The Tokyo Metropolitan Government organizes two fashion competitions aimed at discovering and nurturing fashion designers who can make their mark on the global stage: the Next Fashion Designer of Tokyo (NFDT), open to students living or studying in Tokyo, and the Sustainable Fashion Design Award (SFDA), which focuses on designs using materials such as kimono fabric.
Now in its 4th edition, this year's competition attracted approximately 2,000 entries across all four divisions from both contests. From those submissions, 24 groups advanced through the second round of judging (6 per division), and a further 12 groups were selected via public vote (3 per division), bringing the total to 36 budding designers (cumulative count) who will compete in the final runway-format judging event.
The final judging event and awards ceremony will be held at Toranomon Hills on Sunday, March 29. Attendance is free and no advance registration is required. A live stream will also be available online.
Audience Members and Online Viewers Can Vote for the "Special Selection Award"
In-person attendees and live stream viewers are invited to participate in the judging process by voting for the Special Selection Award (one group per division). Voting is done via smartphone and allows for multiple selections.
The Special Selection Award candidates include works from the NFDT Inclusive Design Division — featuring designs intended for use by those with visual or physical disabilities — as well as entries to the SFDA showcasing pieces that highlight the graceful patterns of kimono fabric.
A Look at the "Special Selection Award" Candidates
[YouTube Live Stream URL] https://youtube.com/live/ICiFhEKA7Ac
How to vote (for live stream viewers): QR codes for voting will be distributed on-site to in-person attendees.
- On the day of the final judging event, access the dedicated form via the link in the YouTube description and enter your mobile phone number.
- A voting URL will be sent to you via SMS. Select your favorite work(s) and enter your name, email address, and other required information.
Multiple selections are possible from among the 12 groups chosen by SNS public vote (3 per division).
NFDT – 2 Divisions
- Free Division (open theme)
- Inclusive Design Division (designs intended to be worn by people with disabilities)
SFDA – 2 Divisions
- Wear Division
- Fashion Goods Division (bags, accessories, shoes, etc.)
Participating Designers: NFDT 2026 Final Judging Event
Participating Designers: SFDA 2026 Final Judging Event
More Special Selection Award Candidates
A Star-Studded Panel of Judges — Including Paris Collections Designers
The judging panel features an impressive lineup of 16 members, including Katsuhiko Hibino (President of Tokyo University of the Arts), Kunihiko Morinaga of the globally acclaimed brand ANREALAGE, and artist Tomoe Shinohara. In-person attendees and live stream viewers will also be part of the judging process, helping to identify the next generation of talent with global potential.
A talk session among the judges is also planned, centered on the theme "The Importance of Sustainability in Fashion: Sustainability Rooted in the Edo Period." Speakers include Yusuke Takahashi of CFCL, Chizuru Muko of WWD, Yukari Ota of LIFESTYLIST, and Koizumi Fumiaki of Mercari.
About NFDT and SFDA: Developing Future Global Talent
To position Tokyo alongside Paris, Milan, New York, and London as a leading hub for fashion, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been working to promote the fashion and apparel industry. As part of this effort, NFDT and SFDA were established in 2022 to discover and nurture fashion designers capable of making an impact on the global stage.
Award recipients receive prize money of up to 1 million yen, along with support for launching their own brand and assistance in presenting their work during Paris Fashion Week — part of a comprehensive program designed to develop designers into global-caliber professionals.
