Fashion Innovation Award

Supported by F&F

Submission
The Innovation Award embraces the excellent, innovative work found in GFF member university courses. The award is open to all degree courses under your membership for students who show ‘forward-thinking innovation’ within their final major project. It celebrates the projects with documented outcomes including tech and research-based courses that may only produce one, two or three outfits or products.

The winning work must provide a refreshing and innovative direction to the following pathways:

Fashion Product
Fashion Commentary / Research
Fashion Promotion
Fashion Image
Material Innovation

It should illustrate ground-breaking thinking and attract national/international niche media interest.

Criteria

Visionary thinking, passion and courage
Authentic, resourceful, creative enquiry
Pioneering influencers of the future
Innovator, an individual who is leading the way
An inspiring voice
An initial digital submission of no more than 15 x pages for the nomination shortlisting. The final judging session will display the full physical body of work.
The nomination can be a maximum of 10mb, illustrating research, development, the final project and a supporting statement.

Process

The Fashion Innovation award will be judged in two stages. All nominated students will have to submit a supporting statement for scrutiny at the pre-event shortlisting by industry experts.

Part One

Deadline: Monday 18th May 2026, 18:00.

Deadline for submission, academic staff are to nominate 2 final year students and the nominations must be made by clicking below.

Submit Here

Selection

An industry expert will shortlist 12 students from the entries submitted.
Shortlist Announcement: Thursday 28th May 2026

Part Two

Awards judging will be onsite at Graduate Fashion Week at the Truman Brewery. Shortlisted students must bring their full entry for the final judging. This can be physical work plus digital elements if required. The judging will be an opportunity to talk through the students work, ideas and answer questions from the judges.

All nominated students must attend the full judging day during GFW and ensure they attend all talks, meetings and judging sessions as well as the end of day Awards Presentation and celebratory networking event. Winners will receive promotion across the GFF networks.