In nearly three months from now, the 12 new but promising designers shortlisted for the final are going to have the final competition at Taipei Fashion Week SS22 on October 6. The winner of the first prize will be awarded US$10,000, and US$5,000, 3,000, and 1,000 will be awarded to the 2nd, 3rd prize winners, and the other finalists, respectively.

The Shortlist for “2021 Taiwan Fashion Design Award” has been Officially Determined after the Preliminary Selection: among New Designers from 18 Countries and Regions

The entries of this Year are mostly inspired by the personal emotions and the daily life experience of the designers themselves, such as the nostalgic memories from childhood, the will of self-breakthrough, the self-identity of outsiders, the yearning for hometowns and parents, or particular social and environmental perceptions such as feminism, lifestyle under the age of information explosion, religious beliefs, life reflections on the impact of the epidemic, as well as sustainable issues such as marine pollution, resource scarcity, and environmental regeneration. In addition, the all-encompassing inspiration elements include flowers and trees, movies, video games, music, cultures from various countries, and the integration of philosophical thoughts, in which time and space span across the realm of retro senses and modernity that bring abundant innovation and fun.

The fashion design emphasizes the diversified collocation from a single item, the versatility of various outfits, and the environmentally friendly concept of waste recycling, the breakthrough of limitations of fabrics, and the application of innovative ideas which refresh the fashion trends. Many items considered to be waste, such as fishing nets or plastics salvaged from the ocean, remnants from factories, and the seat belts and parts recovered from scrapped vehicles, etc., would be creatively used for clothing production, which would remodel and grant a new essence of “sustainability” to such waste. Subject to not at the expense of aesthetic essence, a good fashion design could ensure “versatility” and the pattern design incorporating material characteristics, such as adopting space cotton to display the graceful posture of women, reflective piping to improve wearing safety, and the ability to adjust the retraction and release of zipper according to different occasions. The clever use of “functional” fabrics such as the temperature-sensitive textiles indicating the change of human body temperature by changing the fabric colors, environmentally friendly elastic materials that resist dirt and crease, and collagen materials with cooling and beautification effects have all enhanced the freshness or comfort of wearing outfits.