FASHION DESIGN OF THE YEAR AWARD
The International Design Awards is searching for fashion designers who know how to make an impact. The fashion design of the year winner will be a pioneer with the vision to explore new territory and the ability to set the agenda for style-conscious consumers everywhere. A leader and not a follower, our winner will have a fresh approach to fashion, creating innovative collections and being unafraid to make waves.
Our competition seeks to recognise those who can take a spark of inspiration and brilliance and turn it into something that turns heads and really stands out on the catwalks. We want to celebrate those who are able to create a signature style and use colour and movement to create stunning outfits which evoke feelings of excitement, passion and longing.
Each year we are proud to receive entries from fashion designers at the very peak of their career who want to showcase their latest collections and avant-garde creations to the world. Join them by submitting your entry today.
Categories
The IDA’s Fashion Design of the Year Award is awarded to designers with the vision to explore and chart new territory in the world of fashion, and the ability to set the agenda for style-conscious consumers everywhere.
This category celebrates product designs that complement personal style and daily living. Submissions may include completed, in-progress, or conceptual designs.
- Bags / Luggage
Handbags, backpacks, suitcases, and other travel or everyday carrying solutions. - Clothing Accessories
Scarves, belts, hats, ties, and other wearable fashion accessories. - Eyewear
Sunglasses, optical glasses, and other vision-related accessories. - Jewellery
Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and other wearable decorative items. - Travel Accessories
Products that support travel convenience, organization, and comfort. - Watches
Timepieces, smartwatches, and other wearable chronometers.
This category celebrates everyday fashion designs for men, women, and children. Submissions may include completed, in-progress, or conceptual designs.
- Men
Casual clothing designs for men. - Women
Casual clothing designs for women. - Infant / Teen / Kids
Casual clothing designs for infants, teenagers, and children.
This category celebrates innovative footwear designs for fashion, function, and performance. Submissions may include completed, in-progress, or conceptual designs.
- Boots
Footwear designed as boots for fashion or function. - Casual Footwear
Everyday footwear designs for comfort and style. - Children's Footwear
Footwear designed specifically for children. - Elegant Footwear
Sophisticated and stylish footwear for formal or semi-formal occasions. - Formal Footwear
Footwear designed for formal events and professional wear. - Footwear Innovation
Experimental and innovative footwear designs featuring new materials or technologies. - Special Purpose Shoes
Footwear designed for specific functional or occupational uses. - Sports / Performance Footwear
Athletic and performance-oriented footwear for sports and physical activities. - Sustainable Footwear
Environmentally conscious footwear designed with sustainable materials or processes.
This category celebrates high-fashion, custom-made clothing for men, women, and children. Submissions may include completed, in-progress, or conceptual designs.
- Men
Haute couture designs for men. - Women
Haute couture designs for women. - Infant / Teen / Kids
Haute couture designs for infants, teenagers, and children.
This category celebrates specialized and niche fashion designs. Submissions may include completed, in-progress, or conceptual designs.
- AvantGarde
Experimental and boundary-pushing fashion designs. - Cultural / Traditional Costumes
Designs inspired by cultural or traditional attire. - Lingerie
Intimate apparel and lingerie designs. - Pet Fashion
Fashion designed for pets. - Recycled / Sustainable Fashion
Fashion created using recycled materials or sustainable practices. - Sleepwear
Clothing designed for sleeping or loungewear. - Sports / Performance Wear
Activewear and performance-oriented clothing. - Uniforms
Professional, institutional, or themed uniform designs. - Wedding
Bridal and wedding attire designs.
This category celebrates ready-to-wear clothing for men, women, and children. Submissions may include completed, in-progress, or conceptual designs.
- Men
Ready-to-wear clothing designs for men. - Women
Ready-to-wear clothing designs for women. - Infant / Teen / Kids
Ready-to-wear clothing designs for infants, teenagers, and children.
This category celebrates innovative textile and material designs for fashion and interiors. Submissions may include completed, in-progress, or conceptual designs.
- New Technology Fabrics
Fabrics created using new technologies, performance enhancements, or smart textiles. - Textile / Print Design
Patterns, prints, and material designs for fashion or decorative purposes.
Deadlines & Fees
IDA invite architects, builders, engineers and design teams to submit their projects of conceptual, in-progress or completed work.
Winners are chosen based on one project submitted; and not for a body of work.
15 APRIL
2026
Early Bird Deadline
-10% Discount15 MAY
2026
Extended Earlybird
-5% Discount15 AUGUST
2026
Regular Deadline
15 SEPTEMBER
2026
Extended Deadline
15 OCTOBER
2026
Final Deadline
EXPERTISE
PROFESSIONAL
STUDENTS
1ST ENTRY
€100
€50
ADDITIONAL ENTRY
€80
€40
ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES**
50% DISCOUNT
50% DISCOUNT
* Multiple entries must be paid at the same time as your first entry in order to be counted as “additional entries”. An entry paid at a later time will be counted as a “first entry”.
** You may submit an entry into multiple categories at the same time but must be in the same disciplines. The first Category will be charged as per the original submission fee. Additional categories (2 or more) will be charged at 50% in the same discipline.
PROJECT DATE
Work submitted must have been created within the last 5 years.
Awards Titles
FASHION DESIGN OF THE YEAR, PROFESSIONAL
The fashion design of the year winner will receive publication of his/her work in the International Design Awards Book of Designs, to be distributed to museum bookstores internationally; promotion in a newsletter to 100,000 design professionals and potential clients worldwide; year-long coverage on the International Design Awards website; and critical acclaim by our distinguished panel of judges. He/she will also receive the IDA certificate of achievements and winners seal to use it online announcing his/her winning, along with a personalized press release and the IDA awards winning stainless steel trophy.
EMERGING FASHION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR, STUDENT
This award will be awarded to a student who has demonstrated devotion to elevating the art of graphic design. He/she will receive publication of his/her work in the IDA Book of Designs, to be distributed to museum bookstores nationwide; promotion in a newsletter to 100,000 design professionals and potential clients worldwide; year-long coverage on the International Design Awards website; and critical acclaim by our distinguishes panel of judges
Prizes and Promotions
The Winner of the Fashion Design of the Year Award will receive the coveted IDA trophy and be highlighted on the main page of the IDA website and published in all our social media platforms throughout the coming year.
Along with all the sub-category winners, they will also receive a Winner Certificate, Winner Seal, and a personalised press release to use for promotional purposes. All the winning designs will also be featured in the Annual IDA Book of Design.
Our winners will receive extensive publicity all throughout the following year, showcasing their designs to a worldwide audience. They will be promoted on the IDA website in the Winners Gallery and in IDA Newsletters sent out to 100,000 design industry professionals and potential clients.
Winners will also be listed in the IDA online Design Directory, making it easier for them to be reached by potential customers.
PRESS CAMPAIGN
to over 100,000 design professionals, press and potential clients worldwide.
ONLINE DESIGN DIRECTORY
inclusion, with contact information of all IDA winners, and on the IDA website Gallery of Winning Work.
PUBLISHED IN THE ANNUAL BOOK
The IDA Book of Designs is distributed through Art Publishers and Dubb Publications around the world.
CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
A handsome certificate to promote your winning.
IDA WINNERS SEAL
Promote your winnings on the website and all your printed material.
Submission Details
SUBMISSION IS ONLINE AND IS COMPLETED IN 4 SIMPLE STEPS:
1. Click “submit” to create a free membership and password. If you are already a member, log in.
2. Fill in the simple online submission form–remember you can select multiple categories for each entry.
3. Upload the images for your entry. (Repeat the first 3 steps if you have multiple entries.
4. The final step is to pay your submission fees.
Up to 10 images (JPG/PDF) can be submitted per entry—The first 5 images should be JPG files. The remaining 5 images can be JPG or PDF. Size for JPG files: 1000 pixels on the longest side, maximum file size 4 MB. Size for PDF files: Please save as “screen view” and limit it to only 6 pages per file, Max 4 MB.
Entries should include as much detail as possible, including images of each side of the garment or collection. You can include patterns showing the construction of the garment.
Where the project is a group of buildings, entrants should provide a rendering that illustrates the complete project. If the entry concerns an alteration or restoration, please include both “before” and “after” images.
Entries can be submitted as completed, in-process, or conceptual works. Projects completed more than 5 years before the time of submission are not eligible.
Description of the project should be limited to 600 characters or less.
Projects will not be judged until payments have been received.