Participants of the first Young Talents Programme opened Budapest Fashion Week

Budapest Fashion Week has opened with the presentations of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency’s Young Talents programme, presenting the 2020-21 Autumn-Winter collections of the up-and-coming, talented designers, which was also the first stage of the programme. The five fashion designers presenting at the event’s Young Talents show will take part in a six-month-long training course in Autumn. The workshops, professional consultations and study tours will provide forward-thinking knowledge and hands-on experience for young designers on the topics of branding and market entry.

Based on the experience of recent years, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency has developed a practice-oriented training programme. Participants of the programme were able to show their potential already on the first day of BCEFW: Three of the freshly-graduated participants brought along their diploma dissertations to the event, while two designers presented the outcome of their first few years on the labour market with their new collections.

The fashion designers selected by the professional jury are as follows - Noémi Ferencz (Zeraw), Stefania Schrodl (Stefania Schrodl), Noémi Bráz (Noen Design), Martha Szentirmai (MILLAAS) and Piroska Papp (Nalery) – and although each designer is at a different point in their career, what they all have in common is the strong basis with which they are able to succeed, either domestically or even on an international level. 

The workshops of the Young Talents Programme provides a complete picture of how the market works through professional consultations and study tours, preparing the participants for the challenges they may face in the future. The workshops are the first phase of the programme, which focus on legal issues, manufacturing technology, and communication tools that are essential when developing a brand concept. Throughout this process, the participants will be assisted by domestic experts providing authentic advice and suggestions, thanks to their extensive professional experience. Young designers will be able to receive the knowledge needed for domestic success at an even closer level, based on information gained via workshops and one-to-one discussions.

The initiative of the HFDA also opens up new perspectives for fresh graduates in terms of professional relationships and contacts. In addition to the opportunity to appear at the Budapest Central European Fashion Week, various study trips will allow for the mentees to get to know the most important points and participants of the professional value chain - including factories and showrooms. Further, the Young Talents Programme also provides insight into the professional community of the fashion industry: if the virus situation allows for it, participants will be able to attend events such as the Budapest Fashion-Tech Summit conference, which hosts international dialogues between industry members.

“Although students pursuing studies in the clothing and textile industry receive high-quality higher education and vocational training in Hungary - due to the lack of professional experience and a network of contacts, they still face difficulties when entering the labour market. By launching the Young Talents Programme, we’re helping young talents from the start of their journey to the launch of their brand, to ensure success. BCEFW's Young Talents presentations have successfully illustrated the development potential of the next generation of fashion designers.” – Stated Zsófia Bata-Jakab, CEO of HFDA.

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About the Hungarian Fashion and Design Agency

The Hungarian Fashion and Design Agency (HFDA) was founded in 2018 as a subsidiary of the Hungarian Tourism Agency, focusing on two main sectors, the industries of Fashion and Design. The main goal of the agency is to promote the Hungarian Fashion and Design Industry internationally, and by doing so strengthening the country’s image. In addition, its most important tasks include increasing export, strengthening and developing domestic production, and developing and safeguarding traditional creative and professional knowledge. As an integrative organisation, a main goal of the Agency is to achieve effective professional coordination between domestic and international players of the fashion and design field, which is essential for long-term success.