ITS STORY
We’ve already mentioned ITS Contest, now let’s explore it in more detail.
The contest unfolds in five key stages, as summarised on these screens, from left to right.
It all starts with scouting, where we travel the world to meet and discover students in schools. We’ve visited all five continents, wherever there was a school and the possibility of identifying new emerging talents. Today, digital technology allows us to expand our reach even further, interviewing more young designers and uncovering even more creativity.
Next comes what is perhaps the most exciting stage: receiving the portfolios. These are filled with every detail of the projects submitted for the contest. So many incredible surprises here! We’ve received portfolios encased in blocks of ice or concrete, or even hidden inside balloons filled with confetti. Designers often seek to immerse us in their creative world from the very beginning. The balloon with confetti, for example, set the tone for a birthday-themed project. Portfolios, in such cases, become true works of art. At this stage, we analyse each project multiple times, selecting around 100 from the over 1,000 entries we receive on average each year. These are then presented to the jury for the final selection of the finalists.
FINALISTS SELECTION
This next step of selecting the finalists is the most complex phase. The jury steps in to evaluate the pre-selected projects, delving deeper into the portfolios and any additional material we may have requested, such as selfie videos, where designers introduce themselves and describe their work.
Once the finalists have been chosen, we move on to creating the final event. This involves organising hospitality for guests from all over the world, setting up exhibition spaces, developing communication materials and videos, and much more. Everything leads up to the final phase: the event where the finalists come to Trieste to present their projects to an audience of industry experts, international press, and, of course, the jury who will choose the winners.
In addition, finalists take part in the ITS Residency, an intense programme of workshops and seminars led by industry professionals, held both within ITS Arcademy and around the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. This creative residency is an essential part of ITS Contest—a unique opportunity to gain new skills and build meaningful connections.
THE FINAL EVENT
The final event is a cathartic moment, with no VIP areas or divisions. Everyone has the chance to meet and connect and it often lays the foundation for future collaborations. Over the years, ITS Contest has also sparked lasting friendships—and even love stories. In a word, life.
To find out more about the Contest, use the two large vertical touch screens on the right. You’ll find access to photos and videos of collections and past editions, and much more.
MASSIMO GARDONE
Continuing past the vertical screens, you’ll enter a corridor with three large backlit images. This is the MANIFESTO, located just before the entrance to the LIBRARY. The images were created in collaboration with photographer and artist Massimo Gardone.
We asked him to reinterpret selected pieces from our archive, creating an image that transcends the language of each individual designer. We worked through subtraction: the body, disappearing, became a soul. And it is precisely that soul that supports the garment, enhancing its creativity. From left to right, the works are by designers Mata Durikovic, Tomohiro Shibuki, and Aitor Throup.
We cannot stress strongly enough how vital it is to preserve, protect, and nurture creativity. And the LIBRARY, which we are about to enter, is the proof… the beating heart of ITS.