Global fashion retailer H&M has revived its H&M Design Award, and has added two Australian fashion schools to the mix of 60 worldwide.
Students from TAFE NSW’s Fashion Design Studio and the White House Institute of Design will be able to submit their portfolios to the global awards program.
H&M’s global creative lead Ann-Sofie Johansson applauded the relaunch of the program in 2026, calling it the most global and inclusive yet.
“It connects to the heart of everything the H&M Group values: new talent, fresh ideas and a democratised vision of fashion,” Johansson said. “The Award helps aspiring designers at a pivotal and expensive moment in their journey, when they are undertaking their studies, before starting their careers or businesses.
“Now more than ever, that is a moment where young people need support and encouragement.”
The winner of the H&M Design Award will receive a €150,000 endowment (~A$255,000) alongside a dedicated year-long tailored mentorship. This mentorship covers critical areas such as sustainability and circularity, production, marketing and PR, equipping the recipient with the knowledge and industry access needed to build their career. The winner will be chosen by a judging panel of industry professionals.
In addition, the winner’s collection will be produced and sold in selected H&M stores, worldwide and online.
An additional eight more finalists will receive a €10,000 endowment.
Richard Quinn, a leading designer under his own name in London and the winner of the H&M Design Award in 2017, called the program an important and inspiring initiative.
“It was an incredible opportunity to connect with industry figures and to have a platform that showcases your work to a wide audience, both throughout the process and in store when the design collaboration launched,” Quinn said. “The award continues to look to the future, encouraging and supporting the designers of tomorrow.”
Applications for the H&M Design Award have opened this week, via designaward.hm.com, with entries closing on August 31. In early October, 20 semi-finalists will be chosen and announced, with winners announced in late October.
Previous winners of the H&M Design Award include Minju Kim, Richard Quinn, Stefan Cooke, Priya Ahluwalia and Sabine Skarule. Previous jurors include Imran Ahmed, Olivier Rousteing, Erdem Moralioglu, Nick Knight, Lily Allen and Camille Charrière.