JD Design Awards 2026 Wraps Up in Mumbai With Four Days of Fashion, Mentorship, and Emerging Design Talent

The Mumbai edition of JD Design Awards 2026, organised by JD Institute of Fashion Technology, has officially closed after four days celebrating creativity, innovation, and design excellence. Students, industry leaders, buyers, and design enthusiasts turned out in numbers to celebrate the work of the city's aspiring designers.

The Stock Room: Where Design Meets Commerce

Kicking off the festivities was The Stock Room, an exhibit that quickly became a favourite among visitors and buyers alike. The concept gave young designers a chance to actually sell their work and get a real taste of the commercial side of the fashion business — a rare, hands-on experience for students still finding their footing in the industry.

Mozez Singh's Message to Aspiring Designers

Renowned designer and filmmaker Mozez Singh also addressed the students during the event, drawing on his own creative journey to encourage them to embrace individuality in their work. On the power of self-expression through fashion, he said:

“Fashion helps you express yourself and figure out who you are.”

Honoring Excellence: The Felicitation Ceremony

On 22nd July, JD Institute held a certificate felicitation ceremony to recognise students for their standout projects, marking a moment to celebrate the creativity and effort that had gone into their work over the preceding months.

The Grand Finale: A Fashion Show for the Ages

The four-day celebration reached its peak on 23rd July with a fashion show at St. Andrews Auditorium, directed by internationally acclaimed fashion choreographer Marc Robinson. The evening opened with a keynote from celebrity fashion designer Juhi Shah, known for her bridal design work with the Tendulkar family, who offered a simple but memorable observation on the industry:

“Every month is a new season for fashion.”

Sustainable fashion entrepreneur Henna Shah, founder of Jeevit, also took the stage to speak with the audience about building a business rooted in purpose:

“Entrepreneurship is all about innovation and accepting challenges.”

37 Collections, One Shared Vision

The showcase brought finalist student designers together with 37 collections, each rooted in Indian art and craft but reimagined through a contemporary lens. Tasked with blending the past and present in a visually compelling way, every collection wove together storytelling and craftsmanship, backed by industry sponsorship and collaborations with Spotlight and Charter. In total, the Mumbai edition of JD Design Awards brought together 1,334 participants, further widening the platform's reach in connecting emerging designers with the industry.

Leadership Behind the Vision

The event was held under the guidance of Mr. Yogesh Dalal, Trustee, and Dr. Payal Dalal, Director of JD Institute of Fashion Technology, whose continued vision has helped shape the next generation of designers.

Reflecting on the successful close of the Mumbai edition, Mr. Rinesh Dalal, Director, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, said:

“JD Design Awards is a celebration of our students' creativity, passion, and journey as emerging designers. The Mumbai edition provided the opportunity to present months of hard work on a professional platform and take an important step in their creative journey. Seeing them become confident young designers is immensely rewarding for all of us at JD Institute of Fashion Technology. My message to every aspiring designer is: enjoy the process, believe in your ideas and never stop creating.”