2023 Award Winner: KARLIE MORROW

Award for Creative Excellence | No Virgins Allowed is a conversation starter, masquerading as a free spirit.

2023 Award Winner: OLIVIA SCHAW

Award for Innovation Showing Commercial Potential | The Joy of the Journey is a zero waste design shining a light on the beginning of a garment life.

2023 Award Winner: WILLIAM KEANE JUNG-YING FITZGERALD

VIVA Editorial Award | The Cockroach outfit subverts furniture removal blankets with modern tailoring

2023 Award Winner: KATHERINE CHOW

Award for Excellence from a Rising Talent | Transformation, renewal, connection breathes modernity and new life into obsolete parachutes.

2023 Finalist: JOSH BOGNAR

An impulsive urge to see nothing go to waste is the genesis of this outfit.

2023 Finalist: WHITNEY HENTON

Whitney's design honours the rich history of family.

2023 Finalist: NETHASHA ABEYSINGHE

Nethasha's design highlights the diverse cultures within New Zealand and illustrates how people bond together because of their different backgrounds.

2023 Finalist: IZZY LEVIEN

Sunset Sunrise speaks about the concept of spiritual consumption as a response to economic challenges, and ties in threads of reincarnation with repurposed second-hand materials.

2023 Finalist: DONNA STOBIE

Let me hear you Roar! repurposing Wellington Zoo uniforms to extract the greatest value out of the materials.

2023 Finalist: PHILIPPA HOOGSTEDEN CASEY

The Old man overcoat integrates reclaimed textiles, traditional Māori craft techniques, printing, stitching, and natural dyes.

Circular Design Strategy 1 - Design for Low Waste

Every design decision has an impact on the amount of textile waste produced. Learn about sustainable design techniques to maximise the use of existing resources and minimise waste when creating your design. IMAGE: Holly McQuillan’s shape-shifting transferral t-shirt, Credit: ZWDO.

Circular Design Strategy 2 - Design for Low-impact Materials and Processes

Understanding fibres is the first step towards understanding the circular model as fibres play a key role in diverting textiles from disposal back into the fashion system.

Circular Design Strategy 3 - Design for Longevity

Every fashion item has its lifespan, and both designers and wearers play critical roles in determining their longevity, which is the timespan over which the item remains relevant and useful. IMAGE: Unspun

Circular Design Strategy 4 - Design for Recyclability

Recyclability is a critical aspect of creating a product for a circular system. This strategy ensures products never become “waste”, but instead allows for closed-loop material recovery.

Get Inspired - Raeburn

Be inspired by creatives who are at the leading edge with their innovative approaches to design. Christopher Raeburn approaches design from a circular perspective across the pillars of ReMADE, ReDUCED, and ReCYCLED.

Get Inspired - Bethany Williams

Be inspired by creatives who are at the leading edge with their innovative approaches to design. Bethany Williams is a UK designer that solves textile waste challenges through innovative design techniques, while creating value for local communities.

Get Inspired - Mara Hoffman

Be inspired by creatives who are at the leading edge with their innovative approaches to design. Mara Hoffman is a brand well-known for its commitment to reducing its footprint on the planet by extending the life of each garment.

Get inspired - Biosphere Circulation

Be inspired by biosphere circulation a project by Spiber Inc. named after “spider” and “fibre” inspired by the unique protein composition of spider silk, and has evolved to include a range of fibres imitating diverse natural properties.

2023 | Workshop 1: Connection to Place

Join our series of workshops guided by Mindful Fashion alongside industry and knowledge partners to explore the principles of a circular and regenerative economy, with tools and strategies that can drive innovation. Friday 4th August | 11.30am

2023 | Workshop 2: Circular Design Strategies

Join our series workshops guided by Mindful Fashion alongside industry and knowledge partners to explore the principles of a circular and regenerative economy, with tools and strategies that can drive innovation. Friday 11th August | 11am

2023 | Workshop 3: Working with Waste

Join our series of workshops guided by Mindful Fashion alongside industry and knowledge partners to explore the principles of a circular and regenerative economy, with tools and strategies that can drive innovation. Monday 14th August | 11am.