Taiwan Fashion Design Award (TFDA) celebrated 40 years of craftmanship and creativity this month, bringing new emerging fashion designers to the forefront.
12 local and international finalists showcased their capsule collections on the catwalk in front of 500 guests who attended the final selection show on October 14 at Heritage Square, Kong Zong Cultural Base in Taipei.
[Main photo, left to right: Chen Li-Yue “For Grandma” / Leo Whitehouse “Crash” / Kao Wan-Ci “The Child I Refuse to Abandon” Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award]
The collections unfolded on the runway through distinctive silhouettes, material treatments, and cultural references; some explored sculptural forms, while others focused on the relationship between garment and body or created depth through refined craftsmanship and material transformation.
“Verdigris Jazz” landed designer Ruei Jei Chong a place among TFDA 2026’s finalists. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award.
Presented in motion, each collection revealed a clearer sense of character and offered audiences a direct view of the 12 designers’ individual aesthetics.
Yi Zhen Lin proposed a “Vivid Swirl” to the guests and jury of TFDA 2026. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award.
An international jury consisting of fashion design, media, and industry experts, evaluated the collections based on creative concept, fabric application, pattern and construction, overall execution, as well as commercial potential, combining design expertise with a market perspective.
TFDA 2026 finalist Chi-An Chen was inspired by “Ravens in Film”. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award.
HUNDREDS OF FASHION DESIGNERS COMPETE FOR AWARD
The competition attracted 530 emerging designers from 25 countries and regions, with 12 finalists selected to present complete collections during Taipei Fashion Week. With strong international participation once again this year, the competition brought together diverse cultural perspectives and creative approaches in Taipei, adding a new chapter to TFDA’s 40-edition history.
The First Prize went to Takumi Ogura from Japan for the collection “Future Groom”, earning a cash prize of US$10,000.
Takumi Ogura “Future Groom”. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award
The Second Prizes were presented to Li-Yue Chen for “To Grandma” and Yu-Hsuan Weng for “Flaking Strata”, with each receiving US$5,000.
Chen Li-Yue “For Grandma”. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award.
Yu-Hsuan Weng’s “Flaking Strata”. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award
Three more awards were presented to Kao Wan-Ci, Jaehee Kwon from South Korea, and Leo Whitehouse from Australia, who received the Third Prize for Best Use of Fabrics, Best Pattern Making, and Best Market Potential respectively, with each winner receiving US$3,000.
Kao Wan-Ci won an award for Best Use of Fabrics with the collection “The Child I Refuse to Abandon”. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award
The award for best pattern-making went to South Korean participant Jaehee Kwon for the collection “Schuroop (It’s rainy, but…)”. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award
Australian Leo Whitehouse’s collection was awarded as the one with the Best Market Potential. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award
To date, TFDA has attracted more than 15,000 entries, with over 90 percent of award recipients pursuing careers in fashion and design-related fields.
The competition is organized by the Industrial Development Administration (IDA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and executed by the Taiwan Textile Federation.
Finalist Kitti Fabian. Credit explored sculptural forms in the collection “Beyond the Hockey / Sustained Gamewear”. Taiwan Fashion Design Award
FROM COMPETITION TO INDUSTRY
Over four decades, the award has evolved alongside the fashion industry, expanding from an early focus on garment form, patternmaking, and production techniques to material innovation, sustainability, digital technology, and commercial potential.
Hao Ting Lin joined the finals with “Chapter Seven”. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award
During this time, TFDA has continued to identify and nurture emerging designers while supporting the textile and apparel sector’s shift from OEM manufacturing toward ODM, design-added value, and stronger connections with international markets.
Jia-Yu Lin presented “Luminous Void” at TFDA 2026. Credit: Taiwan Fashion Design Award
The award’s long-term development has also been strengthened by industry support. This year’s competition was supported byCoddy Global Ltd., Eclat EducationFoundation, Fortune Industrial and Commercial Development Foundation, LealeaEnterprise Co., Ltd., Li Peng Enterprise Co., Ltd., Makalot Foundation, New WideEnterprise Co., Ltd., and New Wide Garment Co., Ltd., providing more than US$35,000 in total prize money to encourage young designers in their creative and professional development.
