Winners of the “Design-a-Bag” 2026 announced

As is tradition, the Design-A-Bag 2026 competition concluded with the final awards ceremony on March 12 during APLF 2026 in Hong Kong. The jury crowned Phan Nguyen Hoai Thuong, from Vietnam, the overall winner for her inspiring and versatile creation, “The Unbowed Bag,” a symbol of resilience in chaos that represents strength, composure, and an indomitable spirit.
Hoai Thuong is a design student at Hoa Sen University, and “The Unbowed Bag” is actually her very first project, making her achievement all the more incredible.
The prize includes a 4-week course in Collection Development at the Arsutoria School in Milan, valued at 4,500 euros, along with a 1,000-euro contribution toward housing.
Second place went to Zhuo Wei Si from China for her practical and functional creation, called “Berlin Bag.” Zhuo Wei Si will receive an 8-day training course at Simona Tanning’s L.E.A.T.H.E.R Academy in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
Third place went to Nilgun Demirhan from Turkey for her innovative yoga bag, a project titled “BELONGING.” With her talent and creativity, she designed a bag that perfectly blends athleisure style with her lifestyle.
All three finalists will receive a cash prize of $500 and a one-year subscription to www.arstrends.com and the “ARSUTORIASTUDIO” Trends Guide, valued at $550.

This year’s competition benefited from a carefully curated judging panel that brought together diverse perspectives from across the fashion and leather industry. Each judge evaluated the entries through a unique lens, ensuring a comprehensive, versatile and balanced assessment. This multifaceted approach elevated the standard of judging and provided invaluable insights for all participants.
* Mr. Olivier Vedrine, Architect-Designer & Production Designer of OO Agency Paris: Bringing a designer’s eye for creativity and artistic vision
* Mr. Stefano Migliavacca, International Projects Manager of Edizioni AF: Representing media expertise with a focus on innovation and industry trends
* Ms. Alane Becker Marder, Head of Marketing & Sustainability of Simona Tanning: Offering a tannery perspective on practicality, quality, and sustainability
* Mr. Ard-ong Winyoopradist,  Director and CMO, Xotique Company Limited: Providing brand owner insights on marketability and commercial viability

Registration for DAB 2027 will open in September of this year.