Silver prize winner Wang Yijie, a 20-year-old sophomore at Hebei University of Science and Technology, benefited from the district's textile industry cluster.

An avid mountain climber, her entry featured three women's outdoor outfits designed for climbing Gunung Ijen volcano, Mont Blanc and Mount Qomolangma.

Through the competition organizers, Wang connected with local Keqiao outdoor apparel manufacturers to source specialized waterproof fabrics.

"I combined them with knitwear," she explains. "The knits bring out a soft, feminine vibe, while the tech fabrics act like armor, keeping us safe."

Wang notes that preparing for the competition enhanced her social, hands-on, and presentation skills.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating designs that balance functionality and fashion," Wang adds.

"This experience confirmed my desire to focus on functional clothing design."

Mikha Mekler, a London College of Fashion lecturer and the competition judge, expressed her excitement in witnessing sustainable design approaches taking root in China's robust manufacturing ecosystem.

"I'm encouraged to see these innovative approaches taking root in a major manufacturing hub like Keqiao. It means our young designers can directly influence production processes and help scale these methods," she says.

"What brings me joy is seeing students express their true selves through design language," says Mekler. "I want fashion to be a positive force, something people can enjoy and experiment with freely; which is exactly what we saw in this competition." Simon Collins, the former dean of Parsons School of Design's fashion school, also served as a judge in the competition.

Now based in Shanghai, Collins is an active participant in China's fashion scene frequently appearing at industry events and sharing his sharp fashion commentary through Chinese social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, or RedNote.

"I know Chinese designers are brilliant," he says, naming renowned Parsons alumni of Chinese descent, including Jason Wu, Alexander Wang and Derek Lam.

"There are many more to follow. However, they can only maximize their skills and potential if they think in a wide sense. They must think internationally whether or not they plan to sell abroad. One of my key roles in China is to help designers develop this perspective," adds Collins.