Fashion of the Future - The Responsible Fashion series 2021 pitch contest

Can fashion save the world? That’s what’s at stake in the 2021 edition of THE RESPONSIBLE FASHION SERIES, one of the key international meetings on fashion, bringing together academia, industry and government from all around the world.

The University of Antwerp and Antwerp Management School are proud to host this high-level event with the support of the City of Antwerp, The Royal Fashion Academy Antwerp, MoMu Antwerp and Flanders DC. We for one, firmly believe that fashion can indeed help us overcome the global crisis we are facing today. And no wonder. Embracing change, daring to imagine, promoting diversity, connecting people, making a statement: fashion simply has it all.

What is more: we believe there are plenty of high-potential creatives and promising scale-ups linked to the Antwerp fashion eco-system who can inspire the world.

So, if have you developed a game-changing concept totally in line with responsible fashion, then grab the opportunity to upscale your concept and register for our pitch contest. Next thing you know, you may be pitching your brilliant idea live for an expert jury and international audience on October 21, 2021.

The winner of the contest will receive an individual coaching by Flanders DC to further fine tune the business plan and will be introduced to a potential investor.

Deadline for applications is September 20, 2021. The application form and all details on the procedure, selection criteria, the jury, etc. can be found below.

Apply today and inspire the world with your innovative concept on responsible fashion.

Round 1:

Candidates fill in an application form, using the following template, addressing the following criteria:
1. Quality of the concept
2. Contribution to this year’s theme, “Can fashion save the world?”
3. Added value for the City of Antwerp / the Antwerp region
4. Applicant’s profile
5. Availability to pitch in person or virtually on the evening of October 21, 2021, at Antwerp Management School (Boogkeers 5, Antwerp)

The application must be submitted via the upload button below
Deadline: September 20, 2021.
Selected candidates will be informed by September 27, 2021, the latest.

All applicants will get feedback on their application, both in round 1 and round 2.

The candidates that are selected for the live pitch, will be coached by experts in preparing their pitch. They will get the opportunity to pitch their concept for a jury of experts and an international audience, gain valuable feedback and media attention.

The overall winner of the contest will receive individual coaching by Flanders DC to further fine tune the concept and will be introduced to a potential investor.

The Jury will be chaired by Christian Salez

Christian Salez

Christian Salez has built a C-level career for over 20 years, while developing an entrepreneurship path. He is the current CEO of MCI Apple Europe in Paris, invested in some brands like the London based Harth and Amsterdam based Kassl Editions and advice as a board member brands like Graanmarkt 13 and Wouters & Hendrix.

He also entered the world of luxury fashion 15 years ago as the CEO of Delvaux, by helping the organization with its internationalization, and through a period of adversities up to what it became today.”

Members of the Jury