Opportunity For All

Fashion Frontier Challenge

A global program to find and support the new ideas that are making the fashion landscape more inclusive.

3RD EDITION TOP 50 ANNOUNCED

We’re excited to announce the Top 50 for this year’s Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge!

AlgiKnit
Rebirth Garments
elliott footwear
Werewoool
Mi Terro
Social Fashion Factory(SOFFA)
LOSODE
SeaChange Technologies Inc
LAR TECHNOLOGIES
Biolive Biological and Chemical Technology Industry and Trade Inc.

Check back later this year for more information on our 6 Finalists!

We have set out to do everything in our power to create fashion that is more inclusive. Stitch by stitch, person by person, innovation by innovation. We’re determined to push boundaries – so we know that some of the best ideas won’t always be our own.

Launched in 2018, the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge is an annual program to discover and accelerate the work of the world’s most innovative and impactful fashion startups. Through mentoring and financial support, we want to help the best ideas break through.

Building on Tommy Hilfiger’s sustainability vision to Waste Nothing and Welcome All, this year’s program strives to amplify and support black, indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs who are working to advance their communities and foster a more inclusive future of fashion.

“I have been inspired by this talented group of social entrepreneurs whose innovations are making the fashion landscape more inclusive and sustainable.”

Mr. TOMMY HILFIGER

Over a multi-stage process, applicants will be narrowed down to six finalists who will be invited to develop their project plans virtually with the support of dedicated Tommy Hilfiger and external subject-matter experts. With training from an experienced pitch coach, finalists will present their final concept at the global Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge final event to be held in early 2022.

A prestigious jury panel – including Mr. Tommy Hilfiger – selects winners to receive the prize fund of €200,000. An additional €15,000 is awarded to the finalist who wins the “Audience Favorite Vote.” The winners also receive a year-long mentorship with Tommy Hilfiger and INSEAD experts, as well as a place in the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Program (ISEP).

Past winners include Selina Wamucii, a mobile platform connecting smallholder farmers in Africa to global distributors; doctHERs, which digitally connects Pakistan’s female doctors with the factory workers who need them; and Auf Augenhoehe, a fashion label developing styles for people affected by dwarfism. Winners of the second edition include Apon Wellbeing, a Bangladesh scale-up that improves the life of factory workers through affordable health insurance and A Beautiful Mess, a Dutch makers space that assists refugees to realize social and economic independence.

CHECK OUT HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR'S CHALLENGE

FASHION FRONTIER CHALLENGE EVENT BOOKLET

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The JOURNEY

CALL TO ACTION

Interested businesses are invited to submit project proposals that focus on inclusive fashion.

DIGITAL VOTING

Internal Tommy Hilfiger associates and selected consumer judges digitally review applicants to take a top selection of 50 applications through to the Boot Camp.

THE BOOT CAMP

During a three-day process, 25 Tommy Hilfiger experts and 15 INSEAD alumni come together virtually to narrow the best 200 applications down to the top six using a rigorous seven-filter process.

DESIGN SPRINT

In partnership with OneUp, the six finalists are invited to attend a digital intensive impact venture design thinking accelerator. The finalists work with a team of designers and Tommy Hilfiger experts to bring a solution to their biggest business challenge.

FINAL EVENT

A prestigious jury panel selects winners to receive the prize fund of €200,000. An additional €15,000 is awarded to the finalist who wins the “Audience Favorite Vote.” The winners also receive a year-long mentorship with Tommy Hilfiger’s experts, as well as a place in the INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship Program (ISEP).

past winners

doctHERS

(2018 Winner)

doctHERs is a digital health platform in Pakistan that matches the underutilized capacity of female doctors (who otherwise would be excluded from the workforce) to the unmet needs of factory workers via nurse-assisted technology.

Awarded: €80,000

Apon Wellbeing

(2019 Winner)

Bangladesh-based scale-up, Apon Wellbeing, runs fair-priced shops in factories and a points scheme for free health insurance and health services.

Awarded: €75,000

A Beautiful Mess

(2019 Winner)

Dutch startup A Beautiful Mess built a creative space to assist refugees in realizing social and economic independence by creating sustainable apparel products.

Awarded: €75,000

Sudara

(2019 Winner)

Indian scale-up pajama company Sudara helps develop professional and sewing skills in women who have escaped from or are at the highest risk of being sex-trafficked.

Awarded: €10,000 Audience Favorite Vote prize

Auf Augenhoehe

(2018 Winner)

Based on a new size chart that takes the diversity of body proportions into account, this fashion label designs and develops styles for people affected by dwarfism.

Awarded: €60,000

Selina Wamucii

(2018 Winner)

The Selina Wamucii business-to-business platform connects smallholder farmers to distributors via a single mobile application, improving agricultural practices by increasing productivity and efficiency.

Awarded: €60,000

Selina Wamucii also won the “Audience Favorite Vote”.
Additional award: €10,000