‘Real Leather. Stay Different.’ launches 2024 International Student Design Competition

The fourth-edition of the ‘Real Leather. Stay Different.’ (RLSD) International Student Design Competition is now open for entries.

The competition, which has previously attracted thousands of entries from hundreds of leading design colleges worldwide, invites a new generation of up-and-coming designers to challenge the fast fashion cycle and promote the sustainability of leather in one of three different competition categories: clothing, footwear or accessories.

It has opened a new path for those embarking on careers in the fashion industry, with past winners benefitting from the input of judges from brands including Boss, Mulberry and Wolverine and now "working at fashion houses from Christian Louboutin to Oscar de la Renta", while others are launching their own sustainable fashion labels.

Christopher Körber, Managing Director of Hugo Boss and returning RLSD judge, said: "It was a truly rewarding experience to see so much new talent from around the world enter the 2023 competition. But more than that it was inspiring to see how the next generation is approaching the reduction of waste in the fashion cycle, from material selection to the production process itself.

"I would encourage those with a vision for a more sustainable future to enter the 2024 competition today."

As previously, the competition is in association with leading digital platform for emerging artists and designers, Arts Thread, and funded and managed by the Leather & Hide Council of America (L&HCA), delivered in partnership with organisations including London Fashion Week, Leather UK, Italian Fashion Association, Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute and the Chinese Leather Industry Association.

Alex Brownless, Co-founder and President of Arts Thread, said: "Not only is it a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their talent but it also highlights the critical need to look again at the threat of fast fashion to the planet and people.

"To support life-long careers in fashion, entrants this year will also be given a profile on Arts Thread, promoting their work to an international audience of industry movers and shakers."

With an alarming 132 million hides wasted worldwide annually, RLSD says there's "a critical need to shift towards a more circular approach" and by repurposing by-products from the meat and dairy industries, "leather production actively reduces waste". It also prevents three million tonnes of hides from entering landfills every year.

The competition is open to students in higher education or those who have graduated in the past year. Students can register a profile and submit their designs via a dedicated RLSD International Student Design Competition website, with entries closing at midnight (GMT) on 30 June 2024.