VF Corporation and Redress Reveal 2022 Winner of World’s Largest Sustainable Fashion Design Competition
Winner Will Collaborate with Timberland® on a Special Design Project
Hong Kong, September 8, 2022 -- VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, and Hong Kong-based environmental NGO Redress, working to reduce waste and advance circular design in the fashion industry, have announced the 2022 winner of the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition, Redress Design Award. In their fourth year of collaboration, the partnership between VF, the VF Foundation, and Redress reflects a shared mission to innovate and foster the next generation of forward-thinking, environmentally conscious designers in the apparel and footwear industry. The winner, Federico Badini Confalonieri, will gain the opportunity to work with VF’s Timberland® team and collaborate on a special sustainable design project that advances the brand’s vision for a greener future.
“Creating sustainable circular designs is crucial to VF’s mission of bettering both people and the planet. Therefore, we want to equip talented next-generation designers with the tools and experience needed to further develop innovative circular solutions,” said Sean Cady, VF’s Vice President, Global Sustainability and Responsibility, who served as a judge for the second year running. “The Redress Design Award offers an amazing opportunity for emerging talent to work with our global teams and grow as a sustainable designer.”
After receiving over 450 entries from 47 countries and regions, the competition was narrowed down to nine finalists from Italy, Spain, Chile, Brazil, Hong Kong SAR, India and Sri Lanka before the winner was announced at the Grand Final Fashion Presentation, where the designers showcased their circular fashion pieces. The judges commented on the strength of the designers this year, making choosing a winner even more difficult.
As part of the Redress Design Award learning experience, the finalists participated virtually in the icebreaker® ‘Move to Natural’ challenge on 2 September, 2022 where they were tasked with designing a solution for a 100% natural fibre product that aims to re-use textile waste from the icebreaker® supply chain, from sheep to shirt. This year, the challenge was also extended to fashion and textile students from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University who worked with the finalists to create their design ideas, diversifying the teams’ strengths and further educating upcoming designers on the endless possibilities of sustainable design. The challenge is designed to inspire the finalists to ‘think outside the box’ and follow the icebreaker® motto of leading a more natural way of living and reducing reliance on synthetics. The judges were impressed by the finalists’ creativity, problem solving and ideas, as well as their dedication to advancing sustainability and circular design.
The competition concluded with the Grand Final Fashion Presentation on 7 September 2022 at ArtisTree Hong Kong, with each finalist showcasing their collection to an exclusive in-person audience.
“The need for sustainable design education has never been more critical,” said Christina Dean, Founder of Redress. “Education is not easy to deliver, yet VF Corporation, and more recently The VF Foundation, has supported Redress in delivering education for several years, opening their hallowed design studios and experts’ calendars for extensive educational support. This speaks of the authentic heart that drives the business. We encourage more companies to follow the purpose-driving motto, and, critically, continue to push forward even when the going gets tough,” said Dean.
The First Prize Winner of the Redress Design Award Federico Badini Confalonieri impressed the judges with his collection, ‘Micro - Rain’, which uses zero-waste techniques to upcycle waste fabrics from his previous collections, and draws attention to the issue of microplastics in the fashion industry, with garments made with synthetic fabrics that have an incorporated filter fabric to retain pollution during
“This prize is about more than winning a competition,” said the First Prize winner, Federico Badini Confalonieri from Italy. “It will give me even more energy and determination to work towards building together a more sustainable fashion industry. I am humbled that the jury selected me among such skilled designers! We sustainable designers may have competed, but the reality is that collaboration creates greater fashion. To partner with one of the world’s most iconic brands, Timberland®, is a huge opportunity for me, and I look forward to creating a positive and powerful project together.”
Federico will commence his experience with the Timberland® brand immediately. He will gain valuable insights from across the VF supply chain from sourcing to product development, while deepening their skills and understanding around sustainable production and marketing.
“We were blown away by the quality of the finalists’ designs this year. The commitment and integrity of each designer in their pursuit for eco-innovation is incredible,” said Puneet Khosla, Vice President and Managing Director, Timberland® Asia Pacific, who also served as a judge this year. “It’s been extremely rewarding to watch the last two winners on their sustainability journey with Timberland® and we look forward to working closely with Federico as he embarks on his exclusive winners’ experience this year. Together, we can make a real impact for the betterment of people and our planet.”
This moment comes as the capsule collection designed by last year’s Redress winner is preparing to launch in Spring 2023. Taiwanese designer and circularity advocate Jessica Chang spent nine months working with the Timberland® global design team to create the Year of the Rabbit capsule collection, which combines functionality and versatility.
The full Redress Design Award 2022 Grand Final is available on YouTube.
About VF Corporation
Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies connecting people to the lifestyles, activities and experiences they cherish most through a family of iconic outdoor, active and workwear brands including Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland®, icebreaker® and Dickies®. Our purpose is to power movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and our planet. We connect this purpose with a relentless drive to succeed to create value for all stakeholders and use our company as a force for good. For more information, please visit vfc.com.
About Redress (www.redress.com.hk)
Redress is a pioneering environmental charity with a mission to educate and empower the fashion industry and consumers to reduce clothing’s negative environmental impact by shifting to circular solutions. Its dynamic programmes work to minimise the negative impacts of fashion, whilst promoting innovative new models and driving growth towards a more sustainable industry via the circular economy. Working directly with a wide range of stakeholders, including designers, manufacturers, brands, educational bodies, government and consumers, Redress aims to create lasting environmental change in fashion.
The Redress Design Award is the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition working to educate emerging fashion designers around the world about sustainable design theories and techniques in order to drive the shift towards a circular fashion system. By putting sustainable design talent in the global spotlight, the competition creates a unique platform for passionate and talented fashion game-changers to transform the global fashion industry and rewards the best with career-changing prizes to maximise long-term impact. Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is the Lead Sponsor of the Redress Design Award. www.redressdesignaward.com
Media Contacts:
VF Corporation
Becky Cho
Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications, APAC
Redress
Shirley Aun
Communications Manager
Released September 8, 2022