Grand Sport Group Co., Ltd., one of Thailand’s longest-established and most successful sporting products companies, recognizes the importance of creative expression in the world of sports apparel. Which is why, for the seventh consecutive year, the company is hosting the annual Grand Sport Young Designer Contest to provide design students nationwide with a creative platform and the practical training in design and production that will help them break into the sports apparel industry.

With Grand Sport reaching its 50^th anniversary milestone this year, Sustainable Way of Life was chosen as the theme of the contest. Contestants are invited to present their perspective on how to achieve a sustainable way of life not only for themselves but for those around them and the environment as well. For its part, Grand Sport believes that by learning from the past and doing one’s best in the present, one ensures a bright and sustainable future.

The contest has reached the final round, with 14 young designers competing for the top prize, seven each in the men’s and women’s apparel categories. The final results will be announced on Thursday, April 21 at Crystal Design Center, by Ramintra-Ajnarong Expressway.

Thiti Pluckchaoom, Grand Sport Group’s general director and chairman of the contest’s organizing committee, says that the contest’s main objective is to encourage design students to take an interest in sports. This goal has proven to be self-fulfilling as contestants need to research the sport they are designing for. What the young designers gain from participating in the contest is much more than the cash prize, he says, as they have the opportunity to develop their creative ideas and expression, learn to live in a group and accept others’ work, and most importantly, they have the chance to become friends with their peers from different colleges and universities.

“As Grand Sport is celebrating our 50^th anniversary this year, we wanted this contest to bring forth creative expressions on the theme “Sustainable Way of Life,” says Thiti. “This is not merely a talent competition; our goal is to select the young designers who represent the best all-around at this point in time. Everything will be taken into account, from their work to their personality and presentation skills, to how they talk and conduct themselves. Because we believe that these students are at an age where they can best learn and acquire knowledge and use that knowledge to improve themselves, we want to give them things that will benefit them the most. We hope that these young designers will take what the organizing team gives them as an experience that cannot be learned in a classroom.”

More than 226 entries were sent in from around the country, of which 14 were shortlisted for the final round, equally divided between the men’s and women’s apparel categories.

7^th Grand Sport Young Designer Contest Finalists: Men’s Sports Apparel:

Sanya Klomkled, architecture and design major, Faculty of Industrial Education, King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. Entry: “Green, Ecology and Sustainable” mountain climbing wear inspired by green architecture.

Ekapan Pimpatee, product design major, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Udonthani Rajabhat University. Entry: “Buddha Effect” jogging wear, inspired by Buddhist scripture.

Donlanan Noppakuat, fashion design major, Faculty of Home Economics Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi. Entry: “Live with Love” racing wear inspired by rhinoceros hornbills.

Vorapol Suporn, visual design-fashion major, Faculty of Fine Arts, Srinakharinwirot University. Entry: “AIDS” jogging wear inspired by HIV patients.

Kajohnsak Chamcheye, fashion design and fashion business major, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Dhurakij Pundit University. Entry: “Thai Race DNA” tennis wear inspired by the Thai spirit of mutual help and support.

Thanawat Chantrasri, textile science major, Faculty of Agro-Industry, Kasetsart University. Entry: “ECO-AWARENESS” tennis wear inspired by the relationship between humans, society and the environment.

Piyaporn Saysan, textile and fashion design major, Faculty of Textile Industry, Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep. Entry: “STOS” golf wear inspired by the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces.

7^th Grand Sport Young Designer Contest Finalists: Women’s Sports Apparel

Soravit Kaewkamon, fashion design major, Faculty of Decorative Arts, Silpakorn University. Entry: “Butterfly Story” dance sport apparel inspired by butterflies.

Jantamas Nilodom, fashion major, Department of Creative Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University. Entry: “Slow Movement” swimwear inspired by the unique characteristics of insects.

Nantaporn Varavatvijit, visual communication design major, Rajamangala University of Technology, Poh-Chang Campus. Entry: “Bird of Peace” gymnastic wear inspired by The Story of Sadako.

Siripim Poonsombat, fashion design major, Department of Creative Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University. Entry: “Thainess” yogawear inspired by traditional Thai motifs.

Tanissara Mahakittikun, fashion design major, Department of Creative Arts, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University. Entry: “C.H.A.I.N” extreme sport wear inspired by the structure of chains.

Yutthasin Pongkaew, product design major, Faculty of Architecture, Naresuan University. Entry: “A Sustainable Life” tennis wear inspired by turtles.

Sarun Pothacharoen, communication design major, Faculty of Fine Arts, Srinakharinwirot University. Entry: “Love is Colour Blind” extreme sport wear inspired by the blind.

In the final round contestants are required to present their finished work, worn by models, to audiences and the jury, in order to show that sports apparel can be aesthetically pleasing and that their designs are wearable in real life. Each entry will be judged on the criteria of design components, creativity, the connection between design and concept, and utility. Prizes will be given for the Men’s and Women’s Sports Apparel categories, details as follows:

• The title winners will each receive a trophy from HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, a 30,000 baht scholarship, and a Rotring product
• The runner-up in each category will receive a trophy, a 15,000 baht scholarship, and a Rotring product
• Winners of the five Awards of Excellence will each receive a trophy, a 10,000 baht scholarship, and a Rotring product

 As long as young designers continue to dream of participating in a creative competition, Grand Sport Young Designer Contest will continue to provide them with a platform where they can fulfill their dreams and develop their design abilities.