From discovering young designers to helping them find jobs: Evezary's 18th year of support

[Financial News]

Evezary is stepping up its efforts to nurture design talent, supporting young designers from discovery through hands-on experience and the presentation of their work. Going beyond simply sponsoring competitions, it offers emerging designers opportunities to enter the industry through hiring-linked internships, design consulting and other programs.
 According to industry sources on the 19th, Evezary has sponsored the Korea Textile Design Contest—which is being held for the 37th time this year—for 18 consecutive years. Organized by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Textile Design Association, the competition aims to discover emerging designers and broaden the base of the textile design industry.
 Evezary has participated as a sponsor every year since 2009, presenting a special award. In particular, it supports award winners in gaining practical experience by offering hiring-linked internships, design consulting and other opportunities.
 Award winners who take part in the internships experience the entire process, from planning designs for Evezary bedding to bringing them to market. With guidance from practicing designers, they can learn how their designs are developed into actual products and gain insight into consumer demand.
 This year's Evezary Design Research Institute Award went to student Jeong Arisol for the work, “Dreams Connected.” It received high marks for its original ideas and the feasibility of realizing the design using materials and processing technologies.
 Beyond sponsoring competitions, Evezary also supports emerging artists' creative work and opportunities to present it.
Through the Baekhap Cultural Foundation, established in 2021, Evezary holds exhibitions at Evezary Gallery in Samseong-dong, Seoul, giving emerging artists opportunities to showcase their work. From July to October this year, it provided the gallery as an offline hub for the “2026 Craft Connect Support Project,” organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Through the project, it supported exhibitions of works by 17 emerging and mid-career craft artists from across the country and helped expand their sales channels.
 Its efforts to nurture talent also extend to scholarships. Evezary has contributed to raising funds for the Baegun Baekhap Scholarship Foundation and provides scholarships to students pursuing their studies in financially difficult circumstances, as well as to children of military personnel, police officers and firefighters.
 Ko Hyun-joo, director of the Evezary Design Research Institute, said, “Having seen firsthand how giving young designers their first platform strengthens the industry, we have taken part in the Textile Design Contest for many years.” She added, “We will continue looking for more ways to ensure Evezary's support reaches the next generation—not only designers, but artists and students as well.”

[email protected] Kim Hyun-cheol Reporter