Only Natural announced the winners of its international student design competition at the Material Matters Fair, part of London Design Festival (13-21 September 2025). The seven winning entries from around the world showcase the beauty and functionality of natural materials such as wood, leather, hemp and wool.
Only Natural was established to highlight the environmental crisis created by synthetic, non-biodegradable materials and to promote organic alternatives. It is supported by natural fibre trade bodies, including the Leather & Hide Council of America, American Hardwood Export Council, American Wool Council, National Industrial Hemp Council, Mohair Council of America and American Softwoods (incorporating the Softwood Export Council).
This year’s competition winners, chosen from some 350 entries, share a common thread of technical innovation combined with environmental consciousness. Each demonstrates a sophisticated application of natural materials, from innovative seaweed-based footwear to unique vases made from urushi, a natural lacquer derived from trees, and mycelium.
Grant Gibson, design writer, founder of Material Matters and Only Natural judge, said: “We’re witnessing a fundamental transformation in how emerging designers approach materials. The quality of work we’ve seen this year goes far beyond replacing synthetic with natural – these students are reimagining entire design processes around regenerative principles. It’s exactly the kind of innovative thinking we want to platform at Material Matters London.”
Kerry Brozyna, President of the Leather & Hide Council of America, speaking on behalf of the competition’s natural fiber partners, added: “The natural fibers industry is energized by this level of student engagement. These designers aren’t just using natural materials – they’re pushing boundaries. When we see cow horn being transformed into contemporary jewellery or vegetable-tanned leather elevated to modern lifestyle accessories, we know the future of our industries is in capable hands.”
Introducing the Only Natural 2025 winners:
- Apparel winner: Touch Wood by Mor Elfassy. A womenswear collection that blends tradition with innovation, using traditional materials such as wood, leather and wool.
- Accessories winner: Along the Grain – Tracing Moments of Transition by Orla Reilly. A collection of jewelry and wearable sculptures crafted from natural materials, including responsibly sourced cow horn and recycled sterling silver.
- Footwear winner: Biological Footprint by Evelina Lavergren. An innovative footwear project that uses a sustainable biomaterial from seaweed, designed to promote biodiversity and ecological restoration by using friction from walking to disperse seeds and nutrients.
- Furniture winner: At Thresholds by Le Phan Vu. A low-dining table that reimagines traditional Vietnamese furniture, made entirely from locally and responsibly harvested solid Macrocarpa, and free of metal components. The design honors the Vietnamese diasporic experiences in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
- Interiors winner: Symbiosis Garden by Yu Watanabe. A project exploring the synergy between craftsmanship and mass production by creating unique vases from urushi, a natural lacquer derived from trees, and mycelium.
- People’s Choice Fashion winner: Eternal Vitality by Bingbing Bai. This accessories collection highlights the artistry of Tuscan vegetable-tanned leather, a byproduct of the European meat and dairy industry, showcasing its natural beauty through handmade techniques.
- People’s Choice Home winner: Swivel by Sriya Reddy. Swivel is a table made from Natural Cherry Wood that responds to touch through subtle movement, creating a beautiful and functional object.