1 Introduction

Symbiotic Visions brings together the art of fashion illustration and the concept of symbiosis, where creativity, identity, and culture seamlessly coexist and evolve. This exhibition highlights how fashion illustration acts as a visual dialogue between the human form, the cultural landscape, and the imagined future of fashion. By showcasing a diverse range of artistic interpretations, Symbiotic Visions explores how illustrators capture the intricate connections between design, identity, and the ever-changing world of fashion.

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Each illustration presented in the exhibition offers a distinct vision of fashion as an interconnected system, where the aesthetic and conceptual elements of design, tradition, and innovation live in harmony. The works reflect how fashion can transcend mere trends and become a living, evolving expression of cultural narratives and individual stories.

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Through the lens of fashion illustration, Symbiotic Visions invites the viewer to engage with fashion not just as an external form, but as a deeply intertwined force that reflects and shapes our personal, cultural, and social symbiosis.

2 ORGANIZERS AND PARTNERS

| Organisers |

SUSFUTURE

University of Novi Sad​​ 

World Textile University Alliance (WTUA)

Global Sustainable Fashion Week (GSFW)

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| Co-organiser |

Shenzhen Futian District Fashion, Culture and Art Development Promotion Association

Belt and Road Institute (BRI)

Hubei Provincial Key Research Institute of Fashion ＆ Art

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| Executive Organiser |

Technical Faculty "Mihajlo Pupin", University of Novi Sad​​

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| Special Partners |​​​​​

​Textile Science & Economy XIV

BODY

France–China Fashion Industry Exchange and Cooperation Association

National Fashion League Hungary Association​

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| Academic Partner |

International Education Center, Donghua University

Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, Donghua University

School of Design, University of Leeds

Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University

University of Donja Gorica (UDG)

Fashion Management of Business Administration Department, Takming University of Science and Technology

Department of Fashion Industry Management, Hsing Wu University

College of Textile Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology​​

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| Academic Supporters |

Aalto University, Amirkabir University of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology, Cambodian Garment Training Institute, Dalian Polytechnic University, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles ENSAIT, FIJI National University, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Kulob Institute of Technology and Innovation Management, Mongolian University of Science and Technology, Moi University, National Textile University, Quanzhou Normal University, Qingdao University, Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences, Soochow University, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Suez Canal University, Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry, The Royal University of Fine Arts, Tibet University, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, University of Edinburgh, University of Gezira, University of Westminster, Uzbek Research Institute of Natural Fibers, Wuhan Textile University, Xi'an Polytechnic University, Xinjiang University, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Zhongyuan University of Technology.​​

3 IMPORTANT DATE & LOCATION 

| Date |

• Application deadline: 1 April 2026 (Closed)

• Notification of acceptance: 7 April 2026​ (Only successful applicants will be notified via email.)

• Exhibition period 1: 21 April - 20 May 2026

• Exhibition period 2: Autumn/Winter 2026 (dates to be announced in Shenzhen)

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| Location |

• Onsite 1: Glass Pavilion Gallery, Rectorate Building, The University of Novi Sad, Serbia

• Onsite 2: Shenzhen, China (venue to be announced)

• Online: SUSFUTURE & SUSFUTUREWEAVE & BODYNEWS

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Note: These illustrations will be displayed according to the specific conditions of each location and the characteristics of the works.

4 ELIGIBILITY

Open to individuals and teams worldwide, including both professional and student categories.

| Professional category |

Artists, designers, practitioners, educators, and other professionals in the field with experience and expertise.

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| Student category | 

Students currently enrolled in an associate degree program or higher (valid proof of enrollment required).

5  THEMES & CATEGORIES

| Themes |

The Art of Fashion as Expression / From Sketch to Style / Fashion in Motion / Cultural Visions in Fashion Illustration / Futuristic Fashion / Symbiotic Visions

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| Categories |
Traditional Fashion Illustration / Digital Fashion Illustration / Runway Illustrations / Conceptual Fashion Illustration / etc.

6 WHAT TO SUBMIT

• ONE artwork per applicant.

• Images: 1 JPG fashion illustration.

• Registration Form [Click here to download]

• Profile Picture of designer: high-resolution portrait of the applicant.

• A Photo of Student ID (for student category).

Note. The exhibition is presented via images; no physical objects will be collected.

7 IMAGE REQUIREMENTS

| Format & Size |

JPG, 300 dpi (300 ppi for print); 

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| Quality |

No collage/watermark/border/text overlay.

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| File Naming |

• Artwork images: Surname_Illustration title.jpg
  Example: Lee_Fashionillustration.jpg

• Portrait: Surname_Profile.jpg

• Student ID (if applicable): Surname_ID.jpg

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| Copyright & Usage |
The creator/designer must hold the copyright for the images and authorise the organiser to use these images for the exhibition and publicity, with credit given and without additional payment. By applying for participation, applicants confirm they hold the copyright of their submitted illustrations and agree to grant the organisers permission to use them free of charge for exhibition and any subsequent promotional and publicity purposes. Applicants must ensure they have all necessary rights and permissions for the submitted artwork, including any third-party content, and that the use of the images complies with relevant legal standards.

8 SUBMISSION PROCESS

| Prepare Files |
Registration Form / Artwork Images / Profile / Student ID (if any)

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| Email |
Send all the files to exhibition@susfuture.org
Subject: IIE_ApplicantSurname_IllustrationTitle

e.g. IIE_Davide_Flower

9 FEES & PAYMENT 

| Fee |

After your work has been selected through the review process, you will be notified and need to pay the registration fee to confirm your participation.

The fee structure is as follows:

• Professional category: EUR 20

• Student category: EUR 15

​​| Remittance Information |
After your work is selected, we will notify you of the payment method for the exhibition participation fee.

10 JUROR & AWARDS

All selected participants will receive an exhibition certificate. In addition, both Professional and Student categories will have 10 awards each, with electronic certificates for the winners.

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| Awards include |

• Professional Category:

  • Best Creative Concept Award

  • Best Technical Execution Award

  • Best Fashion Narrative Award

  • Best Digital Illustration Award

  • Best Art and Fashion Fusion Award

  • Best Fashion Portrait Award

  • Best Futuristic Fashion Award

  • Best Cross-Cultural Fusion Award

  • Best Visual Impact Award

  • Best Overall Creation Award

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• Student Category:

  • Best Creative Concept Award

  • Best Technical Execution Award

  • Best Fashion Expression Award

  • Best Digital Illustration Award

  • Best Cultural Fusion Award

  • Future Fashion Vision Award

  • Best Illustration Style Award

  • Best Hand-Drawn Illustration Award

  • Most Socially Impactful Award

  • Most Innovative Spirit Award

| Additional Benefits |

• Media Coverage and Exposure:

All selected participants will be featured on BODY (https://bodynews.com.tw/), SUSFUTURE (www.susfuture.org) and related media outlets, with interviews and detailed coverage in both Chinese and international media. Additionally, SUSFUTURE and SUSFUTURE.WEAVES's Instagram will also showcase the exhibition and its participants.

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• Other Exhibition Opportunities:

All applicants will be recommended for other fashion illustration or related exhibitions held or co-organised in Taipei and Shenzhen throughout 2026. These opportunities will offer waived participation fees, allowing selected illustrators to showcase their works in additional prominent events. Further details on these exhibitions will be shared with the selected participants.

11 TERMS & CONDITIONS

| Submission Guidelines |

1. Submission is open to individuals of all nationalities, ages, genders, ethnicities, and religions.

2. The applicant(s) must confirm that they hold all intellectual property rights (including moral rights) to their submitted works and have the full legal right to submit the work for exhibition purposes.

3. All artworks must be submitted digitally in compliance with the submission requirements.

4. Application for artwork submission in the exhibition requires payment of an application fee.

5. No refunds will be issued after payment of the application fee.

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| Content Guidelines |

1. Submissions that violate applicable laws, regulations, or infringe upon third-party rights (including but not limited to copyrights, trademarks, and privacy rights) will not be accepted.

2. The selection of artworks will be based on the evaluation criteria set by the organizers and the jury, including size, theme, and technical specifications. All decisions made by the organizers and jury regarding placement and exhibition are final and not subject to appeal.

3. The organizers will not provide feedback or critique on the evaluation results of any artworks.

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| Copyright and Usage |

1. Applicants grant the organizers the right to use submitted images, videos, and textual information in promotional materials, publications, websites, and media outlets related to the exhibition, both during and after the event.

2. Applicants must certify that they hold the copyright for all submitted works and any related materials (including images, text, etc.) and that they have the legal right to grant these usage rights.

3. Applicants certify that all submitted works are original, do not infringe upon any existing copyrights, and that they have obtained all necessary rights, including model releases for any images featuring individuals.

4. The exhibition organizers and management shall not be held liable for any legal disputes related to copyright, intellectual property, or any other legal matters concerning the exhibited works. Applicants agree to indemnify and hold harmless the organizers against any legal claims.

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The event organizers and curatorial team hold the final interpretation of these terms and conditions. In case of any discrepancies between versions, the English version shall prevail. Participants are strongly advised to review the English version for accuracy and completeness.