Student Designers Showcase Sustainable Leather in RLSD 2026 Finals
News related to:Real Leather Stay Different · 2 min read
From offcuts to haute couture, student designers from around the world have showcased the durability and sustainability of real leather in the 2026 Real Leather Stay Different (RLSD) International Student Design Competition. The competition, which aims to highlight the beauty and versatility of real leather, has crowned winners in four categories: Apparel, Accessories, Footwear, and People's Choice.
Tal Zohar, a student from Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Israel, took home the Apparel category with "The Neo-Heritage Tennis Club," a design inspired by the heritage and sporting style of the 1970s. The winning design features a leather-quilted jacket that pays homage to the iconic tennis attire of that era.
Roscha Dinler, a student from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany, won the Footwear category with "Fragmented Structure." This design, inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, uses leather scraps and offcuts to create a shoe that turns imperfection into beauty. Dinler's approach to using waste materials aligns with the competition's focus on circularity and sustainability.
Siang-Ying Lu, from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States, was the Accessories winner with "Playscape." This design started as a single circle of leftover leather, which Lu folded and stitched without any additional cuts, showcasing the potential of repurposing waste materials.
Tran Trong Nghi Nguyen, a student from Ton Duc Thang University in Vietnam, won the People's Choice category with "Champa - The Legacy." This design is inspired by the everyday life of commuters in Vietnam and incorporates a centuries-old Thai royal gilding technique, adding a cultural dimension to the competition.
The competition's real message is about circularity and the durability of real leather. Unlike synthetic leathers and low-cost fabrics, real leather is a by-product of the meat and dairy industries and is durable, reusable, and biodegradable. Several of the standout pieces were made almost entirely from offcuts and scraps that would otherwise go to landfill. This approach not only reduces waste but also emphasizes the craftsmanship and personal touch that goes into each design.
The winners, along with Thailand's national winner Kittidech Chankraithong, will travel to Bangkok for the final event on October 29. Kittidech's collection is inspired by everyday Thai commuter life and uses a centuries-old Thai royal gilding technique. The final event will take place at Bangkok's historic Jim Thompson House, where the winners will compete to become the 2026 Real Leather Stay Different Student Designer of the Year.
The competition, sponsored by the Leather and Hide Council of America and delivered in partnership with Arts Thread, offers emerging designers the opportunity to showcase the beauty, versatility, and sustainability of real leather on a global stage. The RLSD International Student Design Competition is a free-to-enter programme open to students and recent graduates, and it continues to highlight the creativity and innovation of the next generation of designers.