Dutch digital fashion house The Fabricant has launched Design Forward 26. This is a global, open competition inviting fashion students and recent graduates to design a completely AI-native collection. Every participant receives free access to the platform.
Submissions are open from now until April 29, 2026 possible.
The competition is based on a simple premise: access to professional tools should not determine who can show their work. Every eligible applicant who submits a letter of motivation will receive free access to The Fabricant’s platform for two weeks. There is also a starting credit, a joint onboarding session and a workflow guide specifically tailored to fashion students.
Participants have until April 29th to submit a collection. This must consist of three AI-generated looks, three detailed shots and a 200-word designer statement. Everything must be created exclusively through The Fabricant’s platform.
Create equal opportunities
AI is no longer a dream of the future in the fashion industry. Major brands are already integrating AI into their design, pattern and product development processes. Designers entering the industry today are expected to work with these tools from day one. However, access to these tools remains uneven. Students at well-equipped institutions or in large fashion capitals have opportunities that others do not have.
Design Forward 26 starts right here. By granting all confirmed participants free access to the platform, the competition removes the financial hurdle. This means that the same tools are available to all participants, regardless of institution, geographical origin or background. The only hurdle is a 200-word motivation letter. The only question is: what do you want to design?
The industry is developing rapidly. Students who graduate without practical experience with AI design tools are at a disadvantage before their careers even begin. Design Forward 26 aims to close this gap.
“The fashion industry is already being reshaped by AI. The designers who will shape this new image are currently in training. They deserve access to the tools that will be central to their careers while still developing their own voice. Design Forward exists to make that possible.”
— Kerry MurphyCo-founder and CEO, The Fabricant
AI and craft knowledge
One of the most important aspects of Design Forward 26 is what designers should not give up. AI tools can produce a wide range of visual outputs, but fashion is, at its core, a physical practice. A garment must be cut, constructed and worn. Knowledge of how fabric behaves, how a seam holds, and how a silhouette is constructed doesn’t disappear just because a tool can render it in seconds.
That is why producibility is the most highly weighted criterion in the competition. The jury members will assess whether each look submitted can be realistically implemented. Collections that are visually convincing but structurally impossible are rated lower. The intention behind it is clear: AI should liberate the creative process, not replace the designers’ understanding of what is possible. The industry needs designers who can use these tools to explore ideas more quickly and freely while remaining grounded in the reality of manufacturing. The collections that will count – both in competition and in your career – are those that convince as a creative vision and as a viable product.
Who can participate
Design Forward 26 is open to current students of all fashion, design, textiles or creative technology courses. Graduates who did not complete their studies before 2021 can also take part. No portfolios are required when registering, just a short written description of the collection concept.
The jury
- Kerry Murphy — Co-founder and CEO, The Fabricant
- Carsten Meijer — SVP, Vice Media
- Alex Hogh Nielsen — Digital Media and Marketing, BESTSELLER TECH
- Katrin Ley — Managing Director, Fashion for Good
- Nicolas Griffioen — AI Advisor
- Gloria Maria — Red Eye and NABA
- Brigitte Stepputtis —Vivienne Westwood
- Lennard Minderhoud — CEO, FashionUnited
Prices
The winner will receive six months of free access to the platform and an in-depth interview in The Fabricant’s videocast, ‘Digital Weave’. All ten finalists will each receive 150 credits for the platform.
The winners will be announced on May 15, 2026 announced.
How to participate
Submissions are below thefabricant.com/designforward26 possible. The deadline ends on April 29, 2026.
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