We are thrilled to announce the Category and People’s Choice Winners of this year’s International Design Competition – and you’ll be stunned by the quality!
The standard of this year’s competition was amazingly high with entrants showing a deep understanding of natural materials and the part they need to play in the building of a sustainable future.
The winners, which you can check out below, were the best of a brilliant bunch! All seven winning designs will be part of our prestigious awards ceremony and then feature in a four-day exhibition.
Check out our amazing winners 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 awards ceremony will be on September 16 at the Space Building in London where an overall winner will be chosen from each of the Fashion and Home competitions.
The exhibition will run from September 17-20 at the Material Matters Fair at the same venue. The fair is a highlight of the London Design Festival, which last year drew more than 6,000 attendees including architects, designers, sustainability advocates and 300 media representatives.
To see all the winning designs in the flesh, sign up for tickets to the Material Matters Fair here.
