As sustainability in fashion becomes an increasingly prevalent part of the industry, initiatives and organisations are founded to tackle the problem head on. One of those initiatives, Challenge The Fabric, invites nine designers to create one look using made-man cellulose fibres (MMCF), for its annual CTF Awards. CTF describes the awards as “a talent competition aimed at promoting and encouraging the use of biobased and recycled materials while establishing long-term partnerships between emerging designers and potential sustainable material partners.”

For the fourth edition of the awards, CTF have just announced ABRA, Karoline Vitto, Louise Lyngh Bjerregaard, Paolina Russo, Renata Brenha, Sylvi Sundkler, TORISHÉJU, vel don sa lim and YAKU as finalists. The final looks will be presented at a showcase in Milan on May 14-15, where their designs will be critiqued on categories such as creativity and innovation in working with MMCF. The lucky winner will then be announced during the showcase and eventually bag a cash prize of $10,000.

CTF is hosted by the Ekman Group and its awards are organised by the Swedish Fashion Council, and thanks to their keen eye designers from across the length and breadth of the industry are represented as finalists. Abraham Ortuño Perez of the Spanish brand ABRA was raised in Alicante, a region known for its artisanal leather, while Brazilian-born and London-based creative Karoline Vitto puts inclusivity at the forefront of her practice. Elsewhere, the London born Torishéju Dumi of TORISHÉJU incorporates her Nigerian-Brazilian upbringing into her work, while Veldon Salim was born and raised in Jakarta, inspired by the art of wrapping, knotting and tying fundamental to Indonesian dressing.