Red Carpet Green Dress Global Design Contest: Winners Announced
Winners of RCGD Global Design Contest 2021: Yuriko Fukuda & Zhi Hong Benjamin Koh
Back in the Summer, we covered the Red Carpet Green Dress Global Design Contest. Just yesterday, following a judging process, the deserving winners were announced and, we’re beyond pleased to share news of the recipients in this piece.
Partnered with TENCEL and CLO, the Red Carpet Green Dress Global Design contest enables emerging and established designers to explore virtual design. Open to all interested designers over 21, applicants from across the world submitted digital sketches of a sustainable red carpet design before the contest closed at the end of August. The entries were then whittled down to a winning gown and suit by the judging panel, made up of Suzy Amis Cameron (RCGD Founder), Harold Weghorst (Vice President of Global Marketing & Branding, Lenzing AG), Micaela Erlanger (Celebrity Fashion Stylist) and Abrima Erwiah (Co-founder of Studio 189).
Red Carpet Green Dress, TENCEL and CLO, as well as the esteemed judges, excitingly, announced that 2021's winners are Yuriko Fukuda (womenswear) and Zhi Hong Benjamin Koh (menswear).
Yuriko Fukuda, Womenswear Winner
Currently a student at Regents University London, Yuriko Fukuda is the Womenswear Winner for 2021. Japanese-born but UK-based, she strongly believes in and champions blending creative expression with sustainable fashion, as reflected by her involvement with the contest.
On her win, Fukuda said, “Expressing myself through design feels like meditation. Our minds and art are indeed interconnected, having a bidirectional impact on our mental health. Fashion is a work of art and I believe it has the power to control our mind and body. Sustainable fashion revolves around timeless cuts, durability, natural resources and perceived health benefits, it’s a unique way of presenting luxury. Sustainability is an exciting and new way of creating a better future for all. This is where RCGD x TENCELTM x CLO Virtual Fashion can increase the awareness of sustainability and I feel very honoured to be part of this incredible journey.”
Zhi Hong Benjamin Koh- Menswear Winner
While Zhi Hong Benjamin Koh, a Singapore-based fashion, textile and product designer, has won the Menswear category. He first entered the world of design when studying at Singapore Polytechnic, giving him a practical, technical background and education to apply to his work today.
“In 2016,” Zhi Hong Benjamin Koh said, “I founded The Material Atelier by 本 (BEN), a multi-disciplinary creative studio focused on seeking sustainable fashion, featuring collaborations with local artists to create sustainable wearable art. One of our goals is to inform the public through informative videos about what goes into the material and the design of their garments. Since its launch, the atelier has created a few products, one of which won a Merit Award at the Singapore Creator Award Competition in 2019. I joined RCGD with the hope of sharing our sustainable fashion vision.”
The two winners will continue to make their mark over the coming months. As a prize, production of their designs will get underway at the turn of next year, using sustainable eco-couture textiles in collaboration with TENCEL and with sponsorship from CLO. The garments will be displayed at an exhibition in Los Angeles before leading sustainable advocates, introducing the winners to a worldwide platform across the sustainable fashion and entertainment industries. Their designs will be showcased at the Red Carpet Green Dress event in 2022. That’s not to mention the networking opportunities, career encouragement and experience they’ll gain from everything above. They’ll also have a one-on-one with RCGD Founder Suzy Amis Cameron and will receive mentorship and continued support from Samata Pattinson, RCGD’s CEO.
Pattinson said of the winners, “We’re so excited for this year’s winners to embark on a wonderful journey in the world of sustainable fashion with us. The global design contest is such a great opportunity for those who are eager to immerse themselves and learn more. As a former winner myself, I first-hand know the incredible opportunities brought forward to the winners and I’m excited to watch Yuriko Fukuda and Zhi Hong Benjamin Koh grow and gain their place in the sustainable world.”
❀❀❀
Follow the links below to learn more about Red Carpet Green Dress.
by Lauren Burns
Follow RCGD on Instagram
❀