The Circular Design Award is a prestigious design challenge recognizing pioneering circular design in fashion. The award honors designers who align with HUGO BOSS’s Circular Design strategy. Five Nominees will collaborate with the BOSS Creative team and the winning design will be brought to life under BOSS, representing a real-world leap towards circular fashion.
This award targets:
Emerging or established designers
Designers based in Europe
Individual or team entries allowed (with max. of 2 representatives)
Participants are invited to develop outerwear concepts that align with the circular design criteria of HUGO BOSS and The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. Submissions should focus on:
Combine cutting-edge circular design innovations with BOSS Black aesthetics
Maintain the brand’s commitment to elegance and functionality
Circular material selection
Design for Longevity (e.g. modular design, repairability, timeless design)
End-of-use strategies (e.g., recyclability, biodegradability)
Applications will be assessed by our jury panel against the following criteria:
Innovation & Originality
Novelty in design, concept, or use of materials
Circular Design Alignment
Must meet HUGO BOSS Circular Design criteria (baseline) Alignment with Cradle to Cradle Certified™ standards
Feasibility & Scalability
Production readiness Cost efficiency Alignment with BOSS Black design aesthetic
Sustainability Impact
Clear and measurable environmental and/or social impact
The winner will be rewarded with:
€5.000
Prize money
Mumster PR campaign
Worth €15.000
Recognition
Recognition through Award handed out by HUGO BOSS
Design in collection
Winning design under BOSS
Enter your circular design
We are accepting applications for this award until 30 September. After that our jury panel will look at the applications and the nominees will be announced.
Selection Process
The Fashion Pioneers Awards 2025 are open to fashion pioneers based in the Netherlands and across Europe.
Five nominees will be selected by a panel of industry experts. From this shortlist, one winner per will be chosen by the jury.
The five nominees will be personally invited for the BOSS Circular Design Workshop in Amsterdam on 3 October 2025 and will take place on 10 October. The nominees will be publicly announced on 10 October after which the public will be invited to cast their vote for their favorite nominee. The final award winner will be revealed on 28 November 2025 during the Fashion Pioneers Awards show, hosted at Fashion for Good in Amsterdam.
BOSS Circular Design Workshop
As part of the BOSS THE CHANGE initiative, the five nominees will be invited to Amsterdam for an exclusive BOSS Circular Design Workshop on October 10, 2025.
This unique experience offers a deep dive into the BOSS universe, where nominees will collaborate with the BOSS Creative Team and Product Sustainability experts to explore the brand’s creative process and iconic design language. Together with partner, Cradle to Cradle, we will further explore Circular Design criteria, pushing the boundaries of circular innovation in fashion. An inspiring day awaits, where creativity meets purpose, and the future of circular design takes shape.
Important dates
1 September - Applications open
10 October - Workshop in Amsterdam
28 November – Award show
Which award should I apply for?
You may be eligible for multiple award categories based on the criteria. Choose the one that best matches your qualifications. Your application must be based on the listed criteria. You may apply for more than one award, but you can only win one. Please note that we do not provide advice on which award to choose.
When and how will I know if I’m nominated?
Nominees will receive an email with important details on 3 or 10 October depending on the award. The full list of nominees will be published on the Fashion Pioneers Awards website on 10 October and shared via our social media channels.
When and how will I know if I’m nominated for the Circular Design Award?
Nominees for the Circular Design Award will receive an email with important details on Friday 3 October. The full list of nominees will also be published on the Fashion Pioneers Awards website and shared via our social media channels. If you are nominated, you will automatically be invited to join the workshop on 10 October and attend the Award Show on November 28 at Fashion for Good. Make sure to mark these dates already in your agenda.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is September 30 at 00:00 (CET).
What do I receive if I win a PR campaign by Mumster?
Mumster will create and execute a custom PR campaign to provide visibility to the winning initiative, in collaboration with HUGO BOSS.
I’m having technical issues with my application. What should I do?
Please contact fpa@mumster.nl with a description of the issue you’re experiencing.