ITS Contest 2026

The ITS Contest 2026 Jury welcomes fashion commentator Hanan Besovic (@ideservecouture), the return of iconic Japanese fashion critic Take Hirakawa after 22 years (he attended the first two editions), and Stylist and Global Fashion Director of 10 Magazine Karen Binns.

Guests of the ITS Contest Finals preview a unique exhibition at ITS Arcademy dedicated to the art of styling, EXPOSURE - The Power of Being Seen, from Harry Styles to Lady Gaga, curated by Tom Eerebout.

The digital Catalogue is a compendium featuring the 10 talented designers you need to know now.

Explore the work of the emerging talents selected by our international Jury and discover their personal stories of creativity. Listen as they share, in their own words, the inspirations that drive their journeys and gain an insider’s view of their artistic processes in this snapshot of our creative zeitgeist.

A word from Barbara Franchin

Every ITS project is born from an act of trust and a shared vision. I believe in creativity as a force that unites, heals, and builds bridges between people and generations. Those who choose to walk alongside us are not simply supporting a contest or a museum - they are joining a movement that places beauty at the service of the future.

I:C 2026 is an invitation to shine. To transform talent into action, because every spark can ignite another. To open up to different perspectives and all possibilities. Moving forward together, without fear stopping us. To challenge the present, rethink materials and forms, imagine new ways of living in a more sustainable future.”

Barbara Franchin
President, Fondazione ITS – Founder, ITS Contest

The ITS Contest 2026 Residency

The selected designers took part in a ten-day creative residency from March 8th to 18th, 2026. During this immersive experience, they gathered in Trieste at ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion and engaged in a dynamic programme of workshops, talks, exploration of local craft techniques and mentoring sessions designed to support the development of their creative vision and professional growth.

The Residency culminated in the Final Event on March 19th and 20th, 2026, that brought together designers, jury members, industry professionals and international guests to celebrate this new generation of talent.

2026 Designers

The designers selected for the 2026 edition of ITS Contest are here, representing a new generation of emerging talents ready to shape the future of fashion. For them, fashion is a laboratory of identity, where transformation replaces definition and the body becomes a political arena. Their work blends a plurality of cultures, intertwining local traditions with global sensibilities, and embraces a critical approach that champions freedom of expression while rejecting every form of restriction and narrow-mindedness. For this year’s winners, the past is a lesson we have yet to truly learn. Chaos becomes a method: craftsmanship, awareness, and multiplicity shape their language.