innovation."

Urgent Call for Global Talent

With global textile waste projected to increase by 60% between 2015 and 2030, the urgency for innovative solutions has never been more apparent.

The Redress Design Award encourages emerging fashion designers globally to apply for the 2025 competition until the closing date of 14 March 2025 and join the creative movement for fashion’s transformation.

Prizes include an expenses-paid trip to Hong Kong for all ten Finalists, including masterclasses, educational experiences, and participation in the highly-anticipated Redress Design Award Grand Final Fashion Show held at Hong Kong CENTRESTAGE in September 2025, as well as an editorial feature in Vogue Hong Kong; and, for the winning designers, career-changing brand collaborations, expert mentorships, cash prizes, and more.

Alumni Making Global Strides

The Redress Design Award has a proven track record of nurturing sustainable design talent. Alumni of the programme have achieved remarkable success, exemplifying the potential of sustainable fashion on a global scale.

This year, Redress continues to support its community of over 330 alumni, who prioritise sustainability and circularity alongside desirability, through collaboration opportunities, prizes, and education.

Angus Tsui, a distinguished alum, was awarded the DHL GoGreen Plus Alumni Prize in partnership with DHL Express Hong Kong. He commented, “Winning this award has been a transformative experience. My upcycled collection, inspired by DHL's logistics journey, breathes new life into retired courier uniforms, showcasing how sustainability can be both stylish and functional.”

Additionally, alum Micaela Clubourg has received valuable support for her brand Studio Cumbre from sustainable packaging experts Delta Global. She remarked, “Working with Founder, Robert Lockyer, and his experienced team has been invaluable to my brand’s development. Visiting the UK team empowered me to see how sustainable packaging solutions can reshape the fashion industry.”

For more information and to apply, please visit RedressDesignAward.com.