1. What is Han Couture Design?

Rather than directly copying “Han,” or ancient Chinese attire, “Han Couture Design” instead borrows from the styles of the Tang, Song and Ming dynasties in order to design contemporary garments. These garments should combine the essence of traditional Chinese culture with today’s fashion in unique, creative and exciting ways.

2. What is the purpose of the Global Han Couture Design Competition?

The Global Han Couture Design Competition is one in a series of international arts and culture events sponsored by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV). Its purpose is to spread classical Chinese sartorial culture on a global scale, and to expose the world to the principles of purity, kindness and beauty at the heart of traditional Chinese apparel.

3. What should inspire the designs?

The purpose of this competition is to promote styles that are based on the profound background of 5,000 years of Chinese apparel culture, yet which can also meet the needs and conditions of modern life. Our essential guiding principle, as mentioned above, is the expression of purity, kindness and beauty through the traditional values of "benevolence, righteousness, courteousness, wisdom and loyalty.” In a larger sense, we hope to aide a general return to this precious cultural legacy of clothing and etiquette, from the midst of the current fashion environment, which all too often focuses on the outré, the momentary fad, and the garish trend. There is thus no need to follow current trends in your design submissions.

4. What are the categories of competition?

There are two categories: "Han Couture for Formal Occasions" and "Han Couture for Daily Life".

5. Can participants submit designs to both categories?

Yes. If one participates in both categories, each set of works will be considered independently. These participants will be required to register for the competition in each category.

6. How many designs can a participant submit?

For each category, a participant may submit 3-7 sets, with no restriction on the number or ratio of male to female styles.

7. What should be the theme of a submission?

Participants may decide their own themes in general accordance with the principles of the competition. However, neither titles nor designs can be related to or carry any vestige of the culture of the Chinese Communist Party.

8. Who can participate?

Submissions are welcomed from fashion designers worldwide, and from anyone capable of creating apparel at a professional level (such as professional designers, teachers and fashion design students, as well as freelance designers). There are no restrictions on sex, age, occupation, education level, race, nationality or ethnic background. However there should not be more than two designers for any individual piece, and the primary and assistant designers should be clearly indicated.

9. What are the requirements for the submitted pieces?

1) All pieces must be the original creations of the participants submitting them, and may not have been previously published.

2) All pieces within a set must fit the principles and thematic guidelines of the competition, must have both practical and artistic/cultural value, and must demonstrate a high standard of materials and workmanship. All clothing submissions must form complete outfits (thus it is preferable to include shoes, hats, accessories and/or hairstyles), and all pieces within a submission must be consistent and mutually complementary.

3) Pieces cannot be submitted to more than one competition, and plagiarism is strictly forbidden. Nor can any use be made of apparel currently being sold or marketed, including the alteration or modification of any such apparel. If such influences are detected, the responsible participant will be immediately subject to the loss of their qualifications (including any award bestowed) and the incident will be investigated with all potential legal consequences the liability of said participant.

4) If any third party should claim infringement of intellectual property rights on the part of the participant or their submissions, the participant(s) in question should take full responsibility. The organizing committee of the competition will not take any responsibility for such infringements, and will accept and comply with any outside inspections or reports.

5) Copyrights for all participating pieces belong to the organizing committee of the competition. The committee has rights to all promotion, publication, distribution, exhibition and performance related to or incorporating all accepted and winning submissions (including the actual physical submissions), without reimbursement or payment of royalties to the designer.

6) The organizing committee reserves copyrights for all photos, videos and other reproductions of the competition event, and of the submitted pieces. The committee also reserves the right to duplicate said photos and videos, in any form, for future promotions.

7) If any organization or individual seeks permission to exhibit, distribute or publish a submitted piece, they must obtain agreement from the organizing committee, and they cannot use said piece for any competitive or professional purpose.

8) After the final judgments have concluded, submitted pieces will be returned (barring award-winning pieces, which will be collected by the organizing committee and have their value estimated based on material cost.) In any special case, the committee will consult with the participant(s).

9) The organizing committee will attempt to assure safe treatment and handling of all submissions, however, the committee is not responsible for any damage or loss of submitted pieces.

10. How should one participate?

For every set of submitted pieces, participants must follow the requirements listed below, carefully fill out the forms and provide all necessary documents:

1) Provide one original copy of the design draft in color (27cm X 40cm), illustrated by hand or by computer.

2) Fill out and send in the registration form for the Global Han Couture Design Competition, attaching a 1-inch color ID photo of the participant, and providing a photocopy of at least one valid form of ID.

3) Participant must provide a CV/resume, or brief biographical summary/personal history.

4) In both all drafts/sketches and the registration form, handwriting should be neat, clear and all required fields completed. The organizing committee will not assume responsibility for any confusion/dispute originating in unclear handwriting or signatures.

5) Drafts, registration forms, and photos will be kept by the organizing committee and will not be returned. Participants are requested to keep their own copies of all submitted materials.

11. How should one register?

On line: HanCouture.ntdtv.com or HanFu.ntdtv.com
Email: hancouture@verizon.net
Phone: 1-646-736-2988 (Chinese); 1-646-736-2969 (English)
Fax: 1-212-918-3479
Mail: P.O.Box 1434, Secaucus, NJ 07096-1434, U.S.A.

12. How much is the registration fee?

50 dollars.

13. How does one pay?

We accept cash, traveler's checks or cashier's checks.

Checks should be made payable to "NEW TANG DYNASTY TELEVISION".

14. What about the other associated costs?

Participants are responsible for the cost of shipping and insurance for all drafts and submitted pieces, regardless of their place of origin or the distance from their place of residence to the U.S. Participants are also fully responsible for the cost of materials and production for all pieces that participate in the finals.

15. What are the deadlines for the competition?

Deadline for submission of drafts: July 7, 2008

Deadline for submission of finished pieces: Sept. 20, 2008

16. What will the competition process be like?

1) Preliminary contest: The committee will evaluate the submitted drafts and issue acceptance notices before July 15, 2008.

2) Semi-final, final and the award ceremony: These will be held in the Prince George Ballroom, New York City, U.S.A. on October 19, 2008.

(The Prince George Ballroom is located at 15 East 27th Street, New York, NY 10016)

17. How will the pieces be judged?

All pieces must fit the above-delineated requirements of the competition, display the themes and principles of the competition, embodying practical use and the value of traditional forms of artistic expression, be original creations, display the concepts at the heart of traditional Han couture, and demonstrate internal harmony and consistency.

18. What are the prizes?

1) "Han Couture for Formal Occasions" and "Han Couture for Daily Life" will each have one gold prize, one silver prize, one bronze prize, several honorable mentions, and four single category awards (Best Han Couture Conception, Best Draft, Best Production, and Best Combination.)

2) Gold prizes winners will receive $10,000 each, silver prize winners $5,000 each, bronze prize winners $2,000 each, honorable mentions will bestow $500 each, and single category awards $2,000 each.

For all awards listed above, NTDTV will issue award trophies or certificates.

19. Are there any other regulations?

1) All decisions made by the organizing committee will be considered final, and no appeals will be accepted.

2) The organizing committee fully reserves all rights to the interpretation, application, and explanation of these regulations, as well as the right to their alteration at the committee’s discretion.