Redress, the Asia-focused environmental NGO dedicated to reducing clothing’s negative environmental impact since 2007, has announced the top 10 global Finalists for the Redress Design Award 2025. The award is the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition, and will conclude at a runway show in September 2025.
Worsening Waste, but Designers Rising to the Challenge
Between 100 to 150 billion items of new clothing are produced every year and the majority of clothing is landfilled or burned at the end of their life. Designers and consumers must be educated and informed about how to design and use clothing more sustainably. This overproduction and overconsumption are contributing to soaring textile waste. An estimated 92 million tons of textile waste are created annually from the fashion industry. Textile waste is estimated to increase by about 60% between 2015 and 2030.
Redress is urgently inviting fashion designers and academia to come together to “rise to the challenge” by implementing circular design practices and education at the design stage and at educational institutions.
Meet the Top 10 Finalists
Redress recognises that an estimated 80% of a product’s environmental impact is locked in at design stage. This is where fashion designers and the design team can influence the design board stage. This year’s 10 Finalists stand out as agents of change, who were expertly judged and selected from a global pool of talented designers from 57 regions. They are set to invigorate sustainable fashion with their innovative use of waste textiles and circular design concepts. Their creations could be the key to disrupting the industry’s linear ‘take, make, dispose’ model.
The 10 Finalists will send their sustainable collections to Redress for a professional photoshoot in Hong Kong, with their garments safely delivered by the event’s Platinum Sponsor, DHL Express. These innovative collections will travel from various global locations to Hong Kong, utilising DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, a dedicated solution that reduces carbon emissions associated with international air shipping through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Dr. Christina Dean, Founder and Board Chair of Redress, said, “The fashion industry’s environmental footprint is a ticking time bomb. Every second, the equivalent of one rubbish truck of textiles is landfilled or burned and this is worsening. Redress’ role vitally brings together designers, academia and industry annually via our competition to encourage courageous acts to accelerate circular fashion.”
Redress Design Award 2025 Partners — Hope for a Positive Future
The Redress Design Award is supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) as the Lead Sponsor. Mr. Victor Tsang, Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, CCIDA, said, “The Redress Design Award is a significant event for the fashion industry, showcasing the immense talent emerging from around the world and gathering them in Hong Kong for cultural and business exchanges. Collaboration is essential to inspire a new era of sustainable practices that resonate globally. The CCIDA is pleased to support the award to reinforce Hong Kong as a dynamic hub for fashion and innovation.”
This year, Redress has partnered with DHL Express, the world’s leading international express service provider, as a platinum sponsor to support the Redress Design Award first prize, aiming to promote sustainability in the fashion industry. The winner will have their collection shown at Greenext Expo in Shanghai and be provided with mentorship from renowned designer, Flora Cheong-Leen to develop a limited-edition upcycled item for retail. The winner will also receive a development fund of HK$50,000 (US$6,400) supported by Redress and the Tian Art Foundation, a charity that provides educational scholarships to students.
Mr. Andy Chiang, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, DHL Express Hong Kong and Macau, said, “We believe that the logistics industry can be a powerful catalyst for positive change, aligning with DHL’s sustainability aspirations to create a more sustainable future. Through initiatives aimed at strengthening global supply chains and supporting sustainable businesses, we are dedicated to helping the fashion industry minimize its environmental impact. By partnering with Redress, we empower talented global designers to bring their visions to life, while supporting the fashion industry’s transition toward more responsible practices.”
The Finalists are now gearing up to present their collections at the Grand Final Fashion Show in September 2025, coming together for a 10-day educational bootcamp of workshops and challenges. This includes a deep-dive factory experience at TAL Apparel, the award-winning manufacturer that produces 55 million garments annually. During their time in Hong Kong, the Finalists will stay at Dash Living.
