The designers selected for the 2026 edition of ITS Contest are here. For them, fashion is a laboratory of identity, where transformation replaces definition, and the body becomes a political arena. Their work blends a plurality of cultures, intertwining local traditions with global sensibilities.
Explore the work of the ITS emerging talents selected > HERE
Please find here below the profile of the 4 designers who impressed us
DARIUS BETSCHART
French - IFM - Institut Français de la Mode - Date of birth: August 4, 2000 - Currently RTW Design Assistant at Balenciaga, he was previously Collection Assistant at Études Studio.
Copenhagen's teen skate scene is the foundation of Darius Betschart's work, blended with techno culture and tattoo artists from the gentrified neighborhoods of Norrebrø and Vesterbrø. But this aesthetic vision frames a much more political agenda, fueled by the work of philosopher Bernard Stiegler and artist/philosopher Hito Steyerl. Stiegler criticized capitalist industry driven by short-term profit, indifferent to the future of new generations. Steyerl's work explores militarization, surveillance, migration, and, above all, the role of the media in globalization and the circulation of culture through images. Referencing garments of medieval feudalism, Betschart's designs operate on two levels: a visually striking subcultural aesthetic and a deeper critical commentary on capitalism, culture, and media.
STEVEN CHEVALLIER
French - IFM - Institut Français de la Mode - Date of birth: June 14, 1995 - Currently works as a freelance stylist assistant. In 2025, he worked at Dior as a Jersey Menswear Assistant.
Society and street culture have a profound influence on Steven Chevallier's work and personal life. The current social climate, marked by wars, protests, and conservative politics, is at the center of his attention. Young people fighting for their freedom are a primary source of inspiration. At the same time, Steven looks to history, particularly queer artist-activists like Derek Jarman and David Wojnarowicz. Their work and commitment during the HIV crisis in the 1980s and 1990s were instrumental in countering a political right that persecuted marginalized communities, including immigrants, women, religious groups, contemporary thinkers, artists, people with disabilities, patients, and the queer community. Paying homage to them is essential to Steven, because they fought for the freedom of his community.
ANNA MARIA VESCOVI
American - Parsons The New School for Design - Paris - Date of birth: May 26, 1999 - Currently an Embroidery Designer at Schiaparelli, she previously interned at Kenzo for LVMH.
Anna Maria Vescovi's work begins with direct research into the archives of 19th-century stage jewelry from the Opéra Garnier, a collection of unique historical importance. Crafted from seemingly simple materials, the pieces were intended for opera and ballet performances from the Second Empire onward, embodying theatrical illusion and helping define the characters' identities. Vescovi combines them with a deep passion for her Sicilian roots, imagining a grandmother in traditional dress living a double life as a kleptomaniac, stealing gold relics from a nearby church. Shimmering, heavy, and precious handmade embroidery and traditional Sicilian women's garments, made from decadent fabrics, come together with a touch of sly irony.
WILLIAM PALMER
British - Central St. Martins College of Art and Design - Date of birth: April 29, 1992 - Currently developing his own brand, he has worked as a designer and developer at Comme des Garçons and as an intern at Walter Van Beirendonck and Craig Green.
William Palmer ironically criticizes British masculinity, subverting rigid and hyper-masculine ideals. It's an autobiographical inspiration, reflecting on the economic pressures and social expectations faced by the "breadwinner", the highest-earning member of the family. Teenage antics – like the "wedgie", the prank of pulling up someone else's underwear – are reinterpreted through hybrids of hoodies and underwear, merging boyhood and adult masculinity. Channeling the irreverent energy of "lad culture", the collection questions its toxic traits, proposing a more open, vulnerable, and expressive vision.
Discover the ITC 2026 Jury > THE JURY
ITS CONTEST 2026
March 19 - 20, 2026
ITS Arcademy - Museum of Art in Fashion
Via Cassa di Risparmio 10 Trieste
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