The highly anticipated ITS Contest 2023 has unveiled its elite shortlist featuring 16 finalists chosen from a competitive pool of 750 applicants across 65 countries. The meticulous selection was conducted by a panel of esteemed fashion experts and talent scouts, led by Barbara Franchin, founder and president of the ITS Foundation.
Barbara Franchin sheds light on the evolving landscape, stating, «We’re witnessing a paradigm shift in fashion, marked by new benchmarks and a fresh wave of designers making a significant impact. The role of creative directors is undergoing transformation, balancing creativity with business priorities.»
The final showdown is scheduled for March 22, where the 16 designers will showcase their talents. The diverse lineup includes Ivan Delogu (Italy), Chelsea Jean Lamm, and Marcel Sommer (Germany), Clementine Baldo, Shanon Poupard, and Lilian Navarro (France), Daniel Bosco (Canada), Ju Bao and Kexuan Liu (China), Mert Serbest (Turkey), Momoka Sato and Tomohiro Shibuki (Japan), Silvia Acien Parrilla (Spain), Eun Ji Oh (Belgium), Tal Maslavi (Israel), and Richard Farbey (the UK).
Each finalist receives an ITS Residency, allowing them to reside in Trieste, Italy, and collaborate on a collective project under the ITS Arcademy-Museum of Art in Fashion, the first contemporary fashion museum in Italy. Housing over 15,000 design projects from the 20-year history of the ITS Contest, an exhibition will showcase the collections presented at the 2023 edition.
Apart from the prestigious residency, finalists will compete for cash prizes and mentorship opportunities, set to be awarded at the grand finale in March.
Initiated in 2002, the ITS Contest stands as a premier global emerging designer competition. Over its 20-year history, it has featured 15,000+ designers from 80+ countries, producing notable talents like Demna, Matthieu Blazy, Nicolas di Felice, Richard Quinn, Chopova Lowena, and Cecilie Bahnsen.
