The finalists of Colin’s Denim Idea Design Competition have been announced!
The Denim Idea Design Competition, organized by Colin’s since 2022 with the aim of supporting young talents and promoting sustainable fashion, has completed its preliminary selection process. This year, with the theme “Denim Hero,” the competition received 280 applications, and after evaluation, 10 finalists were selected.
These finalists, who are preparing to shape the future of fashion, will bring their designs to life in the Denim Hero Workshop after the Education Week. At the end of the process, the young designers will compete for prizes of up to 500,000 TL in front of a jury composed of famous and expert fashion designers. The grand final will take place on June 19.
The Denim Idea Design Competition, aimed at university students studying in design departments of Fine Arts Faculties such as Fashion, Textile, Architecture, Graphic, and Industrial Design in state and foundation universities or academies across Turkey, is organized with the purpose of raising awareness about sustainability, contributing to the development of students’ visions with training from world-renowned fashion designers, and helping them discover their creativity. This year, 280 applications were received from 25 cities and 53 universities. In the competition, which is organized with the theme “Denim Hero,” the finalists are Ali Erdem Açıkgöz, Başak Doğan, Beyza Nur Yılmaz, Enes Yürük, İpek Ünlü, Mehmet Uğun, Öykü Koparan, Samet Topuz, Sevgi Aleyna Buzkıran, and Tuğba Bozkurt. Next, they will participate in the Education Week and Workshop.
During the Education Week, which will take place from March 24 to 28, the finalists will meet with industry professionals before bringing their designs to life. The 10 finalists will attend a workshop organized by the Colin’s Denim design team, where they will receive detailed information about denim fabrics from BOSSA and DNM Denim teams and accessories from YKK, and choose fabrics and accessories that suit their designs. In addition to the online sustainability and fashion training from international experts, they will also visit a factory to observe the production processes.
“Contestants will use denim fabric from BOSSA and DNM Denim”
From March 29 to May 23, the Denim Hero Workshop process will begin for the finalists. During this period, under the mentorship of the Colin’s Denim design team, the students will gain knowledge about denim fabrics, their history, design, washing, accessories, and style. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to push the limits of their imagination and showcase their creativity by using waste denim fabrics and sustainable materials. The selected 10 finalists will receive material and consultancy support during the preparation of their collections. During the production phase of the collections, denim fabrics from DNM Denim and BOSSA, accessories from YKK, and materials provided by Colin’s, along with an additional material support of up to 10,000 TL, will be available.
The final jury of the Denim Idea Design Competition consists of leading figures in fashion and sustainability. The jury includes pioneering names in fashion design such as Hatice Gökçe,
“Leading names of the fashion and sustainability world in the jury seat”
Mehtap Elaidi, Nur Bilen Yavuzer, and Fashion Designer & Architect Niyazi Erdoğan. Also included are Kutay Sarıtosun, one of the world’s leading experts in sustainable fashion and textiles, who teaches at many renowned fashion and design schools, the Director of Bluesign Technologies Network Brand Services, along with Yavuz Eroğlu, CEO of Colin’s, Ahmet Eroğlu, Head of Colin’s Sustainability Committee, Meera Saxena, Colin’s Global Creative Director, Gülendam Bal, Colin’s Global Denim Category Group Manager, Gökhan Ünsal, General Manager of DNM Denim, and Onur Duru, General Manager of Bossa. They will bring different perspectives to the competition and inspire young designers.
The award ceremony, where designs produced using waste denim fabrics and sustainable materials will be displayed, will take place on June 19. The winner will receive a 200,000 TL cash prize, the second-place finalist will receive 150,000 TL, and the third-place finalist will be awarded 100,000 TL. The other 7 students who made it to the final will receive Colin’s gift vouchers.
