The Cabildo de Tenerife has opened applications for the XVI International Competition for Young Designers Tenerife Moda 2027, giving emerging fashion designers the chance to put their work in front of an international audience.
Applications opened on Thursday and will remain open until 5 March 2027.
The competition is open to designers of any nationality or place of residence, provided they meet the entry requirements. Each entrant can submit one project, either individually or as part of a collective brand.
Ten designs and plenty of creativity
Entrants must create a collection of 10 original designs based on a theme of their choice.
There is one important catch. The collection must be submitted anonymously and must not previously have been entered into another competition or published online or on social media.
Each design needs to include front and back sketches, technical information and details covering colours, fabrics, materials and measurements.
A jury will then select seven finalists, with at least one finalist required to be resident in Tenerife.
The judging will consider originality, creativity, innovation and how well the collection could adapt to the commercial market.
The finalists take to the catwalk
The seven finalists will present their collections at a fashion show at the Recinto Ferial de Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
That’s where the winners will be announced.
And there is some practical help along the way. Each finalist can receive up to €1,500 towards production costs, along with additional support covering travel, transport and accommodation in Tenerife.
So it’s not simply a case of winning a competition and then being handed a pat on the back before being told to figure out the rest yourself.
€5,000 first prize
The competition offers three main prizes:
- First prize: €5,000
- Second prize: €3,000
- Most innovative collection: €2,000
The innovation prize can also be awarded to one of the designers receiving one of the main prizes.
Following last year’s competition
The new edition follows the XV International Competition for Young Designers, held in June during Tenerife International Fashion Week, SIMTE 2026.
More than 70 designers from around the world applied for that competition.
The winner was Gran Canaria designer Yeremay Hidalgo, with his collection Lágrimas de Sal. Noé González de la Rosa took second place with ARCHIVE00, while Eva Gómez was recognised for the commercial potential of her collection La Llave del Umbral.
The new competition was presented at the Cabildo’s Salón Noble by Efraín Medina, Councillor for Employment, Education and Youth, alongside Ricardo Cólogan of the Insular Craft Company and Natanael Padrón, director of Tenerife Moda.
For young designers looking to get their work noticed, it’s a fairly serious opportunity. And with applications open until March, there’s at least a little time to get the sewing machine warmed up.