Contests for emerging designers are quickly becoming the springboards for many a lucrative and successful career. With new competitions being developed every year, these events give emerging and independent designers a chance to get their work in front of some of the most influential members of the international fashion community. Major labels such as Diesel, Fendi, Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs have all sponsored such competitions and regularly use them as a scouting ground to bring in new talent. Here are our picks for respected competitions that could be your big break. The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund One of the most influential and coveted prizes in the fashion industry, this is the prize to aim for. Award recipients are selected by a committee of industry experts that varies by competition. Competitors are chosen based on the exceptional talent they have already demonstrated in the fashion industry and their capacity for future growth. The winner receives a $300,000 investment in their business plus one year of mentoring by industry professionals to help them take their business to the next level. Two runners-up will receive $100,000 as well as a year of mentorship. Previous winner Michael Colovos now designs for Helmut Lang, while fellow alumnus Alexander Wang has expanded his business exponentially. CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Prize The CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge is an award competition that identifies and celebrates the greatest American designers working in the realm of sustainable fashion. Founded in 2010 as a response to both the CFDA and Lexus’ commitment to sustainable practices, the Award is given to designers who best demonstrate their commitment to ecologically responsible and sustainable design, operation and production. Lexus will award one grand prize of $75,000 and two prizes of $5,000 to help increase the winning designers’ sustainable practices, and the promotion of sustainability in the American fashion industry. Previous winners have included Natalie Chanin, the designer behind the chic label ‘Alabama Chanin'. LVMH Prize Launched in November 2013, the LVMH Prize has been created to reveal and support young fashion designers. Each year, the LVMH Prize will recognize a young designer and three graduates of fashion schools. The Young Fashion Designers competition is open to designers from every country who have produced at least two collections and who are under 40. To help them develop their creative work, LVMH will give winners a grant of 300,000 euros as well as personalized technical and financial support from the Group for a 12-month period following the LVMH Prize award. The jury includes the creative directors behind Fendi, Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. Saul Bell Design Award The Saul Bell Design Award competition is open to jewelers and hollowware artists from across the globe, and is one of the industry's most respected international jewelry competitions. Winning it helps propel jewelers to new heights in their careers and new levels of recognition and acclaim for their work. First and second place winning pieces are promoted through a variety of media and industry events, including display in the exclusive Plumb Club during the 2015 JCK, Las Vegas show. The only requirement is that the designer possesses a mastery of their craft and an original point of view. The final design must be wearable jewellery and it must be your original design. Previous winners have included Erik Stewart, Eva Martin and Ryan Roberts. International Woolmark Prize The International Woolmark Prize recognises outstanding rising fashion labels. Regional competitions are held around the world to choose finalists for the award, judged by high profile industry figures during the international autumn/winter collection shows. Each regional finalist receives an AU$50,000 cash sponsorship and the opportunity to compete in the IWP final. The overall winner receives an AU$100,000 sponsorship, with their winning collection stocked in more than a dozen of the world’s most prestigious fashion retailers. Judges include fashion greats such as Alexander Wang, Angela Missoni and Anita Barr.