FAQ
ABOUT CIRCULAR FASHION
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Head to the Redress Academy to find out more about sustainable fashion design and the circular fashion system. You can also take the Redress Circular Fashion Design Course to aid your application.
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You can sign up for the Redress Circular Fashion Design Course directly through the competition online application platform, which will grant you exclusive extended access to the course content until the competition closing date of 14 March 2025.
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No, your participation in the Redress Design Award Circular Fashion Design Course will NOT be judged or taken into account during the review of your application for the Redress Design Award competition. However, we strongly advise your attendance to support your development and make your application stronger.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
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Yes, as long as the other application criteria are met.
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At Redress we consider professional fashion design experience to mean:
Professional experience: full-time, part-time, and freelance experience. Internships and fashion competition applications do not count towards professional experience. However, if you have been the recipient of a competition prize such as short-term working experience, brand collaboration, etc, this will be counted as professional experience.
Fashion design experience: working in any subject related to fashion design, textile design, education in fashion & textile design.
If you are not sure about your eligibility before applying, feel free to email us at apply@redress.com.hk. Applicants may be required to submit their curriculum vitae to confirm their eligibility once they’ve applied.
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No, you cannot apply. Only applicants with less than four years’ professional fashion design experience can apply. Applicants with over four years’ full-time, part-time, or freelance professional fashion design or textile design experience, or professional experience as a fashion or textile-related educator are not eligible to apply.
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Yes, if you still have fewer than four years’ professional fashion design experience. However, you may only reapply if you have not previously won the first or second prize in past cycles of the Redress Design Award.
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No, you may only submit one competition entry per cycle. Only your first application will be accepted, any other subsequent applications will be rejected.
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Yes. A reasonable level of English is required for applicants as Semi-finalists and Finalists to take part in a variety of activities including interviews, judging, and various Grand Final Week activities in Hong Kong, all of which will be conducted in English.
Applicants can apply to the competition in English or Chinese, however the events in Hong Kong will be conducted in English. The application platform and guidelines are available only in English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese, and all applicants are required to use one of these three languages. Any other languages submitted will not be processed.
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No. There is no fee to enter this competition.
If you succeed in reaching the finals, you will have to bear the costs for your own materials/textiles/trims, allocate your own personal time to produce your competition collection, purchase/provide four pairs of shoes to accompany your Grand Final Fashion Show collection (you will have the right to keep the shoes after the Grand Final), and provide packing materials for the shipping of your collection to Hong Kong, such as carton boxes, tapes, and garment bags.
Redress will cover the shipping costs of your collection outfits to Hong Kong (terms and conditions apply). Redress will also cover the costs of the fashion shoot, the travel and accommodation of the Finalists’ visit to Hong Kong, and all costs related to the Grand Final Fashion Show and exhibition(s).
ABOUT THE ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM
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Applicants must submit their applications via Redress’ competition online application platform here. To begin your application, fill in your details and click 'Register'. An activation email will be sent to your email address.
If you have not received the email, please check your spam or junk mail folders. You can also try adding apply@redress.com.hk to your address book. If you still don’t see the email, please click ‘Resend verification email’ to request for another activation email.
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No, if you have already registered an account for the Redress Design Award 2020 or beyond, you can use the same account to log in.
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Please refresh the page, login with another browser, or restart your computer. If the problem remains, create a new account with a different email address or contact apply@redress.com.hk.
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A confirmation email will be sent to the email address associated with that registration. Please check your spam or junk mail folders. You can also try adding apply@redress.com.hk to your address book to see if you can find the confirmation email. If you still don’t see the email, please contact apply@redress.com.hk.
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We do not accept any applications via Word or PDF formats. Your application must be submitted via the online platform here.
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No, you will NOT be able to amend your application including your artwork and textile selections once you have submitted your final application. Any subsequent changes to your application will be rejected and you may be disqualified from the competition, so make sure everything is ready before you click the ‘Submit application’ button!
ABOUT THE COLLECTION SUBMISSION
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For this competition we accept gender neutral collections. However, because of the Grand Final Fashion Show production constraints, we ask you to make a decision on whether your collection will be shown on female or male models should you reach the Grand Final. Please check the womenswear or menswear box within the application to select your choice.
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No, we accept that finalists can get external help (such as seamstresses, knitting, weaving workers etc) to make their outfits. The finalists still need to submit their own original work and cannot buy products off the shelf from other designers or clothing professionals. Ideally the finalists must be able to demonstrate that they worked alongside and/or managed their external help so they could execute their original designs.
Marks will be awarded for the execution of the collection in the final.
WHAT IS SIZE A AND SIZE B?
In your application, you are required to sketch and create outfits that will fit models in Size A (sample size) and Size B (larger size). Exact measurement details are below.
| Height | Chest | Waist | Hip | Shoes | |
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| Womenswear Model, Size A | 176–179cm 5.75–5.85ft |
80–84cm 31–33in |
60–64cm 24–25in |
88–92 cm 35–36in |
EU 39 or 40 |
| Womenswear Model, Size B | 170–175cm 5.55–5.75ft |
100–104cm 39–41 in |
84–88cm 33–35in |
109–113 cm 43–44in |
EU 39 or 40 |
| Menswear Model, Size A | 186–189 cm 6.10–6.20ft |
95–99cm 37–39in |
80–84cm 31–33in |
98–102 cm 38–40in |
EU 43 to 45 |
| Menswear Model, Size B |
186–189 cm 6.10–6.20ft |
114–118 cm 44–46in |
102–106 cm 40–42in |
112–118 cm 44–46in |
EU 43 to 45 |
If you are using textile waste or textiles created from waste, you will be required in your application to provide detailed information such as the textile source and composition.
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Textile swatches — leftover textile samples from production
Cut-and-sew textiles — textile scraps generated during garment manufacturing
End-of-rolls — factory surplus waste leftover from garment manufacturing
Sampling yardage — factory surplus waste leftover from textile sample manufacturing
Damaged textiles — unused textiles that have been damaged, for example with colour or print defects
Unsold clothing — clothing waste (finished or unfinished) that has not been sold
Clothing samples — part-finished or finished clothing samples from the design and production of clothing
Secondhand clothing — any clothing or fashion accessories that have been owned and then discarded (both used and unused)
Secondhand textiles — any finished non-clothing textiles (such as curtains, bedding, etc) that have been owned and then discarded (both used and unused)
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A minimum 50 percent of regenerated content in fabric composition.
‘Recycled textiles’, for example: recycled wool, made of old wool products; rPET (recycled polyester), most commonly made from recycled plastic bottles; and recycled polyamide (recycled nylon), which can be made from discarded fishing nets.
‘Innovative materials’ made of non-traditional waste sources, for example textiles made of pineapple leaves or coffee grounds.
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Plastics and synthetic fibres are under great criticism due to the fact that they do not biodegrade, especially when they are made of valuable, non-renewable sources (such as oil/petroleum). Polyester and polyamide in particular are materials made from oil which, when washed, release microplastics into the ecosystem.
For the competition, whilst we are not against the inclusion of plastics and synthetics in collections, if you do use them, we expect a clear and thorough explanation of why these materials are included. A method to tackle this is to review the plastic materials using the four core circular design strategies:
How is the material transformed and integrated into the collection?
What will happen to it when washed and via other care processes?
What will happen to it after disposal?
How/would you include the plastic material if you were to upscale the production of the collection?
Bio-based plastics are often cited as an alternative to oil-based plastics. However, there is still much research to be done regarding their disposal and the long-term effects of them on our environment, so we recommend that you also apply the above thinking if you are looking to select bio-plastics for use in your collection.
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No, we do not allow old (e.g. sourced from secondhand garments) or new fur in submitted collections for ethical reasons related to animal welfare. The use of fur is understandably an emotive issue and whilst there are arguments that reusing or repurposing old fur can prevent these precious resources from being wasted, we do not want to promote fur as aesthetic or aspirational in any way through our competition platform.
The debate relating to the environmental impact of real fur versus synthetic alternatives (where manufacturing processes can involve significant amounts of chemicals and end products do not biodegrade) is a valid one and we encourage you to research and select all materials in a careful and considered way based on their overall environmental impact.
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Yes, we allow the use of non-textile waste materials such as metal, leather, tree bark, etc to be included in collections but ONLY as trims and embellishments. Non-textile materials should not exceed approximately 10% of the total garment and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis depending on your supporting argument for use. If you are uncertain about your material and whether we will accept it, please email us at apply@redress.com.hk.
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Yes, you can use branded fabrics as long as they are waste textiles or textiles created from waste. However, the branding (e.g. logo) must be transformed or removed so as to be unrecognisable in your finished designs.
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Yes, you can use new trims but a preference will be shown for upcycled or sustainable materials.
ABOUT THE GRAND FINAL
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Redress will keep, for at least two years, two out of the five physical outfits made by each Finalist, which will be used for further educational and promotional activities, such as exhibitions after the competition. If you are one of the winners of the competition, Redress will keep these five outfits indefinitely. As the designer, you shall be credited on any occasion that your outfit(s) are displayed following the competition’s completion.
The remaining three outfits will be returned to you at the end of the Grand Final Week.
ABOUT JUDGING
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For the purposes of judging, your application will be entered into either region one or two according to your place of residence at the time of application.
The locations for region one are as follows:
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cyprus, Georgia, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Macao Special Administrative Region, Mainland China, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, State of Palestine, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen
The locations for region two are as follows:
Åland Islands, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde (Cabo Verde), Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Channel Islands, Chile, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Curaçao, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Republic of Moldova, Réunion, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States Minor Outlying Islands, United States of America, United States Virgin Islands, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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Open application shortlisting will take place from 16 March 2024 to determine the 30 Semi-finalists, who will be announced on 18 April 2024 on www.redressdesignaward.com.
The semi-final judging will take place from 18 April 2024 to determine the nine designers who will join the winner of the People’s Choice Award for the Grand Final. The 10 Finalists will be announced on 9 May 2024 on www.redressdesignaward.com.
The final judging will take place in Hong Kong in early September 2024 to determine the winners, with the results announced live at the Redress Design Award 2024 Grand Final Fashion Show.
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All applicants’ designs will be scored in two categories in the semi-final round and in three categories in the grand final round, with variable weighting in each category according to:
Creativity and originality - Applicants must demonstrate strong, original design concepts and have the ability to translate the concept throughout the entire collection with consistency.
Sustainability and innovation for the circular economy - Applicants must demonstrate their overall understanding of sustainable fashion design through applying one or more of four circular design strategies:
Design using REGENERATIVE Materials and Processes
Design to be MADE and REMADE using low waste design techniques
Design to be USED AND REUSED
Design for RECYCLABILITY
These circular design strategies must be integrated into competition collections with a holistic approach and with technical confidence.
Execution (applicable to the grand final round only) - Finalists must demonstrate that all four physical outfits were made to the highest standard with: good quality and durable workmanship, suitable and clean materials with quality finishing. All garments included in the four physical outfits should be functional and practical for the end user and should withstand the test of washing and wearing. Judges will also pay attention to the interpretation of the finalists’ design ideas into physical outfits, and how these fit on models on the runway.
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For the open application and the semi-final rounds, all unsuccessful applicants and Semi-finalists will be notified by email. For the grand final judging, all Finalists will find out the competition results as they are announced live at the Grand Final Fashion Show.
MORE QUESTIONS
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We hope this content has answered your questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question within these FAQs, please email apply@redress.com.hk. If your enquiry cannot be answered by email, then a telephone or Skype call may be arranged if Redress deems necessary.
To learn more about circular fashion design and the competition, visit www.redressdesignaward.com and check out our video tutorials, reading materials, and inspiring links.
For further information about Redress, please visit www.redress.com.hk.