W: Alison Inns
The Istituto Modartech Graduate Fashion Show 2025 wasn't just a runway; it was a high-voltage manifesto. Held under the evocative theme "Bridging Tribes, Building Dreams" at Fashion Graduate Italia, the showcase proved that the next generation of Italian designers isn't just looking at the past—they’re redesigning it with a digital scalpel.
From AI-augmented patterns to raw, artisanal craftsmanship, the show highlighted a "LINK" between the historic manufacturing districts of Italy and a borderless, tech-driven future.
Here is ASBO's five standout designers, whose work defined the 2025 showcase
Manuela Mezzanu | Collection: "Essere Isola" (Being an Island)
Mezzanu’s work was a deep dive into Sardinian identity, focusing on the concept of isolation as a creative strength rather than a limitation.
- The Vision: A celebration of Sardinian resilience, blending the island's ancient textile traditions with a minimalist, avant-garde silhouette.
- Technique: The collection featured the Filet di Bosa (a traditional Sardinian lace technique), natural dyes, and felt. She experimented with the "aging" of fabrics to give them a lived-in, historical weight.
- Key Look: Hand-assembled garments that merge raw, natural fibers with sophisticated, structural tailoring.
Misbah Bonci | Collection: "Still Me"
Misbah Bonci delivered one of the most conceptually striking collections of the year. Inspired by the Suri people of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, Bonci transformed the concept of ritual scarring into high-fashion aesthetics.
- The Vision: An exploration of how scars—both physical and emotional—serve as symbols of beauty and protection.
- Technique: The collection utilized heavily treated animal leathers and intricate textures that mimic biological patterns. Her work bridges the gap between the "Black Dandy" elegance and tribal raw power.
- Key Look: Structural outerwear that treats leather not just as a fabric, but as a secondary skin, featuring tactile surface manipulations.
Hamide Osmani | Collection: "Kujtimet" (Memories)
Osmani’s collection was a moving tribute to her roots in Kosovo, blending nostalgic craftsmanship with contemporary silhouettes.
- The Vision: A narrative of rebirth and cultural resilience. She successfully translated the rugged beauty of the Balkan landscape into a luxury wardrobe.
- Technique: Exceptional use of Made-in-Italy mohair yarns that evoked the texture of Kosovar sheep. The collection leaned heavily into artisanal knitwear and traditional techniques reinterpreted through a modern lens.
- Key Look: Oversized, textured knit pieces that balance heavy volume with a soft, ethereal material quality.
Anna Puccioni | Collection: "SK!NK"
Already a rising star—having secured an internship with Gela Nash in New York—Puccioni’s collection was a masterclass in circular fashion and "industrial-organic" aesthetics.
- The Vision: A focus on the skin as a canvas for self-expression, specifically referencing the healing process of tattoos and body modification.
- Technique: Innovative use of UV resin printing to create "healed tattoo" effects on fabric. She utilized leather scraps and deadstock, integrating piercing dilators as functional haberdashery (buttons/fasteners).
- Key Look: A signature coat featuring resin-embossed textures and hardware inspired by body jewelry.
Martina Savino | Collection: "Ruote del Destino" (Wheels of Fate)
Savino closed the selection with a collection that felt both prophetic and deeply grounded in movement and geometry.
- The Vision: An exploration of the cyclical nature of life and destiny, translated through circular patterns and kinetic energy.
- Technique: Savino showcased a strong grasp of pattern making, using complex geometry to create garments that seem to change shape as the model moves.
- Key Look: Sculptural dresses with radial symmetry that utilize fabric stiffness to maintain "wheel-like" shapes, embodying the collection's title.