SDC International Design Competition 2026
Start Date: 01/10/2025
End Date: 07/09/2026
Type: SDC Educational Provider Members undergraduate and postgraduate fashion and textile design students
Contact Email: members@sdc.org.uk
Theme for 2026: Climate Threads – Visual Storytelling Around Climate Change and Sustainability
The SDC International Design Competition is renowned for bringing together students, researchers, industry professionals, and designers from around the world to give undergraduate and postgraduate students a platform to showcase their creativity and vision on an international scale.
The competition helps the entrants develop their understanding of colour and the challenges around sustainability in the textile supply chain.
The theme for 2025/26 is Climate Threads – Visual Storytelling Around Climate Change and Sustainability
Competition Brief
The competition brief is available to download from the documents tab.
Prizes
The winner of the heat in each country will go forward to the online global grand final which will take place in October
The global grand final winner will receive £1000, a trophy, and gain valuable international media exposure.
Who can enter?
This competition is open to fashion and textile design postgraduate students and undergraduates studying at an SDC Educational Provider Member only. If you are interested in entering the competition and want to know more about SDC Educational Provider Membership and the excellent benefits for tutors and students, contact: members@sdc.org.uk
Take a look at our introductory chat and learn more about the International Design Competition.
To give you an idea of what’s to come, join Clare and Shelley from the SDC as they introduce last years competition to students from Arts university Plymouth
To think about how your design might affect your end user (good or bad), take a look at The Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
Some food for thought.
What is the role of Fashion & Creativity, post-pandemic? – Rosalind Jana
Take a read
CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) guide to tackle greenwashing
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/greenwashing-cma-issues-tailored-guide-for-fashion-brands
An important contributor committed to creating a true circular economy
The Ellen McArthur Foundation
Take a look at our extensive webinar series, grow your colour and sustainability knowledge with the SDC.
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Climate Threads Visual Storytelling Around Climate Change and Sustainability
SDC International Design Competition 25/26 Brief
Download File
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Supporting resources to help with your research!
Here you will find: websites to visit, videos to watch, books to read and webinars to watch. Make use of all these resources to deepen your knowledge and make better choices.
Download File
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Myth Busting Lutz Walter Short with links
Informative information busting myths around the fashion industry.
Download File