Deadline: October 21, 2015 (Early entry deadline) ; November 18, 2015 (Final deadline)
Entries are now being accepted for the Ashoka Changemakers Fabric of Change Challenge. The Fabric of Change Challenge seeks innovations for building a fair and sustainable apparel industry that respects people and planet.
Fabric of Change is looking for innovations that:
- Address workers’ rights, working and living conditions, and the livelihoods of farmers supplying the fashion industry;
- Advance environmentally responsible materials, production methods, and supply chain processes;
- Incentivize collaboration between brands, manufacturers, supply chain partners, and governments;
- Promote transparency and mutual accountability between stakeholders;
- Empower consumers to drive change;
- Adapt models from other sectors to solve key problems in the apparel value chain.
Eligibility
- The Fabric of Change challenge is open to all individuals, organizations, partnerships, not-for-profits, for-profits, and charities from any country.
- C&A, C&A Foundation, Anthos and Porticus employees are not eligible to enter the challenge.
- Entries will be accepted in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
Prizes
- One Grand Prize winner will receive €50,000.
- Two additional winners will each receive €20,000.
- Two Early Entry Prizes of €1,000 each will be selected from the entries received by the Early Entry deadline, 21 October 2015.
- Three Young Innovator Prizes will be awarded to social innovators under the age of 24.
- All Finalists (approximately 10 – 12 individuals representing each Finalist entry) will receive a travel stipend to attend the Fabric of Change Summit. The Summit will convene leaders and experts in sustainable fashion, and you’ll have the opportunity to present your work and share your voice!
All prizes are awarded with the expectation that winners will apply the funds toward testing, refining, or scaling their solutions
Sub-Awards
(i) Youth Changemaker Prizes:
Two Youth Changemaker Prizes will be awarded to the most innovative ideas to create a sustainable apparel industry.
Eligibility
- Entrants must be between the ages of 18 – 24 as of November 18, 2015.
- Winners who are minors in their country of residence as of April 2016, will be required to obtain written parental permission to attend the Summit.
- Idea stage entries are encouraged.
Prize
- Winners will be invited to attend and participate in the Change Summit to be held in Spring 2016. Each will receive a stipend to cover the cost of travel.
- Selection of winners will be made by Ashoka staff and be evaluated based upon the criteria for the challenge of Innovation, and potential for social Impact.
- In exchange for the stipend, Fabric of Change will ask the blogger to live-tweet during the Summit and write one blog post of his or her choice, which will be crossposted to the Ashoka Changemakers website, or with one of our media partners.
To enter, please fill out the Youth Innovator entry form here.
(ii)Youth Blogger Prize:
How are you inspiring others to build a fair and ethical apparel industry? Ashoka is looking for a passionate voice that captures the industry’s challenges, emphasizes solutions, and inspires others to tap fashion as a force for good.
Eligibility
- Entries, including blog posts, must be submitted in English.
- Entrants must be between the ages of 18 – 24 as of November 18, 2015.
- If the winner is a minor in his country of residence as of April 2016, he will be required to obtain written parental permission to attend the Summit.
Award
- The Fabric of Change Challenge will award one passionate blogger with a stipend of $1,000,
- a travel stipend to the Fabric of Change Summit, to be held in the spring of 2016 (location TBA)
How to Enter
- Submit your entry at www.changemakers.com/fabricofchange. Click “Enter” at the top of the page to access the entry form.
- You may enter online anytime between 16 September 2015 and 18 November 2015 (17:00 EST).
For more information, visit Fabric of Change Challenge or contact Isabela Carvalho at [email protected].