Fashion Designer Application - Zero Waste Festival 2026
Applications Close June 30th. Successful Applicant notified July 12th
The ReWear Runway reimagines what fashion can be by celebrating the creativity of transforming reclaimed and upcycled materials into wearable fashion.
As part of the Zero Waste Festival, this inaugural event showcases garments created from reclaimed, repaired, reused, and repurposed materials.
Through creativity, reconstruction, and reuse, the ReWear Runway highlights practical and inspiring alternatives to wasteful fashion consumption, demonstrating how fashion can be environmentally conscious, and stylish
The event welcomes community participants, students, designers, and creatives who have an interest in sustainable fashion and creative reuse.
Participants may submit a portfolio multiple garment entries. However, they must select only one garment per designer to present on the ReWear Runway.
We’re looking for designs that
- are primarily created from reclaimed, repaired, or repurposed materials or preloved clothing
- demonstrate original creativity and thoughtful transformation of existing materials into wearable fashion
- reflect the values of ReWear Runway, including sustainability, creativity, accessibility, and inclusion
- have a story about the origin and reuse of the materials used
consider functionality and wearability beyond the runway
Judging Process
All written applications submitted will be shortlisted to the judging criteria by the ZWV ReWear Runway team.
Final judging will take place at the ReWear Runway on 12 September by a judging panel.
Awards include:
$400 Cash Prize — Overall Winner
$200 Cash Prize — Judges’ Best Youth Designer (25 years and under are eligible)
*People’s Choice Award — audience vote
The evaluation process is informed by both your written application and the garment presented on the day. The results will be announced at the end of the event.
Judging Criteria:
Sustainability
reduction of waste - construction method (incl how scraps are minimised)
primarily created from reclaimed, repaired, or repurposed materials or preloved clothing
no new materials except thread and necessary hardware
Craftsmanship - Wearability & practicality to be worn off the runway
ease of movement
how well the piece holds together
durability to be worn and washed repeatedly
Creativity
does it offer a fresh perspective (combination of materials, concept etc.)
relevance to the runway’s prompt
successful translation of creative thought process into the final garment
extent of accessibility and influential impact on others to do the same themselves
Applicants must submit images of either concept sketches, images of work-in-progress garment with sketches or notes, an image of a completed garment aligned with the ReWear Runway brief.
*Please note: Garments must be completed by September 12 to participate