The ITS Residency. Cultivating Creativity and Connection.

Just like fashion itself, the landscape of talent support is evolving. Perhaps, there is a new path beyond traditional boundaries that isn’t confined to the mere showcasing of talent. A new kind of platform, where the most exciting new designers aren’t focused on competing but on collaborating, transcending the limits of traditional fashion contests and ushering a new era based on knowledge exchange and direct contact with industry insiders. The question was: how can ITS Contest evolve? The answer might lie in ITS Residency, a week-long experience of workshops, seminars and one-to-one meetings to learn from professionals, hone one’s skills and foster connections even more than what the contest format allowed. This evolution from ITS Contest to ITS Residency marks a pivotal shift towards a more profound, connection-driven approach to nurturing new talent.

From dawn till dusk, the ITS Contest finalists found themselves immersed in a whirlwind of workshops, talks, and hands-on sessions. Accustomed to the solitary pursuit of their craft – most of them work in isolation at school on the development of their graduate collections – they found much camaraderie and collaboration through the ITS Residency, weaving together a network of connections that transcended borders and boundaries. From shared struggles to collective triumphs, each interaction became a welcomed answer to something we at ITS had been feeling for the last few years: young designers, much more than in the past, want to join forces with other creatives, learn from others’ experiences, and grow.

“This new configuration has transformed the event not just into a simple challenge, a competition with prizes, trophies, and various recognitions. It has elevated it to a true 360-degree immersive experience. Designers had the opportunity to get to know and discover themselves, their colleagues, a new city and distinguished personalities in the industry, expanding their knowledge and vision from all perspectives.”

Outpump Magazine

Previews and surprises

The first edition of ITS Residency started out with a tailored visit of ITS Arcademy – Museum of Art in Fashion, the first contemporary fashion museum in Italy. Finalists had the unique opportunity to be the first to experience our newest exhibition, “The Many Lives of a Garment”, curated by fashion historian Olivier Saillard and philosopher Emanuele Coccia. And it wasn’t the only new exhibition they previewed: “Born to Create”, which occupies an additional exhibition space in ITS Arcademy, is entirely dedicated to the 2023/2024 finalists’ and winners’ projects, and both exhibitions have opened to the public on March 28th. The tailored visit of the two exhibitions wasfollowed by a very unexpected tutorial: finalists walked in a room and, to their amazement, found Demna, Balenciaga’s creative director, ready for a unique Q&A session via Zoom in which he invited them to ask anything related to their doubts and dreams about making it in the fashion industry. What an opportunity for insight from a designer who has re-shaped contemporary fashion. 

Revisiting traditional crafts

The following day was all about traditional shoemaking craftsmanship with a hands-on lab developing Scarpeti, a handmade slipper that has been developed for centuries by women in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region using simple and recycled materials. Finalists had the opportunity  to learn the craft from who is keeping it alive, working side by side and infusing their unique creativity in exchange, resulting in one-of-a-kind, unique prototypes. 

Milliner Justin Smith and glovemaker Thomasine Barnekow, both former ITS Contest finalists, stepped in after that for a full day workshop, introducing the finalists to their careers working, among others, with the movie and music industry, and teaching the rudiments of hat and glovemaking by having them craft prototypes using paper. 

At the court of The Stylist

It was then the turn of legendary stylist Tom Eeerebout, whose clientele include Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue, Banks, Austin Butler, Rebecca Ferguson, and Sylvie Kreusch. Through one-to-one meetings – which proved to be one of the most appreciated moments of the whole residency by the finalists – Tom spent an entire day offering the finalists all his knowledge and experience about what to expect when working with celebrities and how to introduce yourself, answering any question that was thrown at him.

Sustainability and an insiders’ look

The final day of ITS Residency saw experts in sustainability like Orsola de Castro (Fashion Revolution), Matteo Ward (WRAD) and Sara Sozzani Maino (Fondazione Sozzani) head a workshop offering practical insights and actionable steps towards a more eco-conscious future, a sentiment echoed by the finalists who were teamed in couples, analysing and exploring one another’s collections to tackle sustainable improvements, thus sharing advice and points of view. An emotional day of sharing ideas to change the way designers impact the planet, which got everyone, particularly the tutors, emotional. The final part of the day was an exclusive mentoring with Moncler designer Sergio Zambon, who provided a valuable insider’s look at what it means to work for a forward-thinking brand and the challenges to face.

“A week filled with formative experiences, workshops, and talks.”

NSS Magazine

“A true laboratory of experimentation.”

Pambianco

“A precious time spent confronting each other and with established talents and industry experts.”

Grazia

Against the backdrop of Trieste’s enchanting landscape, the Residency unfolded as a treasure trove of immersive experiences for the ITS Contest finalists. From dawn till dusk, participants found themselves thrown in a whirlwind of workshops, talks, and hands-on sessions. ITS Residency revealed itself as not just a platform for refining skills but a crucible to forge new paths, pushing boundaries, and daring to dream beyond convention.

Amidst the rhythmic hum of sewing machines and the gentle rustle of fabric, connections blossomed. From shared struggles to collective triumphs, each interaction weaved together a network of support that transcended borders and boundaries.

The importance of peer-to-peer interaction cannot be overstated. Insights gleaned from fellow participants, industry experts, and mentors alike enriched the creative journey of this new generation of creatives, offering new perspectives, inspiration, and invaluable guidance.

ITS Residency was not merely a series of workshops and lectures; it was a journey of self-discovery and growth. Feedback from participants will serve as a compass, guiding the evolution of coming editions, and shaping the future of ITS Contest.