Invista, owner of Lycra brand, is teaming up with the WGSN Global Fashion Awards to find the fashion industry’s newest design star. This year in its 5th edition, the Lycra Future Designers Awards’ winner will be announced at a glamorous awards event on 30 October at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. 

Invista and its Lycra brand will not only be looking for a designer that brings fresh ideas and creativity to the market but who also has a strong sense of their own brand, a clear understanding of their target customer and a vision of where they would like to take their careers and business in the future.

The prize will offer one outstanding student or graduate designer the chance to work with expert mentors at Invista, $20,000 worth of consultancy and fabrics with Lycra fibre to help with the development of a collection to help kick-start their careers.

Denise Sakuma, Global Brand Communications Director for Invista Apparel says: “It is a huge pleasure to once again be part of the WGSN Global Fashion Awards with Invista’s platform Lycra Future Designers. Invista’s Lycra brand and WGSN share a passion for finding and nurturing new talent and a synergy that complements both our brands.”

Lauretta Roberts, WGSN Global Fashion Awards director, says: “Finding talent at student level is key to ensuring an ever-evolving, innovative and fresh fashion industry.  In Invista with its Lycra brand, we have a sponsor that is committed to working with, and investing in, new talent, offering students and recent graduates a fantastic and unique opportunity to work with experts in their field.”

To qualify, entrants must be a current student (or have graduated in the 12 months since June 2013) from a recognised fashion / design school on any fashion design course. Entrants must submit designs for a minimum of four and a maximum of six pieces/looks that could be manufactured using Lycra fibre products. At least three of pieces/looks must be made up of any of the following: intimates, swim, active/sportswear or hosiery/tights.

The Lycra Future Designer 2012 was awarded to Shireeka Devlin who graduated from the London College of Fashion last year.

WGSN 2013 Global Fashion Awards Judges include designers Giles Deacon, Bora Aksu, Stephen Jones and Rebecca Minkoff, photographer Rankin, model and writer Laura Bailey, Eco-Age founder Livia Firth, blogger Bip Ling, singers VV Brown and Kate Nash, and Mr Porter editor-in-chief Jeremy Langmead.

The shortlist for all WGSN Global Fashion Awards will be announced on 22 July at a reception at St Martins Lane London. Winners will be announced at a gala evening on 30 October at the V&A.

Entries are via the Global Fashion Awards website www.globalfashionawards.com  and have been extended to Sunday 2 June.