Talents Mentees Gained Exclusive Insight Into the World of Internationally Renowned Brands

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) launched the Talents 2.0 Mentoring program at the beginning of 2024, in which graduate and recent graduate students in the fields of fashion and design can gain up-to-date professional knowledge. The mentoring program consists of two parts; the first, theoretical part, has been successfully completed. In the coming period, young designers will take part in professional internships at domestic creative businesses, and those who want to focus on their own brands can take part in a brand development process.

During the theoretical phase of Talents 2.0, the participants could gain valuable knowledge in workshops, webinars, and professional consultations on brand- and career-building, sustainability, and innovation. The presentations held by renowned experts in fashion and design were received with great interest; thus, the mentees could learn about the diverse opportunities in the creative industry first-hand. In addition to the online and offline presentations, they also visited stores, offices, and showrooms; thus, young people could see the secrets of successful brands up close.

In Talents 2.0, mentees visited the Jimmy Choo store in Budapest, a luxury footwear and accessories retailer. Workshop participants could learn about how a luxury shop works and gain insight into the changes in the life of a luxury brand in the Hungarian market. After a short walkthrough, participants listened to a presentation about the story of the brand and then peeked into the mysteries of customer management and luxury management tasks through practical examples.

Mentees also visited the brand Nanushka. In the store, they viewed the latest collection, and then they were shown around the office. The different departments introduced themselves; thus, the mentees got an idea about the number of people whose work is needed to run a world-renowned fashion brand. There was no lack of information either; the Nanushka staff gave a presentation in English about the products and explored topics connected to branding and design.

The mentees heard a presentation on the mysteries of furniture distribution and the challenges of building a career after graduation at Europa Design, a distributor of world-famous brands. In the workshop, the participants got to know the importance of design thinking and communication tools, the steps of creating a personal brand, and the importance of tending to professional relationships. Furthermore, the significance of gaining practical knowledge was addressed, and the workshop was concluded with a walkthrough, in which the young designers could view the special design products up close.

The last external venue of the Talents 2.0 mentoring program’s theoretical part was Solinfo Group, a company with internationally acknowledged partners. The mentees visited all the stores and offices belonging to the group in Budapest while listening to the 35-year-old story of the company specialising in professional lighting and high-end design interior products. From the company’s presentation, the participants learnt how to build a brand organically and how to shape the brand structure for long-term effectiveness.

The Agency was very pleased to see the large interest in the programs. The Talents 2.0 mentoring program aims to provide graduates and recent graduates with practical and market-oriented knowledge which can significantly increase their job prospects while calling their attention to the complexity of the sector and the diverse opportunities within it. After the first part of the program, mentees will complete a two-week internship with creative enterprises in partnership with the HFDA. Talents 2.0 offers an extra opportunity for brand development for the mentees, who can participate in further brand-building workshops after the internship.

It is worth following the Talents Mentoring Program updates. Soon, we will also report on the companies where young talents are doing their internships.