INQUIRER Lifestyle, LOOK magazine, with the British Council and SM Aura, will present the sixth annual LOOK of Style Awards (Losa) on March 31 at SM Aura.

The contest among young and upcoming fashion designers has just upped the ante this year. The two winners—in fashion design and accessories design—will be sent to a short course at the prestigious Istituto Marangoni in London, through arrangements made by the British Council.

Losa is the only fashion design contest in the Philippines that has been sending its winners to London design schools for a brief learning stint.

This year’s theme is, “I am a Filipino designer.”

Participants can express through their clothes and accessories what makes them a Filipino designer. They can show their Filipino identity in their choice of materials, silhouette or construction, and influences.

The influences can range, for instance, from a historic event to a work of art, book, to indigenous materials.

Participants must e-mail the  sketches and photos of three designs and biodata to [email protected].

Deadline is March 21.

From these entries, a shortlist of participants will be made by the Inquirer Lifestyle staff, who will present their works on the week of March 22.

From among these, 10 finalists will be chosen on March 30, in preparation for the awarding of the two winners on March 31.

Started in 2010 by Inquirer Lifestyle, LOOK and the British Council, Losa has sent  the winners to Central Saint Martins (exposure to classes) and the Sheffield Hallam University (accessories design).

Winners through the years were Pablo Cabahug, Geof Gonzales, Roland Alzate, Rei Escario, Vina Romero and, for accessories, Neil Felipp and Nere Ku.

They now have thriving careers in the fashion industry.