The Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), has launched the FASHIONPhilippines Milan Mentorship Program 2025 in partnership with the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC) and consultancy firm LIT Fashion.
The initiative aims to prepare 10 Filipino designers and fashion brands for a global audience through a mentorship program and a three-day exhibition at Fondazione Sozzani in Milan, scheduled from Sept. 23 to 25. The showcase will coincide with Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026.
Curated designs by the selected participants will be exhibited at Fondazione Sozzani, a venue known for hosting works by prominent figures such as Yayoi Kusama, Maison Martin Margiela, Annie Leibovitz, and Helmut Newton.
Before the exhibit, participants will undergo a mentorship program with a panel of fashion industry professionals led by Sara Sozzani Maino, creative director of Fondazione Sozzani. Other mentors include Riccardo Grassi, Niccolò Pasqualetti, Riccardo Terzo, Giulia Demitri, Helena Boissonnas, and Ryle Tuvierra. The sessions will include portfolio reviews and one-on-one consultations to help designers refine their business strategies and creative direction.
DTI Secretary Cris Roque said the program reflects the agency’s efforts to promote Filipino talent abroad while also boosting local economic opportunities.
CITEM executive director Leah Pulido-Ocampo said the project is structured as both a creative and business platform.
“It’s about fostering long-term business growth and cultivating awareness on the Filipino aesthetic that’s worthy of global recognition,” she said.
PFC chairperson Carissa Cruz-Evangelista noted that the initiative has received strong support from local and international partners. LIT Fashion’s Tetta Ortiz-Matera, who helped design the program, called the effort “a rare and strategic chance” for Filipino designers to engage with key players in the global fashion market.
Applications for the mentorship program are open until June 14. Applicants must be Filipino nationals, registered members of PFC, have at least two years of business operation in the Philippines, and have launched a minimum of two collections. Designers must also commit to presenting a 15–20-piece collection in Milan.
Application forms and full requirements are available at: https://fameplus.com/trade_fairs/fashionphilippines-milan.
