Redress Design Award winner blends sustainability with commercial appeal

Taiwan’s Jessica Chang (pictured above) has taken out this year’s Redress Design Award, winning the opportunity to work with the design teams of VF Corp’s Timberland brand. 

Chang impressed the judges by incorporating waste materials into designs to connect with and inspire consumers. They said her collection demonstrated creativity in sustainable design as well as strong marketability and commerciality.

“Winning this chance to work with Timberland is a life-changer for me,” said Chang. “Entering this complex industry as an emerging designer is daunting because, so often, everywhere we look we see bad news and complexity. We know we can bring change. Yet it is hard to magnify our big ideas as start-up designers. The Redress Design Award has given me confidence – we are all in this together to make a positive change!”

Chang will start work with Timberland immediately, along with VF’s Sustainability and Responsibility team to ensure that the materials and design strategies meet the company’s sustainability objectives. She will get to design sustainable capsule collection with Timberland that will go on sale in 2023.

Jessica Chang’s Redress Design Award-winning collection.

The Redress Design Award is considered the world’s largest sustainable fashion design competition. 

“The awards showcase what is possible when emerging designs are given an opportunity to innovate around sustainability,” said Sean Cady, VF’s VP, global sustainability and responsibility, and one of the judges.

“We believe cultivating creative, up-and-coming talent is both good for business and a necessity for the future of our planet. Watching our global teams embrace this sustainability competition and mentor the next generation of designers is incredibly rewarding.”

Ten finalists from the US, UK, Germany, India, and Greater China participated in virtual events for this year’s award which took place over the first 11 days of this month. 

The event included educational challenges and master classes on advancing sustainability and circular design in the fashion industry through sustainable production solutions. 

Emerging designers secured their place in the finals of the competition by impressing judges with entries that offered climate-positive apparel through zero-waste patterns, prolonged garment lifecycles, end-of-life disassembly, upcycling and minimal washing needs.

Meanwhile, a capsule collection designed by last year’s Redress winner will hit Timberland stores this Spring. Vietnamese designer Le Ngoc Ha Thu spent nine months working with the Timberland global design team to create the Chinese New Year-themed collection.

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