Angel Chen's return to Shanghai Fashion Week in October 2024 as a finalist for the 2025 Sustasia Fashion Prize is a significant event. This award aims to connect designers with material providers and create real design outcomes. The finalists, from six Asian countries, were selected based on their use of sustainable materials, design language, and craftsmanship.

Uniting Design and Sustainability in Fashion

Finalist Angel Chen from China

Angel Chen debuted her first collection at Milan Fashion Week in 2017 through Mercedes-Benz's International Designer Exchange Programme. Her commitment to sustainability goes beyond materials; it's a way of honoring craftsmanship and heritage. She incorporates eco-friendly elements like custom slit-weaving textiles (sakiori) with upcycled fabrics, blending Eastern and Western aesthetics. For Spring/Summer 2025, handwoven fabrics by Guizhou artisans turn excess inventory into wearable art. Angel Chen was honored with the WWD GDF Green Star Award for Sustainable Fashion Design in 2023. She believes that sustainable fashion is a journey rooted in Chinese tradition and a deep respect for nature.She shows how eco-friendly practices can enhance fashion while preserving cultural values. Her designs are not just about looking good but also about making a positive impact on the environment.

Tommy Ambiyo Tedji from Bio (Byo) in Indonesia

A trained industrial designer, Tommy Ambiyo Tedji established his brand with the goal of making good design accessible to everyone through self-expression. His love of bag-making and experimental approach led to the creation of cutting-edge and functional accessories. His philosophy on sustainability is to use his modular textile fashion design skills to transform undesirable materials into desirable objects. He designs with the intention of creating items that stand the test of time and rise above the fast-paced nature of fashion trends.His brand shows how even in the world of accessories, sustainability can be achieved through innovative design and a focus on functionality.

Jaggy Glarino from the Philippines

Jaggy Glarino is a self-taught Filipino avant-garde fashion designer known for his intuitive design approach, bold color choices, and multi-dimensional garment construction. He built his career using YouTube tutorials, ready-made pattern stencils, and thrift store finds. He views sustainability in fashion as a call for a comprehensive shift in perspective, emphasizing the need for collective efforts in design, innovation, and education.His work demonstrates that sustainability can thrive in avant-garde fashion, challenging traditional notions and inspiring new ways of thinking.

Kha Hoang Ngo from Vietnam (Khaar)

Kha Hoang Ngo founded Khaar, a phygital sustainable fashion brand in early 2022. Using 3D design and visualization, the brand reduces waste and combines reality and virtuality. Khaar follows the 3R principles in fashion - reducing waste with virtual technology, recycling and upcycling fabric scraps, and sourcing sustainable materials. It offers a fresh choice for those seeking sustainable and sophisticated fashion.Khaar shows how modern technology can be used to drive sustainability in fashion, creating a unique brand experience.

Karmuel Young from Hong Kong

Karmuel Young worked as an assistant designer in Paris and Vienna before moving to Hong Kong. He then worked in brand creative services and menswear design. Starting with men's shoe accessories, his brand now explores sustainability in each collection by modernizing classic pieces with global sustainable materials. He also sources dead stock and vintage menswear to re-edit into modern designs.His journey highlights how sustainability can be integrated into different aspects of the fashion industry, from accessories to menswear.

Pratyush Kumar from India (Pieux)

Pratyush Kumar gained recognition for his sustainable label Pieux by winning the R|elan Circular Design Challenge 2022 and the Clean Tech Challenge. His creations start with a focus on minimizing waste and maximizing value at every stage, from material procurement to packaging. Pieux aims to inspire a more conscious industry and redefine the future of fashion with ethical practices.His brand shows the importance of a holistic approach to sustainability in fashion, considering all aspects of the production process.

Ruohan Nie from China

Ruohan advocates that sustainable practices are a necessity for the planet's future. The brand is committed to reducing environmental impact through renewable materials, efficient stock programs, and local environmental projects. Designer Ruohan Nie graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2020 and hopes her designs bring value and inspiration beyond fashion.Her work emphasizes the practical aspects of sustainability in fashion and the role designers can play in creating a more sustainable future.

RequaL≡ from Japan

RequaL≡ was launched in 2016 by Tetsuya Doi to offer unisex wear. Doi won an honorable mention from the 34th Hyeres International Mode Festival Mode Jury Award. The brand creates an authentically sustainable future based on warmth and handcraft, expressing its understanding of old things through re-tailoring and traditional hand-stitching.It shows how traditional craftsmanship can be combined with sustainability to create unique and meaningful fashion.All finalists will receive tailored mentorship and training from experts and exhibit their work during Shanghai Fashion Week. The jury will crown one grand prize winner, offering RMB 100,000 and exclusive partnership opportunities. This initiative aligns with the commitment of other fashion weeks to empower sustainable entrepreneurs and foster the next generation of global fashion leaders.