VF Corporation and Hong Kong-based NGO Redress have named Nils Hauser as the winner of this year’s sustainable fashion design competition Redress Design Award. 

Hauser impressed the judges with his collection ‘Ex Voto’, which features a range of multifunctional garments and uses uniquely upcycled materials including sofa upholstery fabric and nylon from an old family tent. He addresses low-impact materials and processes by using water-based printing paint on his garments.

The German designer will collaborate with the Timberland design team in the brand’s Spring 2025 apparel collection and work closely with VF Corp designers and artists at the company’s design hub Tokyo Design Collective. 

“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,” said Hauser. “Designers have solutions, and we know that by working together we can make change.”

Nine designers were chosen for the final round from hundreds of applications from around the globe. They together with all semi-finalists will join the Redress Design Award Alumni Network.

“We are always amazed at the calibre of designs and breadth of talent demonstrated by all finalists of the Redress Design Award,” said Puneet Khosla, VP and MD at Timberland Asia Pacific. “This experience will allow Nils to deepen his understanding of sustainability across the apparel and textile value chain – from production up to marketing.”

Further reading: Redress founder Christina Dean on the next gen of sustainable fashion.