In a city long defined by cultural crossings and creative exchange, Trieste becomes the epicenter of fashion’s future as ITS Contest 2026 unveils a new generation of visionary designers. This year’s edition gathered ten emerging talents from across three continents, selected from more than 700 applicants spanning 74 countries—a testament to the global appetite for fresh perspective and fearless design.
ITS Contest & Jury, photo credit: G.Koren – Fondazione ITS
The selection of this year’s designers was guided by an international jury that reflects the breadth and depth of contemporary fashion culture. Bringing together leading voices from design, media, academia, and industry, the panel included figures such as Andrea Rosso, Carlo Capasa, Sara Sozzani Maino, Orsola de Castro, and Tom Eerebout, alongside creative directors, curators, critics, and digital commentators. Their collective perspective ensured a rigorous and multidimensional evaluation process, one that values not only technical skill and innovation but also storytelling, cultural awareness, and the ability to shape fashion’s evolving narrative.
At the heart of the moment is ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion, where the exhibition Rise and Shine opens on March 26, transforming the space into a living dialogue between experimentation and identity. Here, fashion is presented as an evolving language—one that reflects the urgency, contradictions, and possibilities of the present.
ITS Contest – Class of 2026, photo credit: G. Koren
Founded by Barbara Franchin, ITS Contest has long been a launchpad for designers whose work later defines the direction of international fashion. The 2026 cohort continues that trajectory, each awarded the ITS Excellence Award 10×10×10, an immersive framework that combines financial support, mentorship, and a ten-month exhibition. The structure reflects a deeper commitment to nurturing ideas, offering designers visibility and the tools to refine and expand their creative voice.
Chloë Reners creation, photo credit M.Gardone – Fondazione ITS
This year’s standout recognition, the Jury’s Special Mention, goes to Belgian designer Chloë Reners. Her work signals a composed yet forward-thinking approach, balancing research-driven design with a clear vision of the future. It is a perspective that resonates with an industry increasingly attuned to diverse narratives and thoughtful authorship.
Stan Peeters creation, photo credit: M.Gardone – Fondazione ITS
Across the selected designers, a shared sensibility emerges—one rooted in awareness and innovation. Wenji Wu’s exploration of duality through sculptural forms speaks to tensions between protection and vulnerability, while Jamie O’Grady’s modular footwear concept reframes ideas of production and longevity in a time of excess. These collections reflect a generation that engages directly with the systems surrounding fashion, reimagining them through both material and conceptual experimentation.
Jamie O’Grady sneakers, photo credit: M.Gardone -Fondazione ITS
The experience of ITS Contest extends far beyond the runway. A ten-day residency in Trieste immerses designers in a network of industry leaders, creative mentors, and cultural institutions. Through workshops, studio visits, and exchanges with global brands, participants gain insight into the processes that shape contemporary fashion—from sustainability and innovation to storytelling and identity-building.
This ecosystem of collaboration underscores the contest’s distinctive role. It functions as both a platform and a catalyst, connecting emerging talent with the broader architecture of the fashion world while preserving the individuality of each designer’s voice.
Exposure exhibition, photo credit: M.Gardone – Fondazione ITS
Running alongside Rise and Shine is EXPOSURE – The Power of Being Seen, a compelling exhibition that examines how fashion constructs the public image of cultural icons.
Exposure exhibition, photo credit: M.Gardone – Fondazione ITS
Through garments worn by figures across music, film, and pop culture, the show reveals the intricate relationship between styling, identity, and visibility. Together, the exhibitions create a layered narrative that situates emerging designers within a wider cultural framework.
Library/Exposure exhibition, photo credit: M.Gardone – Fondazione ITS
Within ITS Arcademy’s growing collection—now exceeding 15,000 pieces—the works of these ten designers become part of a larger story, one that traces the evolution of creativity in its most experimental and expressive forms. Their inclusion signals a lasting imprint on the archive of contemporary fashion.
Martin Margiela creation at the Exposure exhibition, photo credit: M.Gardone – Fondazione ITS
