In the continuing quest to open doors to international fashion for Filipino talent, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC), with Tetta Ortiz-Matera of LIT Fashion Consultancy, are collaborating on the launch of the FASHIONPhilippines Milan Mentorship Program 2025.
Fondazione Sozzani
Designed to educate, expose, and embolden Filipino designers and local brands, the game-changing initiative will have a three-day exhibition in Milan on September 23 to 25, presenting curated works by 10 chosen Filipino designers and fashion brands who qualify for the program. The exhibit will be held at Fondazione Sozzani, which was established in 2016 by Carla Sozzani, and which curates and coordinates projects focused on education, responsibility, and the next generation of creatives.
The designers’ works will be presented in the same space that has seen the exhibits of some iconic artists and designers, like Yayoi Kusama, Maison Martin Margiela, Zandra Rhodes, and photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Bruce Weber, and Helmut Newton. The exhibit coincides with one of the world’s most important fashion events, Milan Fashion Week S/S 2026.
Before the exhibition, selected Filipino designers and brands will undergo mentoring sessions with a distinguished seven-member panel of fashion industry leaders in education, creative direction, buying, marketing, and sales showroom management. The mentors will be hands-on, overseeing portfolio and collection previews, and will do one-on-one with each designer or brand to provide empowering interaction.
Led by Fondazione Sozzani creative director and Milan Fashion Week International new talent and brand ambassador Sara Sozzani-Maino, the illustrious line-up lending their industry insights and expertise includes RG Showroom founder Riccardo Grassi, designer Niccolo Pasqualetti, international fashion stylist and consultant Riccardo Terzo, digital content creator Ryle Tuvierra, women’s lifestyle and beauty buyer for Gaudenzi Boutique Giulia Demitri, and retail expert and buying consultant for Le Bon Marchè Helena Boissonnas.
About this collaborative endeavor, Sozzani-Maino says, “Innovation thrives where creativity meets collaboration. Together with CITEM and the talented Filipino designers, we aim to shape a vision for education that fuses craft with purpose, transforming ideas into meaningful, lasting experiences.”
DTI Secretary Cris Roque defined the program’s alignment with the country’s broader development goals: “The FASHIONPhilippines Milan Mentorship Program 2025 reflects our unwavering commitment to elevating and propelling Filipino design onto the global stage. Through this initiative, we are not only showcasing our country’s immense design talent, but also broadening economic opportunities for our designers and local brands in the highly competitive international market.”
CITEM executive director Leah Pulido Ocampo
CITEM executive director Leah Pulido-Ocampo emphasized the importance of mentorship in cultivating and elevating Filipino talent. “This initiative is more than just an exhibition; it’s a strategic platform designed to help Filipino fashion designers and brands build relationships with international buyers and global industry gatekeepers.”
Tetta Ortiz-Matera of LIT Fashion Consultancy
PFC chairperson Carissa Cruz-Evangelista expressed strong appreciation of the local and international support of the project: “We are happy that DTI, CITEM, Fondazione Sozzani, and our other collaborators have all shown enthusiasm and commitment to this endeavor. We are thankful for their unwavering support and confidence in our local talent and potential.”
Tetta Ortiz-Matera of LIT Fashion Consultancy, who helped organized and design the program, said, “This is a rare and strategic chance for Filipino designers to not only showcase their works, but to also become part of the global fashion conversation, with direct mentorship from experts who can help refine their vision and business strategies.”
Jackie Aquino of Philippine Fashion Coalition
From April 21 to June 14, 2025, aspiring designers can submit their applications to the official FASHIONPhilippines Milan Mentorship Program website. In June 2025, the international jury will review and vet the entries, choosing the most promising talents. The final list of chosen designers will be officially announced the same month.
Interested designers and brands must meet the following criteria:
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Must be a member of the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC)
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Must have a registered business in the Philippines for at least two years
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Must be a Filipino national
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Collections must be produced in the Philippines
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Must have launched at least two collections in the past two years, and must be able to present a 15- to 20-piece collection during the Milan exhibition
Application requirements:
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Brand profile and concept description
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Designer’s personal and professional details
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Proof of business registration and sustainability efforts
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Portfolio showcasing past and current collections
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Contact and distribution details
For more details on how to apply and access the application form, please visit https://fameplus.com/trade_fairs/fashionphilippines-milan.
For updates and inquiries, follow CITEM on Facebook and Instagram and Philippine Fashion Coalition’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
