Join this global search for inclusive fashion

How can fashion value cultures of wellbeing? The 2023 Fashion Values Challenge calls on next generation changemakers from around the world to respond to this question with radical, transformational ideas where cultures, heritage and rituals create social and environmental wellbeing. The challenge seeks expressions of creativity applied to products, services and systems of design, media and/or technology, where fashion values diverse cultures of wellbeing.

Fashion as an industry is often exclusive, not representative of all peoples, with huge imbalance in power. Many people are excluded, particularly those whose identities and cultures are not captured within prevalent fashion discourse. This perpetuates consumerist models of business, the persistence of aesthetic hierarchies and cultural appropriation.

Fashion does not have to be extractive and exploitative; many philosophies, cultural practices and traditions apply creativity and imagination, in the honor of all life, human and more than human. Fashion can involve the sharing of ideas, traditions and values through style and habits of dress that cherish and extend the value of all involved in how we represent ourselves. It can do so with dignity, respect and equity.

Fashion Values seeks to platform fashion that celebrates and serves all people, cultures and the conditions of life.

The challenge brief is open to professionals, students and creative enthusiasts from around the world. Applicants must be age 18 years or over. Group applications are accepted.

There are two application routes: emergent creatives (current students and recent; within one year graduates) and professional creatives (small business enterprises and entrepreneurs).

The two winners (one emerging, one professional) will be awarded a funded invitation to the Global Fashion Summit, including the Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF) Fashion Values showcase event, in Copenhagen in May 2024. This includes tickets to the Summit, travel and accommodation. This includes costs around accessibility needs for winners attending the summit. Additionally, the emergent creative winner will be granted a place as part of the Fashion Values x Global Fashion Agenda’s 2024 Next Gen Assembly, which will include further opportunities and activities.

The two winners will also be selected for the mentorship program with an industry leader each. The mentorship program will match you with the most appropriate industry leader mentor from a pool of mentors.

You will also be offered support to further your winning idea or business, via connection to potential support networks.

Fashion Values is ideated and developed by CSF, University of the Arts London, in partnership with Kering, IBM, Vogue Business, Eyes on Talents and Global Fashion Agenda. It aims to enable next generation fashion designers, strategists and communicators to create sustainably; empowering imagination, innovation and ecosocial consciousness; to make education globally informed, interdisciplinary and accessible. It showcases best practice via the Eyes on Talent Platform.

Visit fashionvalues.org.