The Leather and Hide Council of America and the Fashion Accessory Makers of the Philippines to launch Real Leather. Stay Different. Student Leather Philippine Design Competition 2023
With their mission of “educating the next generation of creatives and re-shaping our fashion futures,” the Leather and Hide Council of America (L&HCA) and the Fashion Accessory Makers of the Philippines (FAMPh) will be launching the Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) Philippine Student Leather Design Competition. Open to all students from art and design schools and colleges in the Philippines, the competition aims to support budding fashion creatives and to promote the development of sustainable leather production and leather use in the country.
“The proliferation and quick access to synthetic or artificial leather are undeniably rampant,” Gina Nebrida Ty, FAMPh’s president, tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “Through this competition, and the Philippines’ first national student leather competition, we aim to encourage and educate the next generation of creatives around the production, promotion, and use of genuine leather in the Philippines.”
For the Philippine leg of the international competition, student participants are tasked to send a single design concept made of natural materials and 50 percent leather or more. The competition has three categories—apparel, accessories, and footwear. Once they become part of the competition’s shortlist, the finalists will be invited to create their design concept with the assistance of FAMPh and local sponsors. One winner will be hailed from each category, and an overall winner will be chosen to represent the Philippines at the 2023 edition of the global RLSD competition to be held in Europe in October 2023. The Philippine champion’s design will be professionally made to form and become part of a capsule collection showcasing the best international talents.
“The competition’s mission is to spark the interest of Philippine designers to work with responsibly produced real leather which puts hides that would otherwise go to waste, to good use,” Steve Sothmann, president of the L&HCA, says. “Real leather doesn’t just look good, it is better for the environment than its man-made alternatives and they make products so durable that each can last a lifetime—it’s quintessentially ‘slow fashion.’”
Are you interested to be part of the RLSD Philippine Student Leather Design Competition? Here’s what you need to know:
When will the competition begin?
From March 15, 2023 onwards, aspiring design students can send their entries to [email protected] and on the Philippine landing page through RLSD official website.
What are the requirements?
Initial entries must include a sketch with a concept name and dimensions of their design. Entries must also detail the type of materials to be used and the brand story.
What will the winners get?
Winners will receive a cash prize as well as a trophy, certification, and books from L&HCA. The overall winner will get a cash prize, trophy, certification, books from L&HCA, and an all-expense paid trip to London to compete at the global RLSD competition.
When is the deadline for submission?
May 30, 2023 will be the last day for the submission of entries. The final winners will be announced on July 7, 2023.
The arrival of the competition in the Philippines comes at a great time. According to Gina, The Tanneries Association of the Philippines (TAP), which once had over 200 members, is now reduced to 20 members, given the competitive pricing and easy accessibility to artificial leather. Through the contest, she and the rest of the FAMPh hope that it will revitalize, modernize, and strengthen the Philippine leather industry.
“The RLSD campaign has a strong ethos of supporting the next generation of designers with an aim to re-build, re-educate, and re-position the use and sustainability of leather,” Gina says. “Equally important is the long-term value it will bring to the local leather industry.”
“Too many of our fashion choices end up in landfill, creating an unwanted legacy from today’s society that will damage the environment for centuries. Fast fashion means not only more consumption, but the increased use of fossil fuels and associated environmental impacts in the form of toxics and microfibers,” Steven adds. “Working with FAMPh gives us the opportunity to empower the next generation with skills that reduce waste in the design process.”
For more information on the RLSD Design Competition 2023 in various countries and regions, visit chooserealleather.com/competition/.
With reports by Jessica Pag-iwayan
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