Takumi Ogura wins first prize at Taiwan Fashion Design Award 2026

Japanese designer Takumi Ogura won the top prize at the 2026 Taiwan Fashion Design Award (TFDA) on 14 October 2026, receiving US$10,000 for his collection Future Groom. The awards ceremony took place at Heritage Square, Kong Zong Cultural Base in Taipei, bringing together 12 finalists during Taipei Fashion Week.

Marking its 40th edition, the international fashion competition attracted 530 emerging designers from 25 countries and regions. The finalists presented complete collections to an international jury of fashion designers, media professionals and industry representatives.

TFDA 2026 recognised six designers across its first, second and third prize categories, highlighting creative concepts, material experimentation, technical construction and commercial potential.

Six designers recognised at Taiwan Fashion Design Award 2026

Takumi Ogura from Japan received First Prize for Future Groom, securing the competition’s highest individual cash award of US$10,000.

The jury awarded two Second Prizes. Chen Li-Yue received recognition for To Grandma, while Weng Yu-Hsuan was honoured for Flaking Strata. Each designer received US$5,000.

Three additional awards recognised specific areas of fashion design.

Kao Wan-Ci won the Third Prize for Best Use of Fabrics with The Child I Refuse to Abandon. South Korean designer Jaehee Kwon received the Best Pattern Making award for Schuroop (It’s rainy, but…).

Meanwhile, Australian designer Leo Whitehouse secured the Best Market Potential award for Crash. Each third-prize winner received US$3,000.

The six awards reflected the competition’s approach to evaluating both creative expression and practical design development.

International jury evaluates emerging fashion talent

The 2026 jury brought together professionals from Japan, the United States, Taiwan and the wider international fashion industry.

Its members included fashion designers Fujiwara Dai from Japan and Stephane Dou, alongside Jane Singer, Managing Director of Inside Fashion, and Elaine Liao, Editor-in-Chief of Wazaiii.

Tomonori Matsui, CEO of ONE O Ltd., and Eliza Yang, Vice President of onefifteen, also joined the judging panel.

Charlotte Chiang, Director of the Innovative & Sustainable Design Department at the Taiwan Textile Federation, completed the jury.

The judges assessed the finalists across five areas: creative concept, fabric application, pattern and construction, overall execution and commercial potential.

Around 500 guests attended the final selection show in Taipei. The 12 runway collections explored different approaches to silhouette, material treatment and cultural identity.

Some designers concentrated on sculptural forms and the relationship between clothing and the body. Others used craftsmanship and material transformation to develop distinctive surfaces and construction techniques.

The runway format allowed the jury to examine how each collection worked in motion, alongside its creative concept and technical execution.

Four decades of supporting emerging designers

The Taiwan Fashion Design Award has developed significantly over its 40 editions.

Organised by the Industrial Development Administration (IDA) of Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and executed by the Taiwan Textile Federation, the competition has become an established platform for emerging fashion talent.

Its early editions focused primarily on garment construction, pattern-making and production techniques. Over time, the programme expanded to include material innovation, sustainability, digital technology and commercial development.

This evolution also reflects changes within Taiwan’s textile and apparel industries. As manufacturers have moved towards original design manufacturing (ODM) and higher-value design services, the competition has continued to connect creative education with professional opportunities.

According to the Taiwan Textile Federation, TFDA has attracted more than 15,000 entries throughout its history. More than 90% of award recipients have subsequently pursued careers in fashion and design-related fields.

These figures reflect the programme’s long-term role in identifying emerging designers and supporting their transition into the creative industries.

Industry partners support the next generation

The 2026 Taiwan Fashion Design Award received support from eight industry organisations.

These included Coddy Global Ltd., Eclat Education Foundation, Fortune Industrial and Commercial Development Foundation and Lealea Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Additional support came from Li Peng Enterprise Co., Ltd., Makalot Foundation, New Wide Enterprise Co., Ltd. and New Wide Garment Co., Ltd.

Together, the programme’s supporters helped provide more than US$35,000 in total prize money, creating financial opportunities for emerging designers as they continue their professional development.

The competition also provides international exposure through Taipei Fashion Week, bringing together participants from different cultural and educational backgrounds.

With its 40th edition, the Taiwan Fashion Design Award continued to connect emerging talent with industry expertise, technical development and international visibility.

For the 2026 winners, the awards recognised individual creative achievements while offering another step towards careers in the global fashion industry.