The winners of ITS Contest 2026 have been announced in Trieste. The ten emerging designers, aged between 22 and 33 and representing three continents, were chosen by an international jury drawn from the worlds of fashion, design, culture and communication.
Each designer has previously been awarded the ITS Excellence Award 10×10×10, which includes a €10,000 prize, a ten-day creative residency and a ten-month exhibition of their work in the Rise and Shine showcase, opening from 26 March at ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion, Italy’s first contemporary fashion museum.
Founded in 2002 by Barbara Franchin, ITS Contest is one of the leading international platforms dedicated to emerging talent in fashion design. Each year, it selects young creatives from around the world and guides them through a programme combining residency, mentoring and critical interaction with an international jury. Their work is also acquired into the ITS Arcademy museum collection.
The 2026 winners join a lineage that has seen designers debuting at ITS Contest go on to lead some of the most influential international fashion houses, reaffirming the Contest’s role as a privileged observatory on the future of fashion.
The ten new design promises are:
- Darius Betschart – France
- Steven Chevallier – France
- Yi Ding – China
- Jamie O’Grady – United Kingdom
- William Palmer – United Kingdom
- Stan Peeters – Belgium
- Chloë Reners – Belgium
- Tidjane Tall – France
- Anna Maria Vescovi – China
- Wenji Wu– China
The ITS Contest 2026 Jury
A panel of personalities from the worlds of fashion, art and culture guided the designer selection process, carrying forward the vision that has made ITS Contest one of the world’s most prestigious scouting platforms.
In the final stages of the competition, new standout figures joined the jury, ready to assess the talent of this edition’s young creatives.
It is made up of:
- Andrea Rosso, OTB Sustainability Ambassador
- Barbara Franchin, President, Fondazione ITS, Founder ITS Contest
- Carlo Capasa, Chairman of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana
- Carlo Giordanetti, CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel
- Dana Thomas, Author
- Deanna Ferretti, Founder Miss Deanna and Co-Founder Modateca Deanna
- Emanuele Coccia, Philosopher
- Francesca Tacconi, Pitti Immagine Guest Designers Curator
- Hanan Besovic, ideservecouture – Fashion Commentator
- Karen Binns, Global Fashion Director, 10 Magazine & 10 Men
- Marco Sammicheli, Curator of the Design, Fashion and Crafts sector at Triennale Milano / Director of Museo del Design Italiano
- Matteo Battiston, Chief Design Officer at EssilorLuxottica
- Matteo Ward, CEO of Inside Out Fashion, Textiles & Home
- Maximilian Raynor, Designer
- Odunayo Ojo, You Tuber, Fashion Journalist
- Orsola de Castro, Author, Activist, Creative Director at Estethica
- Sara Sozzani Maino, Creative Director Fondazione Sozzani
- Stefania Ricci, Director of Museo Salvatore Ferragamo and Fondazione Ferragamo
- Sonia Veroni, CEO Modateca Deanna / Director of Master in Creative Knitwear Design di Accademia Costume & Moda
- Serge Carreira, Director of Emerging Brands Initiative at the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode
- Takeharu Hirakawa, Fashion Critic and Consultant
- Tom Eerebout, Stylist & Fashion Consultant
- Valentina Maggi, Director of Creative Practice at Floriane de St Pierre & Associés
The Awards
I:C JURY SPECIAL MENTION
The I:C Jury Special Mention is a special award presented to a designer from ITS Contest 2026, intended to offer tailored support in line with their creative needs and aspirations. More than a celebration, it represents a concrete and enduring commitment by Fondazione ITS, which translates into mentorship, professional networking and access to industry opportunities. Thanks to attentive listening and a deep understanding of emerging talent, this award becomes a springboard for the future, accompanying the designer through the next steps of their creative journey. Moreover, the designer will return the following year as a jury member, joining the prestigious ITS network, which brings together some of the most influential figures in international fashion, and offering their support and guidance to the next generation of emerging talents.
Awarded to: Chloë Reners (Belgium)
“Chloë commands a likeable authority, balancing her well-researched expertise with a confident vision for the future. Offering a much needed female perspective in a still male dominated industry, Chloë has the potential to steer the helm of a fashion house. Composure, patience, and obsession combined, she possesses an array of attributes that justify her receipt of this year’s Jury Special Mention.”
I:C 10 x 10 x 10 AWARD
The ten selected designers receive the I:C 10 × 10 × 10 Award, which includes:
- participation in a ten-day creative residency in Trieste, supported by mentors and industry professionals;
- the opportunity to exhibit their work for ten months in the “Rise and Shine” exhibition hosted by ITS Academy – Museum of Art in Fashion;
- €10,000
Previously awarded to Darius Betschart (France), Steven Chevallier (France), Yi Ding (China), Jamie O’Grady (United Kingdom), William Palmer (United Kingdom), Stan Peeters (Belgium), Chloë Reners (Belgium), Tidjane Tall (France), Anna Maria Vescovi (United States), Wenji Wu (China).
I:C OTB AWARD
The OTB Group offered a one-day training visit to the OTB headquarters, where the young designers were able to see first-hand the stages involved in creating the Group’s brands’ garments and accessories, as well as a mentoring and coaching session on best practices in sustainability with the OTB Group experts.
Awarded to Darius Betschart (France), Steven Chevallier (France), Yi Ding (China), Jamie O’Grady (United Kingdom), William Palmer (United Kingdom), Stan Peeters (Belgium), Chloë Reners (Belgium), Tidjane Tall (France), Anna Maria Vescovi (United States), Wenji Wu (China).
“We had the pleasure of welcoming the young ITS designers to the headquarters of OTB Group and Diesel. We shared with them our commitment to sustainability, and it was inspiring to see how much curiosity they showed towards these topics. At the same time, engaging with young designers from all over the world brought energy, freshness, and diverse perspectives, continuously enriching and nurturing our company’s DNA.
Moments like these represent a true exchange: on one hand, the opportunity to share what we do every day in our work; on the other, the chance to offer insights, suggestions, and a concrete vision of what it means to build one’s own path in the fashion industry.
During the visit, the designers had direct contact with the Diesel denim world, visiting the brand’s headquarters, its creative spaces, and the historical archive, which holds over 80,000 research and collection pieces from 1978 to today. Sharing our passion and the story of this brand with curious and passionate young talents is always an opportunity for mutual inspiration.“
I:C RAY-BAN PART OF ESSILORLUXOTTICA AWARD
This will consist of a day at the prestigious EssilorLuxottica Experience Centre (at Via Tortona 35 in Milan). The chosen finalist will present their project to an in-house audience and will also have the opportunity to interact with them during a networking session. The finalist will be able to immerse themselves in the day-to-day operations of the EssilorLuxottica Design Team, working closely with the Style Department and experiencing first-hand the creative and design process within the eyewear industry.
Awarded to: Steven Chevallier (France)
“Steven Chevallier’s project OUT RAGE captures today’s social climate through a bold mix of clashing graphic prints and tactile design. His work perfectly reflects the Ray-Ban spirit – expressive, inclusive, and forward-looking. Drawing inspiration from queer artist-activists of the 1980s, Steven pays tribute to those who fought for marginalised communities while channeling the resilience and creativity of a new generation.
His collection blends unisex silhouettes and strong accessories to create a contemporary, empowered look that transforms fashion into a statement of identity and emotion. Steven’s vision demonstrates how design can become a space for freedom, dialogue, and self-expression – values at the heart of Ray-Ban’s commitment to the next generation of creators.”
I:C CAMERA NAZIONALE DELLA MODA ITALIANA AWARD
CNMI offers a scholarship worth €5,000, awarded according to the designer’s creativity with special focus on the theme of sustainability in its broadest sense: product sustainability, environmental awareness and social sustainability.
Awarded to: Wenji Wu (China)
“Wenji Wu’s collection expresses duality in garments, boldly exploring the tension between monstrous shadows and structured defensive shapes. The importance of craft and responsibility for Wu is fundamental, and Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana shares the same values.”
I:C FONDAZIONE FERRAGAMO AWARD
Fondazione Ferragamo offers a stay in Florence, with an immersive experience in the world of Ferragamo and the places that inspired the work of founder Salvatore Ferragamo, to the designer, selected on the basis of his knowledge of materials and innovation.
Awarded to: Jamie O’Grady (United Kingdom)
“The 2026 I:C Fondazione Ferragamo Award goes to Jamie O’Grady for his ability to combine functional and technological approach with aesthetics. SubTraction embodies the fundamental principles of ethical design: starting from a reflection on overproduction and on the importance of the product, the designer creates a collection of sneakers that forcefully refocuses concepts such as functionality, durability, and sustainability, highlighting the contradictions of our era on the one hand and proposing an innovative solution on the other. The importance of design and projectuality, the creative sensitivity, the modularity of fashion objects, the approach to materials and the attention to personal well-being are also elements that bring O’Grady’s work closer to the legacy of Salvatore Ferragamo.”
I:C FONDAZIONE SOZZANI AWARD
Fondazione Sozzani offers the designer a dedicated presentation of his collection in its Milan spaces during 2026. The designer will be supported through curatorial guidance, exhibition setup, and communication activities aimed at enhancing the project and amplifying its visibility among a qualified audience within the fashion and contemporary culture sectors.
Awarded to: Tidjane Tall (France)
“Tidjane Tall’s collection is a profound reflection on identity, elegance and individuality. Rather than erasing the history of his grandfather’s work, his garments amplify implicit details, transforming references into wearable outfits. This dialogue between heritage and culture weaves resonant narratives in fashion redefining effortless elegance with a fresh perspective.”
I:C MODATECA DEANNA AWARD
Modateca Deanna offers all-round knitwear mentorship, placing the creative in direct contact with companies, knitwear manufacturers, spinning mills and all workshops that may be useful for the development of their projects. Depending on needs and requests, visits and meetings may be organised to explore further the topics agreed on with key Italian manufacturing, industrial and artisanal organisations.
Awarded to: Wenji Wu (China)
“For the personal and creative journey around knitwear. Wenji has explored different techniques balancing tradition, yarns and colours translating his creative process into a convincing collection that is both pleasantly graphic and perfectly executed.”
I:C PITTI IMMAGINE AWARD
An exclusive invitation to attend Pitti Uomo, offering the winning designer a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in one of the most influential international fashion events. During the event, the winner will be guided by a dedicated member of the Pitti team, gaining firsthand insight into the dynamics of the fair, meeting key industry professionals across all sectors—including exhibitors, buyers, and press—and attending selected fashion shows. The experience will be further amplified through dedicated communication, including official mentions in Pitti’s press releases.
Awarded to: William Palmer (United Kingdom)
“For his kind gaze on menswear, that is absolutely necessary today. William has mastery of the craft, he understands shapes and materials and he’s ready to “bite into the market” with irony, bright lightness and a sharp sense of timing.”
I:C WRÅD AWARD
WRÅD offers an exclusive three-day deep dive in the Italian fashion supply chain, starting from its HQ in Rome. A bespoke itinerary designed to meet the designer’s needs and ambitions, with the opportunity to meet and present their work to leading Italian manufacturers and brands relevant to their career path, as well as access to the team and resources of WRÅD and Inside Out Fashion Textiles & Home for mentorship, advice and support. All travel expenses will be covered by WRÅD.
Awarded to: Jamie O’Grady (United Kingdom)
“In a world that produces and consumes approximately 23 billion pairs of shoes every year, Jamie O’Grady’s research into modular sneakers stands out for its intelligence and relevance. We are proud to support his journey by providing access to culture, technologies, and partners that can help advance his work.”
The ITS PUBLIC’S CHOICE AWARD
Worth €5,000, is to be presented in January 2027 to the winner chosen by the public of the RISE AND SHINE – The Ten Designers of ITS Contest 2026 exhibition at ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion, Italy’s first museum of contemporary fashion.