High School Division
Big ideas don’t have to wait until college.
What is the High School Division?
The NxGen High School Division gives students an opportunity to explore original ideas, challenge how things are done, and imagine new possibilities for the future of fashion and the industries connected to it.
Designed for students in Grades 9–12 or equivalent, the High School Division looks beyond traditional fashion design and invites participants to explore innovation through business, branding, technology, products, culture, sustainability, and social impact.
Students may begin with a problem they want to solve, an opportunity they have noticed, or simply a question about how something could work differently. NxGen provides a place to develop that thinking into an idea that can be shared and recognized.
You do not need professional experience or a finished business, product, or collection. What matters is the idea, the thinking behind it, and its potential to develop further.
Do I need to study fashion?
No. Fashion is the starting point for the conversation—not a limit on where your idea can go.
An NxGen project might explore a new business model, brand experience, technology, product, service, cultural perspective, sustainability challenge, community initiative, or another idea connected to how fashion is created, experienced, communicated, or understood.
Students from different interests and backgrounds are encouraged to bring what they know—and what they are curious about—into the conversation.
Can I participate with others?
Yes. You can develop your idea independently or bring different perspectives together as a team.
Students may participate individually or as a team of up to four students. Team members can bring different interests and strengths to the same idea—from business and technology to design, research, communication, culture, or social impact.
An adult Adviser is also required to support the participation process. A teacher or school representative is preferred, although other eligible adult Advisers may be permitted under the Competition requirements.
What could my idea become?
Start with a question. Explore the possibilities. Show us where your thinking could lead.
NxGen is not asking high school students to already have all the answers. The High School Division is designed to recognize original thinking, creative problem-solving, understanding, impact, and future potential.
Your project may begin as an early concept and develop through research, experimentation, reflection, and feedback. What matters is demonstrating why your idea is worth exploring and how it could contribute to what comes next.