The format of the 35th National Fashion Profession Contest for Young Designers – RMI 2025, the longest-running contest in Italy dedicated to creatives in the fashion sector, was presented in Milan. The competition is promoted and organized by CNA Federmoda.
The overall winner of the contest will receive a scholarship of €10,000 and will have the opportunity to participate in international events as part of the collaborations established by CNA Federmoda in the global fashion landscape, such as Mozambique Fashion Week. Additionally, the “RMI Young Talent Award” has been introduced, offering a €3,000 scholarship and a supply of fabrics sponsored by SILKOMO.
“CNA Federmoda continues its commitment to investing in young talent, creating connections between the educational world and the job market. This commitment drives CNA’s Fashion Sector Union to plan the 35th edition of the National Fashion Profession Contest for Young Designers and the broader RMI – Research Fashion Innovation 2025 program in an increasingly structured way, projecting the event as a global platform available to young creatives and businesses,” said Marco Landi, National President of CNA Federmoda.
The event is being renewed to better strengthen its connection with real businesses. To this end, it initiates a journey through the Italian fashion districts. “The strength of ‘Made in Italy’ undoubtedly lies in our district-based structure and the preservation of intact supply chains within Italy,” said Antonio Franceschini, National Manager of CNA Federmoda. “This is why we deemed it appropriate to bring the contest’s young finalists to the fashion territories. We have always highlighted the added value of the National Fashion Profession Contest for Young Designers, which lies in the unique nature of its final phase. This is not limited to an event for awarding prizes but serves as a genuine moment for exploring sector dynamics through a workshop dedicated to the finalists.”
The workshop, which has always involved industry experts as lecturers, will continue in this vein by delving into Italian production districts, thereby creating opportunities for enriching the experience with visits to workshops and entities supporting the sector. “For the 2025 edition, several district entities have already expressed interest in hosting the workshop, and in the coming months, we will finalize the choice of location,” Franceschini added.
The new format, shared with various event partners, including Milano Fashion&Jewels, Maredamare, Immagine Italia & Co., TheOneMilano, AIP, Pro2Dev, and Milano Jewelry Week, along with the Museo del Risparmio (Intesa Sanpaolo), is now ready to accept applications from aspiring young designers for the 2025 edition.
“With the introduction of the RMI Young Talent Award, the contest, since its inception, has aimed to promote the inclusion of young talents—even less experienced but promising ones—into a competition that might include candidates with more training and preparation. The jury now has the opportunity to award a participant among high school seniors who demonstrates a particularly promising and deserving profile, even if they lack formal training compared to other competitors. This decision will be based on merit, potential, and motivation, valuing the attitude and skills demonstrated,” said Roberto Corbelli, Artistic Director of RMI.
Another innovation is the “RMI 5Reels Project Award,” designed to engage contest participants in the social media realm.
The contest is open to high school seniors and students enrolled in post-secondary institutes, academies, and universities who are under 25 years old as of December 31, 2024. It is divided into five product categories: Clothing and Knitwear; Fur; Intimate and Resortwear; Leather Goods and Footwear; Accessories (jewelry, costume jewelry, eyewear). Among the prizes for winners in individual categories are software by Pro2Dev and exposure opportunities at events like Maredamare, Milano Fashion&Jewels, Milano Jewelry Week, Immagine Italia & Co., and others.
Milano Fashion&Jewels—an event by Fiera Milano dedicated to the jewelry and fashion accessories world—confirms a broad and diversified format for its next edition, increasingly focused on business and balancing market and creativity. The next edition, scheduled for February 22–25, 2025, will showcase unique proposals distinguished by design, research, craftsmanship, and sustainability. It will feature over 600 brands—half Italian and half international—presenting their spring/summer 2025 collections of fashion accessories, apparel, and jewelry. This offer continues to expand with each edition, thanks to numerous initiatives and collaborations recently established with key industry players. Supporting the National Fashion Profession Contest for Young Designers – RMI 2025 is a significant initiative through which the fair actively and consistently backs young talent.
“Supporting young fashion talent means investing in the future of creativity and innovation. Initiatives like the National Fashion Profession Contest for Young Designers offer emerging designers concrete opportunities for growth, visibility, and engagement with industry professionals. The Maredamare award for the Intimate and Resortwear category, including a fashion show on our fair’s official calendar (July 19–21, 2025, in Florence), provides a unique launchpad for international visibility and new professional collaborations,” said Raffaella Petrossi, Operational Director of Maredamare and Immagine Italia & Co.
“The Italian Fur Association has supported this contest since its inception. We do so because RMI annually previews how young designers can innovate and create with natural fur. They represent a new generation that is socially and environmentally conscious, eager to demonstrate the responsible use of this material. From upcycling to supporting communities and cultures, vintage fur, and ethical sourcing, designers are invited to present collections that are not only responsible but also modern, youthful, and vibrant. RMI offers the next generation of creatives the chance to experiment while paying attention to sustainability and working for a better future,” said Roberto Tadini, President of AIP.
“Pro2Dev’s participation in the event reflects our commitment to promoting innovation and Italian-made technology by supporting companies and schools with cutting-edge solutions. We are proud to collaborate as a partner of this event, offering software for design and pattern-making while sharing the goal of developing tools that meet the needs of an ever-evolving world.”
“We are delighted to renew our support for the contest promoted by CNA Federmoda, an initiative we have enthusiastically supported for years. Milano Jewelry Week, through projects like Artistar Jewels and the Talent Show, has always been dedicated to nurturing young talent, offering them an international stage to showcase creativity and innovation. Collaborating on this project allows us to further our mission of discovering and promoting the future stars of contemporary jewelry, contributing to the emergence of new excellence in the jewelry sector.”
SILKOMO For over 30 years, Silkomo has been crafting its story in producing printed, jacquard, and solid fabrics for the most prestigious women’s fashion brands worldwide. Based in Como, at the heart of the textile region, Silkomo’s work is characterized by creativity, innovation, and a continuous quest for quality. As a long-time supporter of the National Fashion Profession Contest for Young Designers, Silkomo awards a fabric supply to the RMI Young Talent Award winner, enabling the immediate creation of a mini capsule collection.
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