The Patterns for Performance Award

The Patterns for Performance award encourages students to design a period garment for a character in a performance.

The Patterns for Performance Award was launched in 2019 for students to design a period garment for a character in a performance. 

The Awards are an important part of the Costume Society’s output that promotes the high standard of craft and artistry that they produce. The Awards are an annual competition and the finalists are announced in July at our AGM.

On Saturday 4th July, the Costume Society announced the Patterns of Fashion and Patterns for Performance 2026 award winners at the Society’s Annual General Meeting held at Trinity Chapel, De Montfort University, Leicester. For more details see our 2026 awards page.

Our 2026/27 cycle of awards is now open for applications.

This award is open to students studying on costume and fashion-related education courses that involve the design and realisation of a performance costume, AND recent graduates who may enter work up to 18 months after graduation. All work entered for the award must be completed as part of a formal education course or as personal, unpaid, research and development in the period immediately after graduation. This award recognises the presence of Janet Arnold's work in design for performance costume and encourages the artistic interpretation and adaptation of the patterns published in the Patterns of Fashion books. This award also accepts entries from costume designers and makers who have adapted historic patterns published by Norah Waugh. 

Be sure to check out our YouTube channel to see videos from all of our past award winners and finalists.

An award of £1500 is given to the winner, with £1000 for the highly commended, and £500 for the runner up. For details of eligibility and application forms see below.

Key deadlines: 

Application forms must be submitted by 12pm on 8th December 2026.

Full entry including photographs of all design work, research and development work, the final garment  and the completed image release form should be submitted by 12pm on 31st March 2027.

If you have any questions you can email the Patterns for Performance Award Team  

Please submit your applications via the dedicated Google Form.

See the dedicated guidance notes for guidance on applying as well as our Research Guide.