Taking Flight With BAZAAR NewGen and Istituto Marangoni

Since its inception, this publication has been dedicated to supporting and uplifting the next generation of fashion talent—most notably through the Harper’s BAZAAR Asia NewGen Fashion Award. Now in its ninth iteration, the Award has served as a vital platform that aims to support young designers through a multi-pronged approach. Participating designers are linked with a panel of our editors, experts and industry insiders who offer mentorship and guidance on a range of topics, from design direction and pattern construction to business development and pricing strategies. The eventual winner walks away with a cash prize with which to grow their business, editorial exposure on all BAZAAR channels, retail platforms for their wares both online and off, and an opportunity to further their education in a major style capital at one of the world’s most prestigious fashion schools: Istituto Marangoni. 

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Opened in 1935 in Milan, the university has since grown its reach with locations in other design-centric cities such as London, Paris, Florence, Miami, Shanghai and Dubai. Its network of schools is home to a diverse, international community of students from over 100 countries. Some of the school’s most notable alumni include the likes of Domenico Dolce and Franco Moschino. At Istituto Marangoni, the approach to education is focused equally on building up both creative skills and commercial savvy—the courses (be it in fashion, design or art) cover every facet of the industry, from how to design a collection to building a sustainable business. Classes in marketing, creative direction and styling ensure that graduates emerge as well-rounded individuals familiar with the different aspects of their respective industries. 

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The institute has also recently launched its I’M Mentors Project, which provides students with guidance and support from experts and industry leaders such as Olivier Rousteing of Balmain, Massimo Giorgetti of MSGM, and Paul Andrew, formerly of Salvatore Ferragamo. At its London outpost, the school has enlisted the expertise of the influential editor and stylist, Katie Grand. It is at the London branch that the eventual winner of the Harper’s BAZAAR Asia NewGen Fashion Award will be placed for their one-year postgraduate programme. London, of course, is one of the most diverse cities in the world—a hotbed
of rich cultures and countercultures, and home to some of the most influential, creative and exciting designers in the history of fashion: The ideal next step for our new generation of fashion stars to further refine a truly singular, global point of view. 

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