Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana continues to expand its commitment supporting the talent of emerging designers on the Italian fashion scene. The annual fashion show of the Milano Moda Graduate program will open the Milan Women's Fashion Week on 19 September 2023 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sala Cariatidi of Palazzo Reale. The host of the evening will be Mikaela Neaze Silva, the young face of television.

The project, launched for the first time in 2015 and dedicated to students of the main Italian fashion schools, returns thanks to the continuous support of the Main Partner YKK Italia. On September 19, 18 students will present their collections in front of an international jury of industry experts, where the jurors will be able to see first-hand the progress made and the objectives achieved by the young designers.

10 different Italian schools operating in the fashion sector will be represented. The finalists of this edition of Milano Moda Graduate were selected by Cnmi with the support of a prestigious jury that includes Beppe Angiolini, honorary president of Camera Italiana Buyer Moda and founder of Sugar; Gianluca Cantaro, critic, fashion journalist and creative; Sara Sozzani Maino, creative director of the Sozzani Foundation and international brand ambassador of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion; Veronica Trezzi, marketing & communication YKK Italia; Paola Arosio, head of projects, Sustainability & New Brands National Chamber of Italian Fashion.

The jury selected 7 finalists in the fashion design category, called upon to create a collection of 5 pieces to be shown on the catwalk in September: Matteo Tomaino (IED Istituto Europeo di Design); Francesco Datti (Istituto Marangoni); Carolina Popa (NABA, New Academy of Fine Arts); Francesco Maria De Angelis (Academy of Costume & Fashion); Francesca Scocco (IUAV University of Venice); Chiara Balla (Modartech Institute); Maria Rosaria Serra (University of Campania L. Vanvitelli).

Also for this edition, there will be a section entirely dedicated to YKK Italia, the main partner of Milano Moda Graduate, which will allow a selection of 11 designers from Italian fashion schools to create an outfit entirely dedicated to closing accessories.

The finalists of the YKK category are Rosa Martina Palma (University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli); Francesco Saverio Matera and Alessandro Baldasseroni (IED European Institute of Design); Alessia Ancillotti (Istituto Marangoni); Virginia Rubini (NABA, New Academy of Fine Arts); Caterina Dal Bianco (IUAV University of Venice); Derek Nahakpam (Domus Academy); Maria Cristina Zarbo (Harim Accademia Euromediterranea); Andrea Di Giulio (IUAD); Alessia Petito (IUAD); Lorenzo Tolomei (Academy of Costume & Fashion).

Milano Moda Graduate aims to represent a unique project in which all the professionals of the fashion system find space and offer young people a mentoring path. For the sixth time, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana offers students an educational path consisting of workshops and specific consultancy on various topics.

Various events are scheduled that range from sustainability to production techniques, international trends and markets, and digital communication. Among the mentors of the program: YKK Italia; Tiktok Italy; and Zegna.

Photo: Derek Nahakpam, a student of the Master in Fashion Design at Domus Academy, was selected among the finalists of Milano Moda Graduate, YKK category, the event promoted by the Camera della Moda Italiana. Courtesy image.