Circular fashion environmental charity Redress has awarded two designers with collaboration prizes for their entries in the Redress Design Awards for 2020.

The Redress Design Award 2020 Grand Final saw awards presented to menswear designer Le Ngoc Ha Thu from Vietnam and womenswear designer Juliana Garcia Bello of Argentina, who won design collaboration prizes with VF Corporation’s Timberland and upcycling brand The R Collective, respectively.

A runner-up award was given to Sri Lankan designer Ruth Weerasinghe.

The award for best Hong Kong designer went to Grace Lant.

The competition cycle, sponsored by local government body Create Hong Kong, has served to draw attention to the issue of waste in the fashion industry that has intensified under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Fashion’s waste crisis can’t be swept under the carpet any longer,” said Redress and The R Collective founder Christina Dean. “Covid-19’s retail and supply chain disruptions have stranded materials in warehouses, factories and stores globally. Now is the time to catalyse the circular economy – and this is Redress’ focus. The Redress Design Award has for 10 years educated designers about circular design. The industry must not waste the opportunities that Covid-19’s crisis is offering.”

“The Redress Design Award has established as a recognised brand in the sustainable fashion design community over the past years by educating emerging fashion designers in order to drive growth towards a circular fashion system”, said Create Hong Kong head Victor Tsang.

Over the past fortnight, 10 finalists in the competition were subjected to a tough series of virtual design and business challenges focused on real-life sustainability business cases.

VF’s executive VP & group president Asia Pacific region and emerging brands Kevin Bailey, one of the judges, said the company’s collaboration with Redress over the past two years has connected it with talented, emerging designers “who are passionate about creating fashionable, compelling designs with environmental responsibility in mind”.

“We are constantly inspired by their commitment to circular design and creativity. These are the future leaders who are going to help drive lasting and positive change throughout our global industry and we are proud to be part of their journey.”