How to Join the FASHIONPhilippines Milan Mentorship Program 2026
Renz Reyes with mentor and Le Bon Marche Paris’ Helena Boissonnas. Courtesy of FASHIONPhilippines
Following the success of its debut at Fondazione Sozzani, a new cohort will join returning brands as they expand their presence on the international stage.
Following a historic debut during Milan Fashion Week last year, FASHIONPhilippines Milan returns for 2026. Led by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), the program is once again opening applications to Filipino designers ready to expand beyond the local market.
Under the direction of Sara Sozzani Maino and Teresa “Tetta” Ortiz-Matera, last year’s mentors included Riccardo Grassia, Silvia Bertocchi, Riccardo Terzo, Niccolò Paqualetti, Rylé Tuvierra, Giulia Demitri, and Helena Boissonnas, who guided the finalists through a series of portfolio reviews, one-to-one consultations, and developing a new body of work that integrates Filipino textiles along the way.
This year’s participants in the 2026 edition will experience an expanded and enhanced program, bridging the gap between education and industry, designed to further support local designers on the international stage. This includes a larger exhibition space, a stronger European market presence, a sharper focus on export readiness, and sustained international visibility. As Sozzani Maino has emphasized to Vogue Philippines, her focus has always been on “responsibility in all its forms,” supporting designers who are not only market-driven but also cultural ambassadors for Filipino craft and identity.
Applications for the FASHIONPhilippines Milan 2026 program are open until April 26, 2026. Requirements for submission include a brand profile, line sheets with USD price points, a lookbook for the last two collections, and a completed Brand and Business Assessment Form.
Frequently Asked Questions
The program is a global incubation initiative spearheaded by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) alongside the DOST-PTRI. It provides selected Filipino designers with strategic portfolio reviews, structural business consultations, and international runway exposure during Milan Fashion Week.
The program is led by industry authorities Sara Sozzani Maino and Teresa “Tetta” Ortiz-Matera. The mentorship board includes international fashion executives and designers such as Riccardo Grassia, Silvia Bertocchi, Riccardo Terzo, Niccolò Paqualetti, Rylé Tuvierra, Giulia Demitri, and Helena Boissonnas.
Formal applications for the 2026 international mentorship cohort must be finalized and submitted by April 26, 2026. This timeline allows the selection committee to audit corporate profiles and ensure selected brands meet strict European luxury export readiness standards.
Independent applicants must submit a comprehensive brand profile, commercial line sheets displaying standardized USD price points, editorial lookbooks representing their last two consecutive collections, and a meticulously finalized Brand and Business Assessment Form verifying structural scale capacity.
The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) provides technical infrastructure support. They assist designers in successfully integrating authentic, structurally viable Filipino heritage textiles into contemporary collections, bridging local craftsmanship with global commercial production requirements.
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