Young Designers Showcased Among Contemporary Paintings

The weekend programme of the 16th Budapest Central European Fashion Week (BCEFW) kicked off once again in the Apollo Gallery exhibition space. On the opening day, creators from the Central European region and domestic young designers presented their latest works, surrounded by atmospheric paintings by contemporary fine artist Áron Baráth. Alongside domestic guests, international journalists, influencers, and distributors filled the chairs in the audience.  

The SS26 season’s shows at Budapest Central European Fashion Week took place again in the imposing, industrial exhibition space of Apollo Gallery. During the event, the gallery hosted a joint exhibition featuring leading contemporary Hungarian action painters – Ákos Bánki, Áron Baráth, and Dávid Szentgróti – which created a fitting setting for the newest collections by Hungarian, Serbian, Czech, Slovakian, and Slovenian designers.

The collective fashion show of the Serbian designers of Bucharest Fashion Week (BCW) launched the first day of the season. Sustainable design played a key role among Serbian designers. In his LIFE POINTS/2000 unisex collection, Aleksandar Latinović reinterpreted the visual universe of Yu-Gi-Oh and traditional crochet folk textile motifs within contemporary streetwear silhouettes. In her debut clothing line, Iva Ivanović translated the aesthetics of the climate crisis into wearable, asymmetrical pieces – with zero-waste techniques, expressed in a neutral palette, forming the backbone of her concept. Ivana Tokin created her statue-like collection, Contemporary Echoes from textile waste. At the collective show of the Czech Fashion Council (CFC), Jerry Fürst presented their “Dressed to Dream” ensemble, where the rigid, masculine contours of classic male elegance were softened with more intimate, dream-like details. In Naiad’s work Between Fairies and Samurai, pressed textures and rococo-inspired compositions unfolded in pastel green–pink tones contrasted with jet black, while Princz Moravy’s Season of Glamour series delivered dramatic impact through tulle and taffeta evening gowns, veils, top hats, and velvet tailcoats and tuxedos. At the collective show of Ljubljana Fashion Week (LFW), works by Slovenian designers were showcased. Sila Kejžar’s Birtah 2.0 collection reinterpreted three archetypes of Balkan heritage – apron, headscarf, and vest – in a black-and-white (with occasional navy) palette, presenting them in a refined yet fresh, contemporary manner. Lan Krebs placed single-jersey fabric at the centre of the concept: sometimes manipulating it with pleating, other times experimenting with space-dye or burnout techniques, pushing the creative boundaries of the knitwear base. In the new season, Timotej Bistan reinforced the dynamic feminine silhouette associated with his brand through fresh tailoring solutions. At the Slovak Fashion Council (SFC) Collective Show, Atelier MUSA’s SS26 collection combined the brand’s signature utilitarian, restrained aesthetic and timeless proportions with elements of fine and applied arts. Lenka Krivá’s latest pieces fit into a continuously expandable capsule wardrobe, featuring clean lines and fresh, mix-and-match fabric variations. Petra Weingart’s LUNARÉ MAINLINE 26 collection evoked the legacy of Donyale Luna, pairing masculine stylistic elements with soft, feminine contours. The Czech Graduate Show, featuring the graduation works of fashion students from Tomas Bata University in Zlín and the Technical University of Liberec, spanned a wide spectrum – from Native American symbolism and Soviet pattern-making traditions, through the 1970s Studio 54 aesthetic, bacterial cellulose, and digital-physical hybrid realities, to a critical re-reading of “heroin chic.” The common thread throughout was the high-quality execution and conceptual thinking. The day concluded with the widely celebrated New Generation collective show: the SS26 collection was opened by CHOKASSY’s Earthly Delights, which enriched its nature-inspired narrative with heavy traditional canvas fabrics, Hungarian folk costume details, and metallic dandelion motifs. Judit Bárány’s Comeback Kid SS26 collection was crafted from deadstock yarns and a blend of knitted, printed, and sporty-streetwear fabrics, showcased in fresh, vibrant tones. Valentin Szarvas’s Slip Through, Green Twig collection captured the moment of escape through draping experiments that “froze” motion, featuring sheer, lightweight white fabrics and grandiose coat compositions that spoke of presence and fragile hope. FANNILSZL’s The 2nd Coming of the Weirdocore collection of ten looks translated the typology of oddities into the language of fashion.

In the 16th season of BCEFW, emerging designers received more emphasis than ever: nearly sixty per cent of the collections presented throughout the event came from young designers. Moreover, for the first time this year, graduates from MOME and METU were able to showcase their collections as part of the official programme during the opening days of the fashion week. Alongside young designers, regional creators also take centre stage: a key goal of BCEFW is to strengthen Central European fashion industry collaborations, providing international exposure opportunities for designers from the region. Through these partnerships, Hungarian brands also gain greater visibility at fashion events in neighbouring countries, fostering closer connections among creative industry players.