The Creativ Fund Design Competition

To mark our 10th anniversary in 2026, we are thrilled to launch The Creativ Fund, a design competition aimed at spotlighting emerging fashion design talent from Uganda.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for talented Ugandan designers to showcase their creativity and innovation while working with barkcloth, a culturally significant yet underutilised material from Uganda. The goal is to celebrate barkcloth and introduce it as a staple in the Ugandan fashion market. The competition opens on Friday 31st January 2025 and closes on 31st March 2025. Winners will be announced in April 2025. Dates, times and place will be communicated accordingly.

Participants are required to design a 10-piece collection:

• 9 ready-to-wear pieces
• 1 couture piece
• Work with barkcloth material

These designs will be worn by the 10 celebrants featured in the 'I Am Beyond Body' documentary, honouring the diversity and beauty of African women as well as their contribution to Ugandan society.

To recognise exceptional talent, the following cash prizes will be awarded:

• 1st Runner-Up: 1,00,000 UGX
• 2nd Runner-Up: 500,000 UGX
• 3rd Runner-Up: 250,000 UGX

• Entrants must be over 21-34 years of age.
• Entrants must be already in the fashion sector and can be students
• Must be living, or working in Uganda.

Fashion:

• Ideally, we are looking for individuals with impeccable sewing skills, raw designs and authenticity.
• All designs must prominently feature barkcloth as a core material with an afro-futurism element.
• Your designs must be feminine, strong, powerful and wearable.
• A collection of 10 designs ideas/sketches, 9 ready-to-wear pieces and 1 haute couture piece / garment.

Accessories (Hats / Jewellery):

• Ideally, we are looking for individuals with impeccable sewing skills and raw designs.
• All designs must prominently feature barkcloth as a core material with an afro-futurism element.
• Your accessory designs must be feminine, strong, powerful and wearable.
• A collection of 10 designs ideas/sketches, 9 ready-to-wear pieces and 1 haute couture hat piece / jewellery.

Barkcloth, a UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage, holds deep historical significance in the Ugandan tradition. Through this competition, we aim to innovate and modernise its usage, giving it a renewed relevance in contemporary fashion, states Doreen, the founder.

The Creativ Fund invites Ugandan designers to unleash their creativity, showcase their talent, and redefine the future of Ugandan fashion. This is your moment to shine!

Submission Deadline: 

The competition opens on Friday 31st January 2025 and closes on Friday 31st March 2025. Winners will be announced in April 2025. Dates, times and place for meetings will be communicated accordingly.

Submit your designs answering the design brief with 1 finished garment from your collection if you're a clothing designer, 1 finished piece f you're accessories designer.

Please do not enter the competition if you don't design/make/produce your work locally.

For further details, feel free to contact us on our email: hello@plussizefashionfestafrica.com

The Creativ Fund: 'promoting raw talent, cultural heritage, and excellence'.