In a growing trend of cross-industry collaboration in sustainable luxury design, BMW has partnered with British Vogue [1] to celebrate emerging talent through their Future Creators Design Competition. This is the first collaboration of its kind between automotive and fashion design.
The competition invited aspiring designers, including students and recent graduates, to create pieces inspired by the sleek lines and pioneering technology of BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse vehicles. The judging panel, featuring London Fashion Week designer Simone Rocha, Vogue’s Julia Hobbs, and BMW’s Charlotte Kanters, selected three winners: Destiny Pinto, Joaquin Flores, and Selina Kwong. Each winner received £5,000 in development funding and mentorship at BMW’s Munich Design Studio.
Destiny Pinto reimagined assistive medical devices, transforming hearing aids from functional clinical aids into striking pieces of art. Merging utility and style, Pinto’s design was inspired by BMW’s signature kidney grille. “It’s 2024 – we want a definition of luxury which embraces everybody,” said Hobbs. “What she’s shown us is so intelligent; it’s inspired by her community, and the pieces look really incredible.”
Joaquin Flores used circular design principles to recycle automotive components into jewellery pieces, while Selina Kwong created high-fashion garments using recycled fishing nets—a material also featured in BMW’s Vision Neue Klasse vehicles.
The collaboration aligns with BMW’s broader strategy to incorporate more secondary materials in their vehicles from 2025, demonstrating sustainability innovations within both the automotive and fashion design industries. It showcases how sustainability is becoming increasingly intertwined with premium design across sectors, especially as circular design principles become as important as aesthetic appeal.
The winners’ work will be developed over the coming months, with their designs set to feature in British Vogue’s February 2025 issue. This competition underscores the increasing intertwining of sustainability and premium design, marking a shift in luxury design thinking.
Sources:
[1] BMW & British Vogue continue to champion emerging talent with Future Creators Design Competition.
