Only Natural Fashion Competition
2025
Building on a groundbreaking first year, the Only Natural Student Design Competition is back! Challenging students to redefine design and creativity by using only natural fibres and materials. Now is your chance to present your design ideas to our judging panel of trail-blazing industry specialists from across the design and sustainability industries – and be crowned one of our 2025 winners.
The Mission:
Only Natural is a movement bringing together industry bodies representing natural fibres including wool, hemp, mohair, leather, hardwoods and softwoods to inspire the next generation of designers to choose natural fibres and a sustainable future.
Our view is simple: From global warming to the desecration of our seas and from plastic pollution to fast fashion waste, our only planet is at a tipping point. The power is ours to act now. To inspire us all to switch back ON to nature, to respect and cherish, to work as one with the environment. It’s time to change our behaviour, to restore the balance, together.
To put nature first, for the sake of our future.
The Challenge:
Only Natural challenges you to create an innovative and beautiful design in one of the two categories – Apparel, Accessories or Footwear – made from only natural fibres and materials. Show our judges and spectators that there is another way – a way without unnecessary waste and with the planet’s future in mind.
The competition opens March 1st 2025, and closes on June 30th 2025, midnight BST. Any entries submitted after that date will not be accepted.
THE BRIEF & DELIVERABLES
The brief is simple: Design a bespoke fashion item using only natural fibres.
Categories: Apparel, Accessories, Footwear.
Only Natural encourages entrants to take material inspiration from nature, to ignite a passion for the future of our planet and share your passion with new audiences by crafting a unique design using natural fibres and materials.
Your design MUST include one or more natural fibre – from wool to hemp or cotton to leather, the choice is yours, so long as it’s natural. We accept the use of nature derived products such as glass or metals, where the end result can be recycled and reused.
Your design must NOT include fur or exotic skins such as alligator, python or ostrich and should NOT use synthetic materials such as polyester or lycra.
Your design CAN include a minimal use of non-natural materials to join natural materials together (e.g. glue, metal screws) or to enhance item’s functionality and durability (e.g. lightbulbs etc.) but we encourage you to swap these for natural alternatives where possible.
Other design essentials:
- Ethical sourcing: the use of animal fibres is allowed when sourced from animals not raised or killed for skin or fur. Use of animal by-products, for example cow hides, that would otherwise go to landfill is supported.
- Sustainability: chosen materials should be sustainably sourced and processed. The resulting product should be designed to minimise production waste and support recycling or reuse.
- Commercial viability: your design should align with genuine consumer needs and be suitable for large-scale production and distribution.
The entry should include the following elements:
- A brief summary of your project provided in English. Inclusion of high-res imagery or sketches of your project (JPEG or PNG files) advised.
- Design documentation: a comprehensive document detailing the product’s design process, from inspiration boards to technical specifications.
- Material breakdown: a detailed explanation of the fibres and materials used, their sourcing and the rationale behind their selection.
- A short two-minute video (using a mobile device is accepted) to introduce you and your design. This is optional but encouraged.
Please note: A physical design prototype will be needed if you are shortlisted for your competition category.
Design students. Good luck and bring it ON!
JUDGING PROCESS
After creating your profile and uploading all relevant materials onto the Only Natural competition platform, your design will be judged by our panel of industry-leading experts and a shortlist of finalists will be determined in each of the competitions (Fashion and Home).
Category winners will be notified by email withing 4 weeks of the closing date (June 30th, 2025). At this time winners will be asked to provide a physical prototype of their product and/or provide additional imagery and video footage of the item highlighting functionality for a final awards event, where all works will be displayed and the Overall winners from each competition will be announced.
There will also be a People’s Choice award, selected by public vote in July 2025.
PRIZE
i). Winners will receive a coveted Only Natural certificate and trophy and will enjoy significant publicity through interviews and social media promotion.
ii). Winners will receive an invitation to the Only Natural Awards event and exhibition to take place in at London Design Week with travel costs and accommodation.
iii). Winners will enjoy significant publicity and will be interviewed for inclusion on the Only Natural platforms and partner platforms. Winners work will be promoted across the Only Natural Social Channels.
Additional prizes may be announced by the organiser at a later date.
