Sportswear & Leisurewear Award

Submission
The market for performance, and non-performance sportswear (otherwise known as athleisure) has grown extensively in recent years. This award recognises the opportunity and demand for clothing developed for sports activities as well as everyday life. Comfort and technical performance have become the topmost priority in this area of fashion with innovative and creative fibres and fabrications used extensively in sports and leisurewear. This award is open to all sportswear and leisurewear categories i.e. performance and non-performance sportswear, athleisure, streetwear and leisurewear.

Criteria

Addresses sportswear, or athleisure categories
A defined and thoroughly understood purpose
Appropriate use of materials and fibres for sportswear or technical use
Display concept, design sketches, colour and fabric boards, including garment development
The submission should include a supporting statement to explain the nominated student’s entry from concept to realisation, including images demonstrating that it meets all the criteria as detailed above
An initial digital submission of no more than 15 x pages for the nomination shortlisting. The full physical body of work and garment/s will be displayed for the final judging session.
The nomination can be a maximum of 10mb, illustrating the final project and a supporting statement.

Process

The Sportswear and Leisurewear 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.