Its Arcademy; Fashionlands;

WUNDERKAMMER

Welcome to the Wunderkammer, a German term meaning "cabinet of wonders," collections of diverse and often surprising objects in a room designed to amaze visitors.

A typical 16th century phenomenon, with roots in the Middle Ages, it evolved throughout the 17th century, nurtured by Baroque grandeur. It then flourished in the 18th century, fueled by Enlightenment interest in scientific curiosities. In a way, the Wunderkammer can be considered the first step in the evolution of the concept of the museum.

The Wunderkammer at ITS Arcademy currently hosts “Borderless”, the exhibition dedicated to the winning projects of ITS Contest 2025. As you discovered at the start of your visit, ITS Contest is the international fashion competition launched in 2002, which allows us to discover the best new talents. Through this competition, the ITS Collection houses the debut work of designers who are shaping the fashion industry today, like Demna, Creative Director at Balenciaga, or Matthieu Blazy, at the helm of Maison Chanel.

BORDERLESS

The winners of the latest edition are each presented with a piece from their collections entered in the competition.

You can delve deeper into each project by reading the panels and scanning the QR codes scattered along the exhibition route. We want however to provide you with as comprehensive an overview as possible of the displays, also to help you vote for your favourite project using the voting form given to you at the start of the visit. The public is invited to cast their vote for the ITS Public’s Choice Award, a €5,000 prize that will be awarded to the winner in January 2026, after the close of the exhibition.

The video projected on the large screen further introduces you to the projects on display.

MIJODA DAJOMI

Let’s start with a counterclockwise route, beginning at the entrance and heading to the right, with a brief introduction to each project. We begin with designer Mijoda Dajomi, who presents a futuristic collection of headwear designed to collect rainwater, addressing the water crisis through fashion. Set sixty years in the future, the project imagines a dystopian world where rainwater becomes a precious commodity, highlighting a future where wearable tools for collecting it could be essential for survival.

ZHUEN CAI

The next project is by designer Zhuen Cai, who has created a poetic representation of his visit to the Yuyuan Garden, a traditional garden and a gem of the Ming Dynasty in Shanghai. This fusion of Eastern philosophy, contemporary fashion, and environmental awareness creates a deeply personal and authentically Chinese aesthetic.

MACY GRIMSHAW

Moving on to the next project, which narrates the painful experience of seeing a loved one slip away due to Alzheimer’s. Designer Macy Grimshaw has captured the memory of her grandmother’s life, imprinting it in an archive of photo negatives, letters, and clothing. The ephemeral nature of memory takes shape in the fragility and vulnerability of paper.

MAXIMILIAN RAYNOR

Next, we find Maximilian Raynor, whose project originates from a fashion film conceived and produced by the designer himself, which we invite you to explore by scanning his QR code. You will be transported into a sort of cinematic revolt, set in an imaginary purgatory, where marginalised characters wander through a decaying villa, excluded from the patriarchal paradise. Created from warehouse leftovers and zero-waste techniques, this costume design collection based on storytelling transforms fashion into an immersive experience.

CINDY ZHAOHAN LI

Let’s now focus on Cindy Zhaohan Li’s project, which involves unconventional, wearable body brushes designed to stimulate physical contact and intimacy. Made from natural wood, handmade bristles, and leather, her accessories offer a new perspective at the intersection of everyday objects, fashion, and personal ornamentation.

NAYA EL AHDAB

Next is the project by Naya El Ahdab, born from her personal experience as a woman with a disability. It explores the relationship between deformity, femininity, and comfort. Through the interaction between non-conformist clothing and silhouettes, she redefines how bodies and their stories can shape fashion and inspire social acceptance.

QIANHAN LIU

The next project is by Qianhan Liu, blending the philosophies of two idealised "East" cultures: the preppy tailoring of the American East Coast and the draped textures of Eastern Asian temple traditions. Made with recycled and treated materials, the collection is a utopian exploration of peace, equality, and sustainable beauty.

YIFAN YU

Now let’s turn to Yifan Yu’s project, which examines the history, production, and properties of fur, proposing sustainable alternatives. These solutions draw on the traditions of Nordic tribes still closely connected to nature, combining them with a zoomorphic aesthetic in menswear design and creating a dialogue between nature and fashion.

GABRIELLE SZWARCENBERG

The next project draws inspiration from the famous Beat Generation figure of the 1960s, Harry Smith who, among his many projects, collected paper airplanes. Designer Gabrielle Szwarcenberg reinterprets them through textile manipulations, creating ephemeral and purely artistic pieces that reference a retrospective look at the graphic anthropology of the twentieth century.

PATRICK TAYLOR

We have now reached the last winner of the 2025 ITS Contest edition, designer Patrick Taylor, who draws on autobiographical memories to explore the dual nature of childhood through family sports such as skiing and sailing. With vibrant touches of colour and structured yet playful silhouettes, his pieces reflect the pressures of growing up, encouraging wearers to face life with enthusiasm and freedom.

ITS GO! 2025 BORDERLESS FOR FVG SCHOOLS

The next display case is dedicated to the initiative ITS GO! 2025 BORDERLESS for FVG Schools. This educational project, promoted by Fondazione ITS in collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, involves the fourth and fifth-year students of seven high schools in Friuli Venezia Giulia:

Through a programme of workshops, guided visits, concept creation, and garment production, the students have collaborated on the creation of seven outfits, now included in the ITS Arcademy Collection. Starting from June 2025, ITS Arcademy will showcase one outfit per month for seven months.

Well, we hope we have provided you with useful information to help you choose your favourite project from the ten winners we’ve presented! We can now move on from the Wunderkammer to the Archive, but you’ll still be able to return here at the end of the visit to further explore the projects before casting your vote.

Let’s head towards the last stop of our tour, along the short corridor ahead of you, to reach what is essentially the vault of ITS Arcademy, the place where much of the archive is preserved.