Our mission is to showcase the beauty, durability, and sustainability of leather with original and innovative designs and in doing so cut waste, reduce the use of petroleum-based synthetics, and disrupt the fast fashion cycle. Real Leather. Stay Different. invites designers worldwide to showcase their talent by entering one of our design competitions.

We are delighted for the fourth year to host the International Real Leather. Stay Different. Student Design Competition 2024, a search for the best new designers around the globe and for those who want to promote slow style and a more sustainable future for fashion.

Are you ready to join the fight against fast fashion and for the planet? Time is short…. according to Greenpeace synthetics – which are made from oil – now make up 60% of our clothing and the average item is worn just five times. These clothes are then discarded, resulting in huge dumps, notably in Ghana and Chile, that are visible from space. It’s time to challenge the fast fashion business model and all those who say no to nature by designing beautiful, durable clothes from natural fibers that people will want to wear longer, and that will last longer.

In the meantime, leather, a natural by-product of the dairy and meat industries and our growing demand for food — from burgers to milkshakes, can be used to make items that last a lifetime and, when disposed of, biodegrade quickly. Leather is a perfect solution to one of fashion’s biggest problems, but each year almost half of the world’s cattle hides are just thrown away.

To encourage thinking about our planet’s future and to combat this waste, our judges are challenging you to create an original, innovative, and visually stunning design, in one of three categories of apparel, accessories, or footwear made from real cattle leather. They would also like to see how entrants approach creating garments that will not only last but be loved, for a lifetime.