The Winners of ITS 2021. This is the future of creativity.

AITOR GOICOECHEA ABURUZA

receiving €6,500

“There’s really something intriguing in Aitor’s work, there’s sensuality, you can almost taste it, smell it. There’s a really textural, colorful side to it, you want to bite into it. You feel like he’s going into other cultures and examining his own identity. At first it feels like a collection of images from an amazingly curated magazine or exhibition, and then suddenly you see that there’s process, and it is an extremely precise process. What’s amazing is that you end up with super-intriguing clothes that are super-wearable at the same time. There is an incredible sense of color that is in balance with his sense of texture. He knows how to build texture and to capture color within the appropriate texture, which is a huge challenge because it makes it emotional. 

You feel like he’s telling stories in layers, and I loved the overlayed photographs because he’s telling us “this is what it is” and he is showing it for what it is, but at the same time there’s so much layering behind it. The embroidery work is really impressive too. You want to grab these garments, you want to try and wear them and adapt them to your own body.”

ADAM ELYASSÉ

receiving €6,500

“Adam is someone who is re-evaluating his ethnic heritage, the challenges of a landscape imposed on people of a certain area, removing any limitations of sex or gender and confronting the environment without ever losing his artistic fingerprint, his style and his own journey, which can all be seen throughout the concept. At the end his work is extremely technical with an evident do-ability that is also part of it, with this kind of patchwork of shapes, and I found an amazing balance between exploration, origin, problem solving, personal conflict and resolution. And it is all really intriguing and really strong. 

I also think that this idea of clothes exploring the harsh realities of the environment is an extremely relevant discourse, not because of the idea of sustainability or environment, or because we are building these kind of Waterworld or Dune-like landscapes where our earth is going to become increasingly uninhabitable. Not because of that. It’s because there is this general idea, even in contemporary commercial fashion and accessories, that your clothes actually have a purpose in the outdoor world, that they help you deal with the outdoor world, and I love the fact that Adam has gone into how other generations and tribes approach and deal with the realities of their environment and asked himself how do you translate that into contemporary fashion, how does that adapt to somebody who doesn’t live in that environment. The whole collection is an extremely interesting perspective on what clothes are and what they are for.”

HUA HUI aka KEIGA

“We selected Hua Hui as the well deserved winner of this award for the depth & quality of the research, as well as its relevance to the concept and rich narrative. I loved the archetypal references of the villain and hero, expressed from such a different cultural point of view. The narrative itself expressed consciousness towards the problems of capitalism. It was at the same time valuable and valid. The aesthetics, the choices, the perspectives, down to the branding was exciting. This project goes back to the ‘Why’, the ‘How’ and the ‘What’ of each design, and in doing so provides an immersive world fueled by the power of imagination. I would love to see this project developed into a book. And I would buy that book.”

TAE CHOI

Mr Rosso chose Tae “Because of its clarity, sophisticated yet very simple and balanced aesthetic. It is a menswear project with a modern, up-to-date design. Simple, without useless embellishment and executed with extreme care on shapes, details, and expressing a deep study on volumes, unexpected cuts, accurate color mix. I believe that this project represents an example of a modern and wearable product.”

MOHAMMED EL MARNISSI

Carlo Giordanetti chose Mohammed because his collection “Has the power to unleash imagination, it is generated by a powerful story, defines itself as agender showing openness of mind and uses color and materials to create a positive, happy mix”. 

QINGZI GAO

Lotto Sport selected Qingzi for the “Creativity and originality expressed in terms of concepts, modeling, colors and graphics. An ability to express and convey ideas, drawing skills, explanations and the use of digital programs. Design skills, in terms of quality of the models and prototypes presented. Presentation of the project – both in the portfolio and in the performance video. And finally a sportswear attitude.”

HADAR SLASSI

Stefania Ricci chose Hadar “For the ability to combine the most advanced technologies and attention to sustainability with traditional craftsmanship and an ergonomic shape of the shoe, elements which can be found in Salvatore Ferragamo’s creativity.”

TIANAN DING

Sara Sozzani Maino chose Tianan for “The vision and boldness of going beyond the concept of a fashion brand. Responsibility, creativity, awareness, craftsmanship and passion were all combined together for an unique artistic project.”