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Transilvania Fashion Festival – Entry Criteria (2026)

Transilvania Fashion Festival is an international cultural event that consistently provides a viable platform for the presentation and promotion of young designers, students, graduates, master’s and PhD candidates, as well as established designers from Romania and abroad. Through curatorial selection, professional jury evaluation, and dedicated showcases, TFF offers a creative and professional framework with real visibility for collections: from supporting the concept and creative identity to facilitating connections with audiences, the press, the industry, and the fashion community. Each edition functions as an ecosystem for validation and launch, bringing emerging talents and established names together in a space for dialogue, inspiration, and collaboration, strengthening the cultural and professional impact of contemporary fashion.

1) Eligible categories (who can apply)

A. Graduates / Students of Art Universities (Romania and International)

Eligible applicants include:students (BA/MA), PhD candidates, and recent graduates of art universities/fashion design programs in Romania and abroad; applicants applying individually or as a team of up to 2 people (duo).

B. Young designers (emerging)

Eligible applicants include young creatives who have created at least one collection launched on the fashion market in Romania or abroad. Proof must be provided through presentation images and/or media materials.

C. Established designers (active brand/label)

Eligible applicants include designers/brands with commercial activity who can demonstrate: commercial production experience, professional practice, and innovative use of textiles/materials.

2) General entry conditions (applicable to all categories)

• Minimum age: 18+
• Collection theme: no mandatory theme is imposed; any genre/approach is accepted as long as the collection has a coherent concept.
• Individual or duo participation: duo applications are accepted; teams larger than 2 are not eligible.
• Conceptual unity: the collection must be conceptually consistent (all outfits/products linked to the same idea).
• Originality and rights: by applying, participants confirm authorship; plagiarism leads to disqualification.
• Materials, ethics, and logistical compliance: applicants are encouraged to avoid materials or elements that may involve transport restrictions or special handling requirements, as well as any components that could hinder the safe and smooth organization and execution of backstage activities and the event itself (setup, quick changes, accessorizing, runway mobility).
• Selection process: selection is based on the digital application (online pre-selection), with the possibility of requesting additional materials/printouts/prototypes at a later stage.

3) Requirements for the submitted collection (number of looks and year of creation)

• Established designers: the submitted collection must be created in the current year and include 15 looks.
• Students / MA students / graduates / young designers: may present 10 looks. (Consistency is required between what is submitted and what is produced/presented; major deviations from the approved project may lead to disqualification.)

4) Online application portfolio (for jury evaluation)

• The online collection portfolio must include:
• Photographs and sketches of the outfits/looks;
• Creative details and materiality (development process: research, experiments, draping, prototyping, close-up images, textures, finishes, fittings/samples);
• Concept statement (short presentation): concept, motivation, message, and impact;
• Specifying the number of women's and/or men's clothing items
• Short CV (in RO or EN) and an author photo;
• (Optional) Video / fashion film – useful for evaluation but not mandatory.
• Quality note: the aesthetic quality of the portfolio/presentation is explicitly considered (layout, clarity, photography).

Important note: Transilvania Fashion Festival does not provide accommodation or transportation during the event for selected participants. The full event schedule will be communicated in advance, so that each participant can efficiently arrange their travel and accommodation.