Burberry partners with CSF for Reimagining Materials Competition - Applications now open!

The Reimagining Materials Competition was created in partnership between Burberry and Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF), a UAL research centre based at London College of Fashion (LCF). The competition presents a unique opportunity for LCF students to develop creative ways to make use of Burberry's production offcuts.

We are looking for innovations in design, that offer inspiring ways of turning material excess into new and original products.

The competition will offer students the opportunity to engage in a real industry brief and to benefit from the guidance of Burberry professionals. The winner will also receive a cash prize and three-month design internship at Burberry.

Please note that this competition is open to current LCF students only.

The Brief

The brief focuses on circular design, which is the practice of creating products that regenerate natural systems, design out waste and pollution, and keep materials in use for as long as possible.

Your challenge is to use your design skills, craft, and creativity to present new and exciting ways of reinventing material excess into a single product, which will include outer trench fabric, check lining fabric, leather scraps, and a selection of trims. Your application can focus on any product category, including garments, footwear and accessories.

Your concept must:

• Offer an innovative approach to circular design, exploring viable opportunities for Burberry to eliminate material excess and keep materials at their highest value.
• Be feasible for prototype into a single product, supporting the development of outputs and concepts that could be put into practice or production.
• Enable co-learning, supporting Burberry to understand what the next generation wants for the future of fashion.

Eligible Applicants

We are seeking applications from any current BA, MA or Graduate Diploma student at LCF.

Judging Criteria

Burberry and CSF will review all applications against the following judging criteria and narrow down the applications to a shortlist of 20 students.

Originality: The ability to conceive and develop an original concept in response to the brief.

Creativity: Clear evidence of exceptional creativity in design and aesthetics.

Feasibility: Demonstration of the feasibility of the concept and how it would be brought to life in the competition timescales.

Sustainability thinking: Demonstration of the sustainability impact of the concept and how it will change fashion’s relationship with circularity and material use.

Relevance: A clear demonstration of how the idea will make use of Burberry offcuts, with potential for scalability. A deep understanding of Burberry house codes, aesthetics and heritage.

Timeline

• August - October 2024 - Sketch and manifesto development
• 28 October 2024 - Sketch and manifesto submission deadline
• 11 November 2024 - Shortlist announcement
• November - December 2024 - 3D prototype development
• 13 December 2024 - 3D prototype submission
• January 2025 - Finalists and winner announcement
• February 2025 - Exhibition

Student Benefits

Upon final submission, Burberry and CSF will select nine finalists and one winner.

• The selected winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize for your exemplary concept (as well as a £1,000 fee to purchase your Intellectual Property Rights).
• Burberry will also offer a three-month design internship to the winner.
• CSF and Burberry will support concept development through portfolio and prototype review sessions, with CSF offering sustainability and circular design know-how, and Burberry offering design and creative guidance.
• The shortlisted students will receive feedback on your designs and overall submissions.
• The finalists and winner will have their work featured in an exhibition in 2025.

To note: Please only apply if you are committed to meeting the requirements outlined in the timeline. The terms and conditions of the internship will be agreed between Burberry and the selected student.

How to apply

To be eligible for the Competition, we require you to submit the following by 9am on 28 October 2024.

• A personal profile
• A written manifesto
• Sketches or visualisations of your concept
• A signed student agreement form

Manifesto (maximum 500 words) including:

• Concept title
• The role of sustainability in your concept
• Evidence of your alignment with the brief’s judging criteria
• An understanding of Burberry’s values

Personal Profile (maximum 150 words) including:

• Educational background
• Reasons for applying
• Relevant interests and experience

Sketches and visualisations (image or PDF format) - including:

• Sketches that show the design of your product (e.g. front, back, technical drawings)
• Sketches that demonstrate how the offcuts will be used to create your product (e.g. ideas for lay plans or patterns).

To submit your application, please share the below attachments in a single email to sustainability@fashion.arts.ac.uk, with the subject title: Reimagining Materials Competition Submission.

• Profile and Manifesto in a single Microsoft Word document
• Sketches and visualisations in any image format or PDF format
• Student Agreement in PDF format

Please read the Design Brief in full before you apply.

Any questions

Please contact sustainability@fashion.arts.ac.uk.

The sample offcut pack is now displayed on a mannequin at LCF's Materials Library for students to visit as a point of reference and to get a feel for the materials they will be working with if shortlisted.