More Than 14 Thousand Visited Domestic Fashion and Design Programs

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) celebrated its fifth birthday and realised 12 successful projects in 2023. Over 14 thousand people participated in its events in person and each age group found the program suiting them the most. In addition, this year has brought a variety of novelties, and numerous initiatives were launched with the intent of creating new traditions and further expanding the creative scene’s opportunities.

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency has been working on increasing the Hungarian fashion and design industry’s competitiveness since 2018. In these five years, they have realised numerous grandiose events, international exhibitions, and professional mentoring programs through which the audience could learn about the newest trends and emerging talents of the domestic fashion world and design scene.

The HFDA organised the Budapest Central European Fashion Week twice in 2023. An important milestone in the life of the fashion week is the setting up of the Advisory Board in January featuring internationally acclaimed experts who strategically support and develop the BCEFW’s concept. The 2023-24 autumn/winter season presentations were held in four iconic buildings of the capital: the National Dance Theatre, the Hungarian National Museum, The Ethnographic Museum and ELTE University Library and Archives. The public could view autumn-winter collections by 15 Hungarian and 4 regional designers. The 2024 spring-summer season program was housed by Millenáris, where nearly 40 brands showcased their newest pieces, including 14 regional designers’ works, the highest number in BCEFW history. Both event series drew the fashion world’s attention to Budapest, over 4500 people visited the programmes, and thanks to the side events, you could join the fashion world in several venues in Budapest. The Fashion Hub was opened for the first time in the SS24 season, inspiring especially the young generation to get to know the fashion universe with exciting presentations and workshops.

The 360 Design Budapest, organised by the HFDA for the fourth time, was realised with full-house programs. The regional design exhibition opened its gates in October with a wider selection than ever in the Adria Palace, showcasing over 60 domestic and regional designers’ works. The chief guest of the event was Rossana Orlandi, one of the most prominent icons of contemporary design, who talked about her career and life to the audience. Nearly 4000 visited the programme series with professional presentations and exclusive guided tours.

Design industry players could meet Rossana Orlandi at the HFDA’s fourth incubation program as well. The design LAB curated by Rossana Orlandi program’s buzzwords are creating mass-producible, innovative products of high quality according to international standards, reflecting cultural heritage and traditions. The professional jury selected five manufacturer-designer duos to the program who will realise their projects in collaboration.

Under the five-year strategic partnership between the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) and the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, seven brands appeared at the Milano Fashion Week in February, and six at the 2024 spring-summer season event under the Budapest Select umbrella brand. Renowned representatives of the international profession and the press also appeared at the event considered among the four biggest fashion weeks so Hungarian brands had an exclusive opportunity to enter the international markets. The world’s largest design event, the Milan Design Week was held in Milan, where 40 Hungarian artists’ and design brands’ special pieces were displayed in two venues, Alcova and the Rossana Orlandi Master Gallery under the Budapest Select umbrella brand.

Another important milestone was the first appearance of Hungarian creators at the Prague Designblok festival. One of the most important creative industry events of the Central European region celebrated its 25^th jubilee this year. The HFDA and the Liszt Institute in Prague jointly opened the Budapest Select exhibition, featuring 15 domestic artists’ silicate industry artworks.

The Talents Mentoring Program was launched for the first time to support fresh graduates and final-year students in the creative sector, both in the areas of fashion and design. The professional jury chose ten mentees from the numerous applicants who participated in workshops, thematic professional days, roundtable discussions and a professional internship. The HFDA’s third Manufacturers Mentoring Program concluded with success, with more participants than ever; 14 companies of the 22 applicants took part in the five-month training. The HFDA launched a tender in 2023 with Startup Campus as a professional partner named Get in the Picture – New Talent of the Year, which focused on talent management, inspiration, and creative development of the professionals of the future, intending to create a tradition.  Sustainable fashion and design products were also in the limelight this year. At the Planet Budapest Sustainability Expo and Summit, the HFDA allowed many Hungarian creative industry brands to appear on-site, which all connected to the theme of sustainability, in their own way.

The HFDA remains committed to turning Hungary into the regional fashion and design industry’s determining actor, its professional programs and large events realised for this aim also contribute to building the country’s national brand image. Building on its professional experience to date, it will continue to innovate in the coming year to offer programs that meet the needs of the industry and appeal to a wide audience.

You can view the highlights of 2023 by clicking here.