Nils Hauser is awarded the Redress Design Award 2023 for innovative sustainable fashion design by environmental NGO Redress and VF Corporation.
The Redress Design Award 2023, organised by Hong Kong-based environmental NGO Redress, CreateHK, and VF Corporation, among other partners, was held on Thursday, September 7th, 2023 at Centrestage at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The prestigious competition seeks to promote circular design in the fashion industry and provide emerging designers with a platform to showcase their sustainable creations.
In addition to receiving the Design Award this year, the victor, Nils Hauser from Germany, will have the extraordinary opportunity to work from VF’s Tokyo Design Collective (TDC), situated in Tokyo’s Harajuku district. Here, he will collaborate with Timberland® on the brand’s Spring 2025 apparel collection. The TDC serves as a global talent and inspiration incubator, allowing Nils to connect with designers and artists from VF’s diverse portfolio of global brands.
Nils’ winning collection, titled ‘Ex Voto,’ featured multifunctional garments crafted from upcycled materials, including sofa upholstery fabric and nylon from an old family tent. He prioritised low-impact materials and processes by utilising water-based printing paint on his creations.
“The fashion industry needs to reinvent itself, from the drawing board to the board room. This transformation requires talent and strong leadership. Our collaboration with VF and Timberland®, through providing circular-practicing designers, spotlights the role of the designer and collaboration to bring about change. Armed with circular design techniques, decisions at the design stage can change fashion – and the world,” said Dr. Christina Dean, the Founder of Redress.
The Redress Design Award 2023 saw nine emerging designers from around the world reach the final stage. These designers, hailing from regions like Hong Kong, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, and the US, showcased their collections at the Grand Final Fashion Presentation on September 7, where the winners were announced.
This marks the fifth year of VF’s partnership with Redress, demonstrating VF’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of sustainability-focused fashion designers.
Earlier this year, VF, alongside partners like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and Deloitte, established the CTI Fashion Initiative to create harmonised standards and best practices for circularity in the fashion industry.
Jeannie Renne-Malone, the Vice President of Global Sustainability at VF Corporation, commented, “VF remains committed to fostering a lower carbon future through implementing sustainable design principles, such as circular design, that minimise the industry’s environmental impact. Our collaboration with Redress gives us the unique opportunity to directly connect with emerging fashion designers who have a passion for sustainability, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed so they can be catalysts for change in the industry and usher in a new era of sustainability in fashion.”
The Grand Final Fashion Show also featured new collections from six prominent designers in Redress’ Alumni Network including Pat Guzik, SIGN by Patrick Lam, GARCIA BELLO, PCES by Jessica Chang, SOFT YET by Jin Pei-wen, and XAVAN by Lê Ngọc Hà Thu.
“Collaborating with a world-leading brand like Timberland® and bringing my sustainable fashion ideas into the mainstream and large-scale fashion market whilst working with Timberland®’s expert team is a designer’s dream. Designers have solutions, and we know that by working together we can make change,” shared Nils Hauser.
The Redress Design Award 2023 Grand Final was livestreamed and you can access a recording here.
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