Overview & Guidelines

Established in 1925, the annual design competition is unique in its breadth and awards the collective amount of £17,000 across a wide spectrum of textile specialities, including weave, knit, print, embroidery as well as combined textile process, mixed media and new technologies.

The competition creates a bridge between UK textile design education and industry, celebrating emerging talent of students and independent designers.

The competition launches every spring and is judged by a team of leading industry professionals. Prize winners and commendations receive awards and certificates.

The competition entry is through a digital submission of an actual main piece and a supporting development board.

Entry to the competition is open to all UK based students and independent designers.

Conditions of entry
The competition is open to all students at UK Universities and Colleges as well as UK based independent designers, with the exception of K2, P3 and W2 categories which are reserved for 1st year undergraduates only.
- An entry fee is payable for EACH entry: £15 for students / £25 for independent designers.
- DO NOT include your name or University on the images as this will lead to disqualification and a refund cannot be given.
- Group entries by Universities/ College: this is only available by agreement with the Secretary by 2nd March 2026.
- Please ensure that you read and fulfil the brief for your chosen category entry.
- The same piece of work can only be entered once if entering multiple categories.
- Your email address may be given to a third party for the purpose of arranging prizes and invitation to events by our Sponsors.
- Ensure the email address you give us is one that can be checked regularly and please also check your junk mail.
- Copyrights will remain with the entrant and your online entry cannot be seen by another entrant.
- The Society reserves the right to publish winning work on the Society’s or Sponsors’ website or social media.
- The judges’ decisions are final, and judges reserve the right to question the authenticity of any work.
- Any infringement of the Conditions of Entry will be disqualified without a refund.
Entry Guidelines
Submission for the competition will go live on 23/03/2026 and the deadline for entries is Midnight on 8/05/2026.

Entries are submitted digitally for judging. Briefs and submission requirements can be found on the individual category pages.

Please make sure that you read the conditions of entry carefully before submitting your work.

Please upload two images for each entry, ensuring the total file size does not exceed 6MB. Only JPEG or PNG formats are accepted; PDFs will not be accepted.
- Image 1: A close-up of the main sample.
- Image 2: A development board clearly displaying the context, materials, and processes involved.
You may submit multiple entries, whether in the same category or across different ones; however, each individual design can only be entered once in a single chosen category.

To ensure your digital submission proceeds to judging, the entry fee must be paid via bank transfer within 24 hours of submitting your work. Please make sure to reference the unique entry number provided at the end of the digital submission process when making your payment.

Entries will be evaluated by the sponsor and a team of specialist judges.

The list of winners and commendations will be published on our website in August. Those selected as winners or receiving commendations will be notified by email and personally informed by the society’s secretary.

The option of Group payment is only available through a pre-arranged agreement between academic institutions and the society’s secretary. Please check with your tutors to confirm whether your entry is being covered by your university or college. If it is not covered, and you have selected ‘group payment’ without paying the entry fee, your entry will be withdrawn.
Get in touch with any questions

If you ave any questions please use the form on our contact page or contact our Secretary by email at secretary@bradfordtextilesociety.org.uk.

Previous Winners
- Alice Clubb
  
  Brighton University
  
  View Entry
  
  Brighton University
  Both the ‘£1000 Wool Special Award’, sponsored by the Merchants of the Staple of England and the Woolmark award were won by Alice Clubb of Brighton University for her skilful textured knit in Merino wool.
- Helen Kaye
  
  Nottingham Trent University
  
  View Entry
  
  Nottingham Trent University
  In the Clothworkers’ Company categories , 1st prize was awarded to Helen Kaye of Nottingham Trent university in the Knit section for her colourful knit inspired by the concealing and revealing layers of an onion from Ottolenghi’s cookbook! (Image 2) Helen was also received a third prize for the British Wool and Glencroft award and a commendation from The FTC.
- Anna Wilson-Knight
  
  Manchester Metropolitan University
  
  View Entry
  
  Manchester Metropolitan University
  Anna Wilson-Knight of Manchester Metropolitan University won the mixed media prize awarded by The Clothworkers Company for her beautiful and innovative use of 3D printing on fine organza.
- Emma Hayward-Higham
  
  De Montfort University
  
  View Entry
  
  De Montfort University
  The Fashion Weave prize awarded by The Clothworkers Company went to Emma Hayward-Higham of De Montfort University for her beautiful silk weave inspired by passementerie. Emma received two more prizes awarded by The Clothworkers Company: for her use of combination of textile processes and for her use of non-conventional processes or new technologies.
- Robin Smith
  
  Heriot-Watt University
  
  View Entry
  
  Heriot-Watt University
  Interiors Weave awarded by The Clothworkers Company went to Robin Smith of Heriot-Watt university for her colourful irregular check based on military medal ribbons. This entry also won the Luxury Fabrics award. Robin was awarded a Travel Bursary by the CIWMT and was joined by two other winners: Grace Lawerence and Vaishnavi Tajne for an all expenses paid trip to textile trade fair - Premiere Vision Paris in February 2025.
- Erin Chegwyn
  
  Nottingham Trent University
  
  View Entry
  
  Nottingham Trent University
  In the Print sections Erin Chegwyn of Nottingham Trent university won the Dyers Company Fashion Print prize, judged by Liberty Fabrics, and inspired by David Bowie’s ‘Stardust’. Erin also recieved a special invitation by the Dyers Company to a celebratory luncheon at the Dyers Hall in London.
- Laura McIlveen
  
  The Northern School of Art
  
  View Entry
  
  The Northern School of Art
  Laura McIlveen was awarded the Prestigious Textiles prize and a short placement for her Interiors Print with a fresh and contemporary screen print with a tropical vibe.
- The Designers Plaque
  
  Nottingham Trent University
  
  View Entry
  
  Nottingham Trent University
  Nottingham Trent University were this year’s recipients of the Designers Guild plaque for their outstanding number of successful entries.