30 emerging fashion designers have made it though to the semi-final of The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16. The semi-finalists include 4 designers from the UK,  5 from China and an additional 6 from Hong Kong. This is a strong year from Asia!

Applicants were challenged to apply a combination of one or more of the three sustainable design techniques of zero-waste, up-cycling and reconstruction to create their minimal waste designs.

The semi-finalists from UK who will now go through to the international judging round are:

• Benjamin BENMOYAL
• Sara KIANI
• Samson LEUNG (From Hong Kong)
• Morag MACKINNON   

All are currently studying at Central St Martins.

A full list of the thirty semi-finalists from across Asia and Europe can be found here. 

These future stars will now go through evaluation by the international judging panel which includes fashion writer Susie Bubble and ELLE China Fashion Editor Stephanie Zhuge.

From the 30 semi-finalists, ten finalists (five from Asia and five from Europe) will be selected and will attend The EcoChic Design Award 2015/16 Grand Final to present their sustainable collections at HKTDC Hong Kong Fashion Week in January 2016. They will be competing to win career-boosting prizes supported by Shanghai Tang, the distinguished fashion designer Orsola de Castro and Hong Kong supermodel, Janet Ma. 

The Europe regional judging panel consisted of:

• Johan Arnø Kryger, Head of Responsible Innovation, Danish Fashion Institute 

• Reet Aus, Designer and Researcher

• Armele Barbier, Head of Design, Menswear, Shanghai Tang

• Alex Macdonald, Senior Editor, Creative Direction, WGSN

• Sakina M’Sa, Fashion Designer

‘As consumers we will never buy fashion simply to save the world. We want to look and feel good as well – that’s why fashion exists. So we are in an urgent need for sustainable fashion designers who understand this need for balance; this is why I was very happy when I saw this year’s applications.’ – Johan Arnø Kryger