25 March 2026
We are thrilled to announce the results of the Design-A-Bag Competition 2026, which concluded with an exceptional Final Judging Ceremony on March 12 during APLF 2026 in Hong Kong. The judging panel has crowned Phan Nguyen Hoai Thuong from Vietnam as the overall winner for her inspiring and versatile creation, The Unbowed Bag—a symbol of endurance through chaos, representing strength, composure, and an unbowed spirit.
Design Concept
Video Demonstration
Remarkably, Hoai Thuong is a design student from Hoa Sen University, and The Unbowed Bag is actually her first-ever design, making her achievement all the more incredible. She is also the winner of the Design-A-Bag Vietnam Talent Edition held back in November during APLF ASEAN 2025. We are delighted to see her advance from the local stage to the global stage with such great success.
Hoai Thuong will receive an incredible prize package, including a 4-week Collection Development Design Course at Arsutoria School in Milan, valued at EUR 4,500, along with a EUR 1,000 accommodation allowance.
We are also pleased to announce our First Runner-Up, Zhuo Wei Si from China, for her practical yet functional creation, the Berlin Bag. Zhuo Wei Si will receive an 8-day training course at L.E.A.T.H.E.R Academy in Simona Tanning in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.
Congratulations to our Second Runner-Up as well, Nilgun Demirhan from Turkiye, with her innovative yoga bag, BELONGING. Talented and creative, she sculpted a bag that perfectly blends athleisure with her lifestyle.
All three finalists will be awarded USD 500 cash prize and a 1-year subscription to www.arstrends.com, to Trends Guide “ARSUTORIASTUDIO” valued at USD 550.
Lastly, congrats to our Facebook Online Favourite Design Winner, The Cogon Bag, by Arvie Valencia from United Arab Emirates, with over 400 likes, making it our most popular design in DAB2026 Polling.
This year’s competition benefited from a carefully curated judging panel that brought together diverse perspectives from across the fashion and leather industry. Each judge evaluated the entries through a unique lens, ensuring a comprehensive, versatile and balanced assessment. This multifaceted approach elevated the standard of judging and provided invaluable insights for all participants.
Congratulations to all of our winners and a sincere thank you to our dearest sponsors, as well as everyone who participated, supported, and witnessed this event—it would not be a success without you. DAB 2027 will tentatively open for entries in September this year, so stay tuned!
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