Be Loved

With every edition of ITS Contest we send out a message. This time, ours is an invitation. BE LOVED.

Two words, two gestures: the verb to be (to exist) and the past participle loved (to receive love). Together, they form an exhortation that is also an act of vulnerability: to be loved, one must first accept being visibly present, allow oneself to be seen, to be exposed. It is the passive voice that demands active courage. Not a guarantee, but a permission we grant ourselves: allow yourself to receive.

Contemporary culture teaches us to love, to perform, to earn — but rarely teaches us how to let ourselves be loved. BE LOVED is therefore a practice, almost an inner discipline: opening our hands instead of clenching them, lowering our defences, staying. It is the suspended moment before an encounter.

I:C 2027 is an invitation to BE LOVED.

An invitation that finds us anywhere - from the closest gaze to the farthest light.
And in a twinkling, everything changes.
Let it in.
We want you.

Your voice. Your process. Your drive to question the now, rethink materials and forms, imagine more conscious ways of living.
Step forward. Put your work into the world. Show us the talent and ideas only you can bring.

Just you — but not alone.

What is ITS Contest all about?
An international stage that can ignite your future.
Access to a global network of mentors.
Funding to support your practice.
The opportunity to showcase your work at Italy's first contemporary fashion museum. And become part of the ITS archive?
And a Residency in Trieste, Italy, where ten selected designers come together to exchange ideas, challenge one another, and shape what fashion can become.

Video by Fabio Bressan

Featured ITS Collection archive items:
Slobodan Mihajlovic - I:C 2003
Momoka Sato - I:C 2024
Chelsea Jean Lamm - I:C 2024

As you may know, we've always been committed to showcasing our finalists' work. This year, with the designers' approval, we decided to experiment with generative AI to interpret their work and extend our vision. Let us know what you think - we'd love to hear your opinion on the subject!

Need help or more info?

Email us at schools-contestants@itsweb.org.

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