The upcoming Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week will launch a program aimed at empowering young designers and entrepreneurs in the Romanian fashion industry.
Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week is set to take place from March 27 to 30, 2025, and will feature the official launch of NEXT GENERATION, a new initiative aimed at nurturing the upcoming wave of creators and entrepreneurs within the Romanian fashion industry. The program, designed as a creative, educational, and sustainable ecosystem, seeks to provide essential resources, mentorship, and visibility for emerging designers, students, and passionate fashion enthusiasts aspiring to make a career in the sector.
The key event during this edition will be the NEXT Generation conference on March 27, where the official theme for the 2025 Fashion Talent Award competition will be announced along with the main directions of the program. An advisory board comprised of prominent figures from the fashion, business, and sustainability sectors will also be introduced, lending credibility and expertise to the initiative.
A highlight of NEXT GENERATION is the Fashion Talent Award, a competition tailored for young designers who will receive professional guidance throughout their creative journey. The winner will receive an international experience at Polimoda, one of the world’s prestigious fashion schools, which is an educational partner of the project assisting in the development of the new generation of creatives. Massimiliano Giornetti, Director of Polimoda and former Creative Director at Salvatore Ferragamo, is expected to contribute significantly to the artistic and professional development of participants through partnership opportunities that offer valuable resources and practical experiences alongside industry experts.
The business-oriented component, known as Business Accelerator & Management in Fashion, is executed in partnership with Bucharest Business School, part of the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest (ASE). This section of the program targets both designers and fashion enthusiasts looking to launch their own brand or pursue careers in various roles within the fashion industry, including management, strategy, and communication. The initiative also benefits from the support of Transilvania Bank, which is recognized for its commitment to fostering local entrepreneurship and creative industries.
Giacomo Santucci, a notable figure in international fashion, will be a keynote speaker at the NEXT Generation conference. Having held pivotal leadership roles at renowned fashion houses such as Gucci and Prada, Santucci will provide valuable insights into the future of the fashion industry, drawing from his extensive experience in creative leadership and international business.
Additionally, the program has the backing of several prestigious Romanian universities specializing in arts and design, including Babe?-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, the National University of Arts in Bucharest (UNArte), the University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD), and the West University of Timi?oara (UVT). These institutions contribute significantly to shaping the next generation of creatives by providing essential frameworks for reflection and innovation in contemporary fashion.
The NEXT GENERATION initiative will unfold throughout the year, featuring mentoring sessions, workshops, and talks, culminating in the final presentation of collections developed during the Fashion Talent Award competition at the autumn edition of Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week. Registrations for all three program components will become available at the start of April on the official website mbbfw.ro and will remain open until May.
Mercedes-Benz, as the main partner of the project, reaffirms its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the support of young talent within the fashion realm.
Source: Noah Wire Services
