Download "NTDTV's First Global Han Couture Design Competition Rules and Regulations" (PDF, 183 KB)

Mission

The Global Han Couture Design Competition is one in a series of international cultural and arts events sponsored by New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV). Its purpose is to spread classical Chinese dress culture across the world and to promote traditional Chinese apparel that express pure kindness and beauty.

Theme of the Competition

The Competition is aimed at bringing out practical designs that will meet the needs of modern people and are inspired by the depth and inner meaning of 5000 years of Chinese apparel. It builds upon ancient Chinese codes of conduct of benevolence, righteousness, courteousness, wisdom and loyalty and the values of pure kindness and beauty, and seeks to bring the precious apparel culture of the deeprooted Han couture to the dazzling modern world of today.

1. The Han couture design is not a mere copy of ancient Chinese clothing, but rather it tries to borrow the patterns in clothing of the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, and to create contemporary garments that bring together features of Han culture, in a unique and creative way.
2. The title and design of works submitted should have no signs or messages of Chinese Communist Party culture.
3. Works submitted need not follow international trends or fashion.

Categories and Requirements for the Submitted Works

1. The competition includes two categories — the Formal/Business Attire and the Casual Wear. Works submitted must be a series and belong to either of the categories. If a contestant wants to participate in both categories, each series of submission will be considered an individual series for competition in that particular category. When participants submit their works, they should clearly indicate the category they wish their works to be in. Three to seven sets may be submitted in one series and they can be designs for either men or women.
2. Eligible contestants include garment designers or professionals such as designers, teachers and students in fashion schools, or freelance designers. There are no limitations for gender, age, occupation, education, nationality and ethnicity. A design work submitted in one category cannot have more than two designers, and the chief and assistant designers should be clearly indicated.
3. Works submitted should be created by contestants and have never been published.
4. Works that make up the series must conform to the purpose and theme set by the Competition. They must be practical and have artistic value. Their fabric and craftsmanship must be of high quality. All garment designs submitted must be presented as sets, including, ideally, shoes, hats, accessories or hairstyles, etc. and give out an impression of wholesomeness.
5. Each series must be submitted according to the following:
   
   1. The contestant must submit one original hand or computer drawn color sketch (27 cm x 40 cm). The sketch must be the work of the contestant and done primarily in a realistic approach. All works must be on one single sketch, and no photos or copies of the works are accepted.
   2. Design title should be shown on the upper left corner of the face of the sketch and fabric samples (8 cm x 8 cm) on the lower right corner. Information such as designer’s name, recommending institutions, and design ideas should not appear on the face of the sketch.
   3. On the upper left side of the back of the sketch please stick the plain picture of the designs , indicating the sequence of the garments that would be presented.
   4. A registration form must be filled out and submitted with a one-by-one inch color photo on it. The submission should also include a copy of the applicant’s photo ID. The form is not to be attached to the sketch submitted and a separate identical color photo must be provided in an envelope. The second photo, meant for album use, should not adhere to anything. The application form must be filled out in full and properly signed. The information must include design titles and ideas and be written in either Chinese or English with no more than 100 words. If the submitted work is coauthored, only one Registration Form is required for both the chief and assistant designers.
   5. A personal resume form, which contains the applicant’s major experiences and awards received, must be attached to the application form.
   6. The information required for both the sketch and the registration form must be legible and complete. (We suggest that the form be downloaded and filled on computer and a printout be submitted.) The Competition Organization Committee shall not be responsible for any disputes thereof.
   7. Registration:
      • Online registration: HanConture.ntdtv.com or Hanfu.ntdtv.com
      • Email: HanCouture@globalcompetitions.org
      • Telephone: 1-646-736-2988; 1-888-288-8095
      • Fax: 1-212-918-3479
      • Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1434, Secaucus, NJ 07096-1434, U.S.A.
   8. Registration fee: $50 USD. We accept cash, traveler’s check, or money order. Make your check payable to NEW TANG DYNASTY TELEVISION.
6. The submitted sketches, registration form, and photo shall be the property of the Competition Organization Committee and shall not be returned. Applicants are advised to keep copies for themselves.
7. The copyrights of all submitted works belong to the Competition Organization Committee, which has the right to use the selected and award-winning designs for promotion, publication, exhibition and show purposes with no obligation to pay any fees to the designers. Moreover, the Competition Organization Committee is entitled to the copyrights of all photos and videos of performing events and participating works. It also has the right to duplicate in any form the photos and videos for future promotional use. Institutions and individuals need to obtain the approval from the Competition Organization Committee before they plan to use the participating works for show, issuance, or publication, and are prohibited from using them for other contests. When the finals are over, the participating garments shall be returned to owners and the prize-winning garments shall be retained by the Committee at cost. Exceptions are granted only after consultations with contestants.
8. Works submitted should be exclusively for this competition and not copies of others’ designs. No pieces that have been published are allowed in the competition and no garments that are on the market for sale, including modified ones, can be used either. All such works, including prize winners, will become ineligible upon discovery and be subject to the penalty of law. Contestants shall be held responsible should the issue of intellectual property rights arise, and the Competition Organization Committee shall take no responsibility in any such disputes. Complaints should be reported to the Competition Organization Committee.
9. Contestants shall be responsible for the shipping and insurance of their works sent to the United States. The manufacturing and fabrics of the works in the finals shall also be paid by contestants. The Competition Organization Committee will exercise the utmost care in handling participating works, but in case there is any damage or loss, the Committee shall not be held responsible.
10. Committee staff and their relatives are not eligible to participate in the competition in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Rules and Regulations of Competition. Designers of the title sponsors are not allowed to participate in the competition.

Competition Dates

1. Deadline for submission of sketches: July 7th, 2008
2. Preliminary assessments: The sketches will be assessed and letters of admittance into the next round will be sent out no later by July 15th, 2008. Measurements for participating garments will be included in the letters.
3. Deadline for submission of participating garments: September 20, 2008.
4. Semi-finals, Final & Award Ceremony: October 19th, 2008:
   The Prince George Ballroom
   15 East 27th Street, New York City, NY 10016, USA

Assessments

1. Works submitted must meet content requirements and reflect the theme and purpose set by the Competition Organization Committee. They have to be practical, creative, and reflective of the concept of the Han couture culture and of traditional artistic value. Materials used must match and be harmonious.
2. Judging Criteria:
   
   • Chinese Cultural Connotation: 20%
   • Integration of Modern Design and Practicability: 20%
   • Creativity and Artistry: 20%
   • Reflection of Competition Theme and Ideology: 20%
   • Production Technique and Material Selection: 20%

Awards

1. The Formal/Business Attire and the Casual Wear categories will each have one gold award, one silver award, one bronze award, several outstanding awards, and four specialized awards (Awards for the best concept, best sketching, best craftsmanship, and best garment matching).
2. There will be a $ 10,000 USD reward for gold winners, $ 5,000 USD for silver winners, $ 2,000 USD for bronze winners, $ 500 USD for outstanding award winners, and $ 2,000 USD for specialized award winners. All winners will receive certificates of awards and trophies from NTDTV.

Accommodation and Transportation

1. The Competition Organization Committee will recommend hotels in New York City for contestants and those accompanying them.
2. Contestants and their entourage shall pay for their own accommodation and transportation.

Miscellaneous

1. The contestant is regarded as agreeing with the rules of the competition once he/she submits his/her works.
2. The contestant is to comply with all arrangements made by the Competition Organization Committee. The Committee reserves the right to disqualify a contestant and retrieve the award if the contestant is found in breach of the Committee’s arrangements.
3. The decision of the panel of judges is final, and no appeals shall be taken.
4. The Competition Organization Committee is the ultimate authority to interpret the rules of the competition and has the right to make changes in the Rules and Regulations of the Competition.