International Talent Support competition ready to take off again

By

Dominique Muret

Translated by
Nicola Mira

Published
Jun 26, 2018

The International Talent Support competition (ITS) is making a come-back on Wednesday June 27 in Trieste, northern Italy. ITS was founded in 2002 by Barbara Franchin, as a competition for young fashion designers and, after being suspended last year, it has had a complete make-over and will feature an entirely new formula. For the competition’s 16th edition, a new date, venue and format were chosen, as thirty young talents from seventeen countries will vie for the award.

ITS headquarters in Trieste received more than 900 applications from 80 countries, for what promises to be a remarkable edition. The new-look ITS has been brought forward to the end of June, as opposed to being held in mid-July as usual, and will be staged for the first time at Magazzino 42, an event venue within Trieste’s cruise passenger terminal.

Instead of the previous four contests, only two will be staged this year. The fashion, accessories and jewellery competitions have now become a single one, with a far less rigid distinction between the categories. The finalists will compete for the ITS Award sponsored by Allianz, worth €15,000, recognising the best fashion project (whether ready-to-wear, accessories or jewellery).

The winner will also be mentored for a year by Pitti Immagine’s Tutorship division, and will have the chance to present a capsule collection at the next Pitti Uomo session, in January 2019. A €5,000 prize will be offered by the Italian Fashion Chamber (CNMI), another major Italian fashion institution backing the event, alongside Altaroma, Rome’s haute couture show.
                                                                                                                                  The €10,000 OTB Prize will also be awarded, including the possibility of an internship at one of the labels owned by Renzo Rosso’s fashion group. OTB is a long-standing sponsor of ITS, and will also offer the Diesel Prize, with the chance of a paid internship at the denim label.

Besides these prizes, purely dedicated to fashion, the Swatch Award will recognise creativity. The Swiss watch manufacturer has been a sponsor of ITS for some years, and it will offer the winner a cash prize of €10,000 and a six-month paid internship at the Swatch LAB in Zurich.