The winners of the Only Natural 2025 International Student Design Competition have been announced at a prestigious awards event and exhibition held at the Material Matters Fair in London.
The overall winner of the Fashion Competition was Mor Elfasi from Israel with her apparel piece ‘Touch Wood’. Yu Watanabe from Japan took the Home Competition title with ‘Symbiosis Garden’.
The event showcased the work of seven category winners from around the world. The finalists’ designs are on display until September 20 at the Material Matters Fair at Space House, part of the London Design Festival.
The two overall winners were chosen from five category winners and two People’s Choice winners across the Home and Fashion sectors.
Check out the category and People’s Choice winners, including Mor and Yu, below.
Apparel Winner: Touch Wood by Mor Elfassy. This womenswear collection treads a line between tradition and innovation and blends classic tailoring with natural elements. The designer used traditional materials such as wood, leather and wool, reimagining them through techniques including carving and leather weave-knitting to create a beautiful tension between softness and rigidity.
Accessories Winner: Along the Grain – Tracing Moments of Transition by Orla Reilly. This collection of jewellery and wearable sculptures uses completely natural materials with a strong focus on sustainability. The designer used responsibly-sourced cow horn, a byproduct of the meat industry, and combined it with recycled sterling silver to create pieces designed to connect the wearer with nature.
Footwear Winner: Biological Footprint by Evelina Lavergren. This innovative footwear project addresses the environmental impact of traditional shoes by creating a sustainable biomaterial from seaweed. The design is intended to help with ecological restoration by using friction from walking to disperse seeds and nutrients, contributing to regional biodiversity and improving the water quality of the Baltic Sea.
Furniture Winner: At Thresholds by Le Phan Vu. This low-dining table is a contemporary reimagining of traditional Vietnamese furniture, crafted entirely from locally and responsibly harvested solid Macrocarpa. The designer committed to sustainability by building the piece without any metal components and creating a unique gathering space that honours the Vietnamese diasporic experiences in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Interiors Winner: Symbiosis Garden by Yu Watanabe. This project explores the synergy between craftsmanship and mass production by creating unique vases from urushi, a natural lacquer derived from trees, and mycelium. This sustainable approach combines traditional Japanese lacquer techniques with emerging biomaterials, celebrating natural growth and fostering a deeper connection to nature through its materials and process.
People’s Choice Fashion Winner: Eternal Vitality by Bingbing Bai. This collection of accessories highlights the artistry of vegetable-tanned leather by using it to create modern lifestyle pieces. The designer uses Tuscan vegetable-tanned leather, a byproduct of the European meat and dairy industry, and traditional handmade sewing techniques to highlight the material’s natural elements.
People’s Choice Home Winner: Swivel by Sriya Reddy. Swivel is a table made from Natural Cherry Wood with a top designed to tell a story through subtle movements that respond to touch. The project in its form and concept reflects a deep appreciation for nature, using an exquisite material to create a beautiful and functional object.
The competition saw entries from nearly 350 participants, more than double the number from 2024. The winners’ work is on display as part of the Material Matters fair, which is expected to attract more than 6,000 visitors.
There is still time to sign up for tickets to the Material Matters Fair here.
