Through the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize, we aim to drive change for good by investing in the visionaries who are reimagining the future of fashion and empower the next generation of entrepreneurial talent in the ASEAN fashion industry.
Introducing the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize 2023. An initiative born out of the Vogue Foundation’s ambition to drive change for good, the prize equips the next generation of entrepreneurial talent with best-in-class support—priming them for the world stage through industry insights, monetary support and access to a network of resources.
Applications for the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize have now closed.
In partnership with BMW, the prize encourages emerging fashion entrepreneurs to reimagine the future of fashion through bold ideas that seek to solve real-world problems— attracting applicants with interests across accessible design, eco-sustainability, digital fashion and more.
BMW has established itself as a pioneer in next-generation innovations and is paving the way for a future that is uncompromisingly electric, digital, and circular. Bringing these concepts to industries within the creative ecosystem, the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize is seeking fashion entrepreneurs and businesses in three categories:
- Electric: the business ignites change to address pressing global issues and disrupt industries;
- Digital: the business embraces digital innovation;
- Circular: the business champions sustainability and/or promotes a circular economy.
Through the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize, we aim to drive change for good by investing in the visionaries who are reimagining the future of fashion and empower the next generation of entrepreneurial talent in the ASEAN fashion industry.
Fashion is inherently about innovation. It always looks forward. It always asks, “What’s next?”
Fashion is inherently about innovation. It always looks forward. It always asks, “What’s next?”
For the first time, the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize expands its reach regionally, welcoming applications from across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Prize is open to businesses fulfilling the following criteria:
- Candidates must be older than 21 and have their business principally based in ASEAN
- Design must be an end-product, B2B or B2C with a physical or digital representation that solves a problem in the industry
- Preference for business to have existed for a minimum of 2 years
- Business must fulfill at least one of the key pillars (Electric, Digital, Circular)
Shortlisted applicants will get exclusive access to a four-week programme curated by Vogue Singapore, comprising a boot camp featuring laureate speakers and mentorship sessions to embark on the journey of refining their businesses. These global experts, hand-picked by Vogue Singapore, will lend their expertise from pillars such as digital innovation, creative direction, design, media, brand storytelling, marketing and more.
Innovation is either evolutionary or revolutionary. Evolutionary ideas expand on existing concepts and are relatively “safe”, in that the world has already approved of them. Revolutionary ideas make you uncomfortable and can even create self-doubt, because you have no idea how the world will react. Either way, both are essential in order to stay ahead of the game and truly make an impact.
Innovation is either evolutionary or revolutionary. Evolutionary ideas expand on existing concepts and are relatively “safe”, in that the world has already approved of them. Revolutionary ideas make you uncomfortable and can even create self-doubt, because you have no idea how the world will react. Either way, both are essential in order to stay ahead of the game and truly make an impact.
Innovation is a core tenet of the British Fashion Council (BFC)’s work and values, so it is only natural to support and uplift emerging talent with new ideas overseas with the Vogue Singapore Foundation. We have always been driven by the incredible power of the creative industries to inspire change and ignite fresh perspectives, and I am so looking forward to meeting this year’s shortlisted entrepreneurial talent.
Innovation is a core tenet of the British Fashion Council (BFC)’s work and values, so it is only natural to support and uplift emerging talent with new ideas overseas with the Vogue Singapore Foundation. We have always been driven by the incredible power of the creative industries to inspire change and ignite fresh perspectives, and I am so looking forward to meeting this year’s shortlisted entrepreneurial talent.
Experts participating in the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize include:
Alexis Bonhomme, VP of Global Industry Partnerships & APAC Commercial, Farfetch
Dr. Amanda Parkes, Chief Innovation Officer, Pangaia
Anabel Maldonado, Founder and CEO, PSYKHE AI
Bettina von Schlippe, Publisher, VogueSingapore
Caroline Rush, CEO, British Fashion Council
Cathy Hackl, Chief Futurist at Journey and Founder of VerseLuxe
Ciara Byrne, Vice President of New Business Innovation, Condé Nast
Cristina Ventura, General Partner & Chief Catalyst Officer, White Star Capital
Ginny Chien, CMO, Murad
Leila Ismailova, Entrepreneur and Former Co-Founder of ARTISANT
Mark Guiducci, Creative Editorial Director, Vogue US
Semun Ho, CEO, Singapore Fashion Council
Sohee Park, Founder and Creative Director, Miss Sohee
Sonja Prokopec, Associate Director Center of Excellence in Luxury, Arts, and Culture APAC, ESSEC Business School
Stefan Ponikva, Vice President of Brand Experience & Communication, BMW Group
Dr. Stella Clarke, Research Engineer Open Innovations, BMW Group
Terrence Zhou, Creative Director, Bad Binch TONGTONG
Victoria Yustinovich, Head of Brand Partnerships, TikTok
Innovation always challenges the status quo and pushes creative entrepreneurs to go beyond their comfort zone. Progress is always based on innovation.
Innovation always challenges the status quo and pushes creative entrepreneurs to go beyond their comfort zone. Progress is always based on innovation.
My involvement in the Innovation Prize stems from an unwavering admiration for the dedication to innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence exhibited by both Vogue Singapore and BMW. As a designer positioned at the forefront of innovation, it feels not only compelling but also necessary for me to utilize this platform to share my expertise and insights.
My involvement in the Innovation Prize stems from an unwavering admiration for the dedication to innovation and the relentless pursuit of excellence exhibited by both Vogue Singapore and BMW. As a designer positioned at the forefront of innovation, it feels not only compelling but also necessary for me to utilize this platform to share my expertise and insights.
Through a pitch and selection process, three finalists will present their business plan and prototype to an international jury who will assess the use of innovation, product, design and execution, sustainability and the business and marketing plan to ensure scalability.
The winner of the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize 2023 will receive a monetary prize of $15,000, media coverage on Vogue Singapore, first-hand feedback from global industry leaders, and introductions to potential investors for funding.
I am excited to be part of the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize as it empowers the next generation of innovators to create positive change. Pangaia is a demonstration to the industry that cutting edge innovations can be responsibly incorporated into creating commercial products—I hope to share my knowledge with the entrepreneurial talent taking part to embrace being equally as disruptive and ambitious.
I am excited to be part of the Vogue Singapore x BMW Innovation Prize as it empowers the next generation of innovators to create positive change. Pangaia is a demonstration to the industry that cutting edge innovations can be responsibly incorporated into creating commercial products—I hope to share my knowledge with the entrepreneurial talent taking part to embrace being equally as disruptive and ambitious.
Embracing innovation is non-negotiable, and really, simply synonymous with being creative. There are many ways in which we can innovate, so we mustn’t define it narrowly to limit and exclude creators. Innovation isn’t only about technology and new materials, it can simply be about a (genuinely) different point of view.
Embracing innovation is non-negotiable, and really, simply synonymous with being creative. There are many ways in which we can innovate, so we mustn’t define it narrowly to limit and exclude creators. Innovation isn’t only about technology and new materials, it can simply be about a (genuinely) different point of view.
Applications close at 11.59pm on 6 August 2023