SFDA 2026
Scenes from the Final Judging Event
On Sunday, March 29th, the final judging fashion show for the Sustainable Fashion Design Award (SFDA) was held at the Toranomon Hills Station Atrium. Before a panel of judges and a large audience, the show featured 12 groups (6 in the Wear Category and 6 in the Fashion Item Category) that had passed the rigorous second round of judging, as well as the 6 groups (3 in the Wear Category and 3 in the Fashion Item Category) nominated for the Special Selection Award.
After a rigorous evaluation, the Grand Prize in the Wear Category was awarded to Yuna Katayanagi (Tokyo Designplex Institute), while the Grand Prix in the Fashion Item Category went to Kanako Yagi (Tama Art University).
The event also featured workshops led by special advisors as well as individual advice sessions with professional merchandisers, pattern makers, and designers, providing expert support. Still, it was ultimately the finalists’ own creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that made this show truly special.
Runway
Each second-round finalist created three complete looks, which were showcased on the runway. Despite the short production timeline, every piece reflected a high degree of technical skill and passion, fully embodying the designer’s original concept. The works captivated the large audience gathered at the venue.
Talk Show
A talk show was also held featuring judges Kunihiko Morinaga, Chizuru Mukai, Yukari Ota, and Yusuke Takahashi. Under the theme “The Importance of Sustainability in Fashion ~ Sustainability from the Edo Period to Today,” the judges shared their reflections on the final judging, as well as their hopes and expectations for the next generation of designers.
Award Ceremony
During the award ceremony, the Special Selection Prizes in both the Free Category and Inclusive Design Category were presented by Katsuhiko Hibino. The Tokyo Governor’s Award of Excellence in both categories was awarded by Katsuhiko Hibino and Yumiko Hara. Finally, the Grand Prix for the Tokyo Governor’s Award in both the Free and Inclusive Design categories was presented by Governor Yuriko Koike.
Backstage
Backstage, the finalists began fitting their garments to models starting the day before the event, while also creating styling sheets as part of a hands-on workshop. They kept carefully checking every detail up until the moment the show began. Experiencing the intense, backstage atmosphere of show production gave these young designers invaluable experience for their future careers in the fashion industry.
