In the occasion of Fashion Graduate Italia 2025, Lineapelle and Piattaforma Sistema Formativo Moda ETS have launched an initiative designed to celebrate emerging talent and promote a culture of responsible design. The competition, Next Gen Leather Designers, is aimed at students from Italian fashion schools, inviting them to explore leather as a creative and sustainable material — and as a language for the future. The project weaves together education, industry and vision, with the goal of telling the story of fashion’s future through the eyes of the next generation.
What is Next Gen Leather Designers
The contest stems from a long-standing collaboration between Lineapelle – UNIC Italian Tanneries and Piattaforma ETS, and seeks to bring students closer to the world of Italian leather production. Participants are asked to design a mini capsule collection of outfits or accessories using leather as the central element, inspired by the theme “Bridging Tribes. Building Dreams”, chosen for Fashion Graduate Italia 2025. It is an invitation to explore the connections between cultures, technologies and craftsmanship, while addressing ESG topics and reflecting on the ethical impact of design choices.
An international showcase
The selected projects will be displayed in a dedicated area during the Lineapelle trade fair, scheduled from 15 to 17 September 2026 — a unique opportunity for young creatives to engage directly with the fashion system, demonstrating how sustainability, innovation and education can converge in a conscious approach to design. The final winner will be announced during the event, spotlighting the talent and vision of the new protagonists of Italian fashion.
According to Fulvia Bacchi, CEO of Lineapelle and General Manager of UNIC, “The collaboration between Lineapelle and Piattaforma Sistema Formativo Moda ETS, which has been ongoing for some time, is now enriched by a new initiative — Next Gen Leather Designers — dedicated to graduating students from the fashion schools represented by Piattaforma. It represents a further commitment from Lineapelle towards young creatives, in the awareness of how vital it is to support them to ensure their future and that of our industry”.
