Group Photo of the 2026 TFDA Winners with the Award Presenters
The Industrial Development Administration (IDA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs held the TFDA final selection show on the evening of October 14. For the first time, the competition was staged at Kong Zong Cultural Base and presented as an outdoor runway event, bringing the creativity of a new generation into dialogue with the historical setting. This year, TFDA attracted 530 emerging designers from 25 countries and regions, setting a new record for international participation. After a rigorous selection process by an international jury, Takumi Ogura of Japan won First Prize for his collection “Future Groom” and received US$10,000. Li-Yue Chen won Second Prize for “To Grandma”, and Yu-Hsuan Weng won Second Prize for “Flaking Strata,” each receiving US$5,000. Wan-Ci Kao, Jaehee Kwon of South Korea, and Leo Whitehouse of Australia received the Third Prizes for Best Use of Fabrics, Best Pattern Making, and Best Market Potential, respectively, with each receiving US$3,000.
Ku-Sung Weng, Director of Consumer Goods and Chemical Industries Division at the IDA, emphasized that talent is fundamental to advancing Taiwan’s apparel and fashion accessories industry toward higher-value innovation. Although much apparel production has moved overseas, Taiwan’s apparel industry still generates about NT$21 billion in annual output. Moreover, as much as 86% of designer-brand revenue comes from the domestic market, highlighting the importance of original design and brand development to Taiwan’s apparel sector. Over TFDA’s 40-year history, approximately 90% of award recipients have continued working in the fashion industry, becoming key contributors to corporate research and development or establishing their own brands. Notable examples include Stephane Dou, Founder of DOUCHANGLEE and Chair of the Taiwan Association of Fashion & Accessories Designers (TAFAD). Looking ahead, the IDA will continue working with the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) to provide talent development and industry matchmaking resources, helping emerging designers translate their abilities into tangible market opportunities.
The IDA noted that sustainability was the central theme of this year’s competition. The 12 finalists' collections showed how young designers are incorporating sustainability, functionality, and cultural memory into fashion. The distinguished international jury included renowned Japanese designer Fujiwara Dai, whose work is represented in the collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and prominent Japanese fashion industry leader Tomonori Matsui, CEO of ONE O Ltd. The jury commended the finalists’ use of material processing techniques and digital tools to enhance both the execution and commercial potential of their collections. Among the Taiwan-based finalists, examples included bonding surplus factory silicone to knit fabrics; using AI-assisted composition and 3D simulation to reduce material waste during sampling; repurposing discarded automotive materials, such as old car covers, into flight jackets; and combining deadstock fabrics from traditional tailoring shops with rush-grass weaving to explore versatile garments and zero-waste craftsmanship. International finalists also stood out: the Hungarian finalist collaborated with an ice hockey association to upcycle old hockey jerseys into functional fan apparel, while the Japanese finalist reimagined the aesthetics of ceremonial wedding attire as everyday menswear, challenging conventional gender boundaries.
Strong industry support made this year’s competition a success. Eight companies and foundations—Coddy Global Ltd., Eclat Education Foundation, Fortune Industrial and Commercial Development Foundation, Lealea Enterprise Co., Ltd., Li Peng Enterprise Co., Ltd., Makalot Foundation, New Wide Enterprise Co., Ltd., and New Wide Garment Co., Ltd.—jointly provided more than NT$1.3 million in total prize money. TFDA will continue to serve as a vital bridge between talent development and industry, connecting successive generations of emerging designers with business needs, bringing fresh design perspectives into the apparel and fashion accessories sector, and strengthening the international competitiveness of Taiwan’s fashion industry.
