Applicants are required to submit a folio of work to be reviewed by the judging panel.

The folio must be submitted in digital copy via upload in the Application Form, and include the following elements:

1. Application form

2. Current profile, biography and head shot of designer/s (for potential publicity use).

3. A 200-400 word design statement detailing the creative rationale of the current collection.

4. Photographic imagery of the collection that will be available at retail in October 2022 (minimum six looks). Sketches or other supporting creative materials may also be provided. Photographic imagery of previous collection/s (minimum one previous collection).

5. A business plan outlining core business goals, objectives and plans to attain these, along with background on the business.

Please only complete the fields requested in the online form.

Optional:

Applicants are invited to complete and extended application form to opt in for being considered for the Honourable Mention for Sustainability. Please find extended application criteria below.

The National Designer Award presented by FAB Style Collective is open to fashion designers and fashion design partnerships where the main place of business is based in Belgium.

The applying business should be under 5 years of establishment, having launched its first part or full range collection after 1st January 2020.

Applicants will be judged on the extent to which they meet the following criteria:

• The label demonstrates excellence in design and fashion innovation.

• The label demonstrates a unique design vision.

• The collections are produced with a high-quality level of manufacture and attention to detail.

• The label has been established for less than five years.

• The business is financially sustainable.

• The label demonstrates the potential to make a positive contribution to the future growth of the Belgian fashion industry.

• The label does not have an existing retail relationship (commercial/ stockist/trading) with any Belgian department store.

• Applicant must be available on October 5 and 6, 2022

• Accommodation will be provided to those based out of Brussels

• If COVID-19 affects our current in person plans, we will move to conducting round 2 presentations remotely

The Award is designed to facilitate industry connections, augment your brand awareness to fashion-targeted consumer markets, and provide resources for personal upskilling and business development, including:

• Cash payment of €5,000

• A bespoke FAB Style Collective engraved trophy

• FAB Style Collective will collaborate with the Award Winner on the opportunity to create a capsule collection for inclusion in FAB Style Collective ranging within a year of winning the Award

• Presentation of a curated selection of the collection featured in a visual merchandise installation in the FAB Style Collective’s window.

• Dedicated high value marketing campaign integration across FAB Style Collective’s’ own media channels including blog post, EDM, social media, and FABSC content support

• Inclusion in the Festival’s Shop The Catwalk® retail campaign, including use of brand marks

• Extensive editorial and promotional integration across the Festival’s own media channels including social media, EDM, website and Shop the Catwalk® magazine

• Delegate Passport to the 2022 Brussels Fashion Summit at Brussels Fashion Festival

• Media training session with fashion publicity specialists.

• Legal business advisory package from a reputed business lawyer.

All applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of their application.

Successful Finalists will be provided with information to prepare for the Final Round Judging process and subsequent event production and PR activities, leading up to the Winner Announcement Event and the Festival.

These activities include:

• Round 2 Judging presentation. Finalists will present to the judges in person in Melbourne

• Media and PR opportunity fulfilment

• Designers will be introduced to the BFF-appointed publicists who will facilitate planned activities as well as bespoke media requests

• Announcement Event runway presentation

Applicants are welcome to demonstrate how they are committed to incorporating sustainable elements of practice in the production and distribution of their collections, as part of their submission.

All Finalists will be required to present to the judging panel at final round judging (based in Belgium), which may be in person or virtually (via Zoom) based on the safest and most practical approach in line with Government regulations at the time.

The winner announcement event will include a live runway presentation of all Finalist’s collections (6 outfit capsule collection each).

All Finalists must be in attendance should Government travel and event attendance regulations allow.

Any application or acceptance to be a part of the Brussels Fashion Festival’s National Designer Award is at the sole responsibility of the applicant and the Brussels Fashion Festival will be indemnified of any risk or claims.

The judging panel’s selection decisions are confidential and final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The BFF will not provide critical feedback or analysis of applications.

Collection freight, insurance, customs charges or any other costs related to presenting the Finalists’ collections at judging and event activities is at the Designers’ cost and liability.

The BFF and its appointed production agency take all care but no responsibility for damage or loss incurred through participation in these activities.