Competition 2026

Entry Requirements

Theme: 'Wear the Change'

Encourage students to breathe new life into old garments, household textiles, or discarded materials by transforming them into fashion-forward pieces. From charity shop finds to unloved uniforms, the challenge is to reimagine waste as wearable art — proving that style doesn’t have to cost the Earth.

Year 7 - 13 Please provide three pages, one for each of the below:

Research

Explore the meaning of “Wear the change” by gathering visual inspiration on upcycling, sustainability, and transformation.

Research designers and influencers known for upcycling and reflect on how they turn waste into fashion.

Add facts or quotes on fast fashion’s impact to support your eco-message and inform your creative direction.

Development

Show how you experimented with materials using sustainable techniques.

Try mixing different textures  to create contrast and interest.

Include sketches and notes showing how your ideas evolve and how you’re telling a story through your materials and design choices.

Designs 

Present four outfit designs that reimagine waste into fashion-forward looks. Each should highlight your chosen materials and show a strong visual style.

Annotate what each design is made from and briefly describe the story behind each outfit.

Make sure at least one design is suitable for you to create in real life using repurposed materials.

Additional 4th page if you are in year 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.

We invite you to realise one of your designs, document the making process and photograph what you have created and enter this as a 4th sheet - If you are invited to one of the finals we would expect you to bring your outcome.

Please keep an eye on our socials for regular updates and inspiration. If under the age of 16 please ask parental permission.

Instagram @youngfashiondesigner_uk 

Facebook @youngfashiondesigneruk

Deadline for entries Friday 1st May 2026

Age Categories:

You are invited to enter the competition in one of the following Year group categories:

• Years 7 and 8 - 3 pages

• Year 9 - 4 pages

• Years 10 and 11 - 4 pages

• Years 12 and 13 - 4 pages

Please have year group and name included in the email subject and which centre you are applying to (South or Midlands/North) please only apply to the centre closest to you. You may only apply once. 

FINALISTS

Winners from each group will be announced in the summer term of 2026 and invited to attend the live finals competition later in the summer. you must be accompanied to the final by an adult, a parent/carer/guardian or teacher.  

To be in with a chance of winning a great prize and have your work showcased on our website please provide the following:

1. On each of your pages include your name, school name and age category.

2. Email your entry to your centre - a jpeg file for each page - 3 or 4 jpegs ONLY (depending on year group)

• South Centre: yfd@kentcollege.kent.sch.uk 

• Midlands Centre: yfd@rgsw.org.uk

• Apply to one centre only (your closest centre) and include in the email subject.

• Send only 3 or 4 JPEG files, unfortunately we are unable to accept any more and it is with regret that entries with more than 3 or 4 files will not be considered. Unfortunately any other file type will not be considered due to formatting issues with entries including different file types.

• Please include your year group and name in the email subject.

• Ensure your name, school name and age category is visible one every page. Unfortunately we are not able to accept entries that do not include this as we will not be able to contact you. Your teacher or parent is able to submit your entry on your behalf. For data protection we will not display your full name on our website. If you would rather not have your work displayed on the website please add this in your covering email.