CLASSICS the Small Luxury Design Award 2026 Winners Announcement
"CLASSICS the Small Luxury Design Award 2026" is a competition that invites handkerchief designs from around the world. For this sixth edition, we invited submissions under the theme "Yum Yum."
The submission period ran from November 3, 2025, to January 31, 2026. We received a total of 966 entries from 41 countries.
From these entries, a panel of six judges selected
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Grand Prix: 1 entry
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Second Prize: 2 entries
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Judges’ Special Award: 6 entries
"Yum Yum" designs gathered from around the world.
A wealth of highly original works born from the unique stories embedded in each one.
They are all designs that look delicious, are a joy to look at, and instinctively touch the heart.
We hope to continue bringing you great moments of inspiration born from the small world of handkerchiefs.
Award-Winning Entries
― Grand Prize (1 entry) ―
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Artist: Anna Spengler (Russia) Title: Sweet Immersion  |
| Judges’ Comments: The work was highly regarded for its accurate depiction of “satisfaction” and “deliciousness” through visual impact. The depiction evokes the sense of fulfillment after a meal, demonstrating a clear interpretation of the theme. Furthermore, building on motifs that evoke a breakfast scene, the act and sensation of dipping into milk are carefully rendered, lending a narrative quality to the work as a whole. Additionally, the composition featuring a character wearing a rice bowl—who is similarly “immersed”—serves as an element of humor and wit, giving the work a unique character. Furthermore, the design was highly praised for its excellence as a handkerchief, featuring beautiful colors and an appeal that makes one want to carry it daily. This work successfully balances visual enjoyment with functionality. |
― Second Grand Prize (2 entries) ―
| Artist: Kae Umetsu (Japan) Title: Power Rice Ball |
| Judges’ Comments: While using the onigiri—a traditional Japanese motif—as its subject, the work was highly praised for its excellence in color and composition. While grounded in a so-called “Japanese” color palette, the combination of colors such as maroon and blue-green is striking, and the work conveys a sense of visual power, including through the expressive brushstrokes used in the painting. In particular, the contrast in colors used for elements such as shrimp, nori, and rice was effective, and the work was praised for its overall ability to stimulate the appetite. Furthermore, the design—in which the same composition is repeated no matter which part of the composition is cropped—creates a sense of visual rhythm and stability. Furthermore, the design garnered support for its strong ability to intuitively convey the impression that “this looks delicious,” making it a simple yet highly compelling piece. It successfully balances practicality and design, evoking not only its use as a handkerchief but also as a wrapper for a bento box. |
| Artist: Poskochinova Maria (Russia) Title: The Secret Ingredient  |
| Jury Comments: When giving a handkerchief as a gift, we hope it conveys a variety of sentiments—and especially “warm feelings for the recipient.” This expression, in which such feelings serve as a secret ingredient melting into warm soup, felt like a work that perfectly suited the handkerchief as an item deeply rooted in the culture of gift-giving. |
The Grand Prix and Runner-up designs will be commercialized and sold at CLASSICS the Small Luxury’s flagship stores, online shop, and other participating retailers. The release date will be announced at a later time.
― Judges’ Special Award (6 entries)―
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Artist: Title: [Jury Comments] Takafumi Saito (Representative Director / Project Designer, Griffon Co., Ltd.) This handkerchief vividly evokes the exhilaration of summer through the contrast of red and green—colors that instantly bring to mind a watermelon. The unique perspective of depicting a watermelon with its right-angled corners cut off shines with playfulness and good taste.Furthermore, the decision to deliberately call it “Waterlandmelon” rather than “Watermelon”—though this may just be my own speculation—suggests an intention to evoke images of red beach umbrellas lined up on a red beach and green waves; it somehow overlaps with the scenery of a beach resort, making it a piece you’ll want to slip into your summer bag. |
 | Artist: Title [Judges’ Comments] Kanako Kajiwara (Representative Director, KAJIHARADESIGNSTUDIO Co., Ltd. / Textile Designer) The tempura ingredients are depicted as if floating, with a sensuous, ambiguous texture and soft color palette. The moment I saw this design, I felt a gentle sense of happiness, as if my mind were filling with delicious food. I believe this handkerchief will be a source of comfort, blending the warmth and happiness conveyed through food. |
 | Artist : Rio Kasai (Japan) 【Judges’ Comments】 The fishbone has a unique, cute, and appealing shape. Even though it’s been eaten, it makes you think, “That must have tasted good.” The cat’s pose also conveys a sense of fullness. The colors are vibrant, and it would look great as a scarf or as a decoration in a room. “ NYUM NYUM ” really captured my heart. It’s such a delicious-sounding word that I just want to keep saying it out loud. “Nyum Nyum … ” It’s exactly the kind of thing a cat might actually say. It’s literally a clever play on words I thought this was a piece. |
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Artist: [Judges’ Comments] I sensed a touch of madness within its relaxed feel, and this was the design I most wanted among all the entries. The title “Delicious Angle” is also appealing. Upon closer inspection, various faces, characters, and foods are freely arranged within frames representing different angles; yet, it never feels haphazard and works perfectly as a pattern—I felt the true power of design in this. It made me reconsider the depth of handkerchief design. |
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Artist: [Judges’ Comments] This was a work that sparked the imagination, with various intentions discernible in its background.I felt as though the depth of the five basic tastes and the fluidity of taste were expressed through rough waves, and perhaps the variety of cutlery—which changes depending on the meal—reflects today’s trend toward diversity… The more I looked at it, the more my imagination was sparked. I felt this was a work that demonstrated the infinite possibilities of expressing such a design on a handkerchief. |
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Author: [Judges’ Comments] This photograph evokes a scene from breakfast. By introducing a single ladybug into the scene, it becomes more than just a breakfast scene—it’s an image that connects us with nature and evokes a sense of nostalgia.For someone like me living in the city, it’s rare for a tiny visitor to appear at the breakfast table. The presence of this tiny visitor brings us back to our roots—reminding us that we must never forget our lives are part of the cycle of nature. This photograph made me realize just how enriching it is to have an environment where we can enjoy breakfast alongside such a tiny visitor. |
Kanako Kajiwara (Representative Director, KAJIHARADESIGNSTUDIO Co., Ltd. / Textile Designer)
Takafumi Saito (Representative Director, Griffon Co., Ltd. / Project Designer)
Kaoru Takai (Graphic Designer, Sun-Ad Co., Ltd.)
Tomohiro Nakayama (Graphic Designer, Sun-Ad Co., Ltd.)
Rintaro Yuge ( Director, Blooming Nakanishi Co., Ltd. )
Hajime Nakanishi (President and Director, Blooming Nakanishi Co., Ltd.)
Through CLASSICS the Small Luxury, we have released a series of handkerchiefs created in collaboration with numerous artists from Japan and abroad. We strive to expand the appeal and possibilities of handkerchiefs by infusing them with the power of design.To support artists’ work and foster a closer connection between people and design, we established the “CLASSICS the Small Luxury Design Award” in 2020.
