We are seeking handkerchief designs from around the world.
We are a specialty handkerchief brand based in Japan.
CLASSICS the Small Luxury was launched in 2003 with the concept of "Quiet luxury in the palm of your hand." We are a handkerchief specialty store that utilizes the know-how cultivated by our parent company, Blooming Nakanishi, established in 1879, combining inherited techniques and craftsmanship with modern sensibility to create original designs each season.
To date, we have brought many handkerchiefs to the world in collaboration with numerous artists both inside and outside Japan.
We are constantly pursuing ways to expand the new appeal and potential of the handkerchief through the power of design.
With the hope of supporting artists' activities and making design more intimate to people, we established the "CLASSICS the Small Luxury Design Award" in 2020.
■The 6th Annual "CLASSICS the Small Luxury Design Award 2026" Design Theme
Design Theme "YUM YUM"
Give form to your unique sense of "deliciousness."
The moments we feel something is "delicious" are as numerous as the people in the world.
For example, it might be the dining scene unfolding beyond the steam. It could be a memory from childhood, wrapped in gentle sweetness. Sometimes, our heart simply melts from a scent that passes our nose.
"Deliciousness" can be a color, a sound, or even someone's gesture. It is something felt not only by taste, but by all five senses.
Why not take what "YUM YUM" means to you, as an individual sensibility, and express it in the form of a handkerchief?
■Application Period
November 3, 2025 (Mon) – January 31, 2026 (Sat) (Japan Standard Time)
■Prizes
・Grand Prix
Cash Prize: ¥100,000 (approx. US$663)
Commercialization: The design will be commercialized and sold at CLASSICS the Small Luxury directly managed stores, online shops, and other authorized retailers.
・Runner-up
Cash Prize: ¥30,000 (approx. US$199)
Commercialization: The design will be commercialized and sold at CLASSICS the Small Luxury directly managed stores, online shops, and other authorized retailers.
* The cash prize will be paid after deducting taxes such as withholding tax and special income tax for reconstruction. * The amounts displayed in US dollars were calculated at the time of posting. The prize money will be calculated based on the amount displayed in Japanese yen, using the exchange rate at the time of payment. (For applications from outside Japan)
・Jury Special Award
Award: The winning design will be manufactured as a handkerchief and presented to the winner.
* Selected through discussion when recommended by the judges. (There may be no eligible work chosen.)
■. Submission Details
Handkerchief design (45 × 45 cm square)
File Type: JPEG
File Name: Please submit using the format: "Your Name_Artwork Title" (e.g., JaneDoe_SpringGarden)
Size: 5315 pixels × 5315 pixels
Resolution: 300 dpi
Color Mode: RGB
File Size: Within 6 MB
Note: Hard copies will not be accepted.
■Eligibility
The contest is open to companies, organizations, individuals, or groups, regardless of age, gender, occupation, or nationality. Submitted works must be unreleased, domestically and internationally. Applicants must agree to the commercialization of their winning design.
Please refer to the brand's official website for detailed application guidelines.
https://classics-the-small-luxury.com/en/blogs/news/classics-the-small-luxury-design-award-2026
