The British Council in the Philippines is looking for UK university or institution partners for the Look of Style Awards 2015, to be held this coming November 2015.

The Look of Style Awards is an annual fashion competition running on its 6^th year and is delivered in partnership with the most widely read broadsheet newspaper in the Philippines, the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI). The event will be under PDI’s LOOK Magazine, a subscription-based bi-monthly premium fashion and lifestyle glossy magazine.

The competition will highlight the creations of young designers from all over the country under two categories – apparel and accessories design. An open call will be made in September followed by three regional selections – one for each island group of the country. Ten finalists for each category will be selected and invited to the finals night in Manila in November. The finalists get advice and mentoring from academics from UK partners on the week of the finals. 

The Philippine Daily Inquirer ensures substantial media mileage for the event and the partners on both print and digital media. Their newspaper alone has more than 2.7 million readers daily and the lifestyle section is always the heavily advertised section due to its readership. The PR value delivered last year was estimated at GBP 55,000 and an ad value worth GBP 20,000. As an extra mileage, the UK university partner in 2014 had a post-event feature as the host for the weeklong course for the winners of the competition.

The UK university partner last year facilitated a packed week for the winners including mentoring sessions, fashion exhibits and guided visits to fashion districts in London.

Participation Cost

Major Partner (2 Slots; 1 per award category) –  GBP 2500

The UK partner will host one of the two (2) category winners at the institution for a short course of up to a week in February 2016. The UK institution will be able to choose its preferred category to sponsor, whether the apparel or accessory design, on a first come, first served basis.

The visa fees, subsistence, return flights to and accommodation in the UK will be covered by the British Council.

In exchange, the UK university partner will be able to:

1. send an academic to be part of the judging panel for the finals and/or deliver a 1-day workshop for the finalists of the chosen category before or after the event;
2. take advantage of secondary billing on promo materials including event print and online media advertisements;
3. display up to two banners and distribute brochures or publications about the institution and relevant programmes at the venue of the finals night;
4. get live acknowledgements as a Major Partner during the finals night;
5. have mentions in at least four (4) press releases in the Philippine Daily Inquirer;
6. have a post-event feature in the Philippine Daily Inquirer when the sponsored winner returns from attending the course at the partner institution.

British Council can arrange for local printing of promo materials, banners, brochures, and the like; with printing cost passed on to the partner.