Momoka Sato Emerges Victorious: On March 22, the fashion competition reached a major milestone with the 21st edition of the International Talent Support (ITS) in Trieste, Italy. The event has developed from its 2002 inception by Barbara Franchin to provide its finalists with a range of options, such as residencies and exhibitions. Momoka Sato, of Japan, won the ITS Arcademy Award category and a grand prize of 15,000 euros; the competition continued its tradition of honoring pure innovation. Six other Chinese and four Japanese participants also took home awards.

The Japanese designer Momoka Sato is well-known for her elaborate ceremonial gowns that feature lace, embroidered, and other embellishments. In honor of her grandmother, who tragically died during the COVID-19 epidemic, Sato curated a collection that drew inspiration from traditional Japanese practices including the tea ceremony, floral art (Ikebana), and black ink painting (Sumi-e). The clothes in her collection represented several steps on the path to death.

The sustainability features, meticulous craftsmanship, and distinct style of Sato’s collection were all highly commended by the competition’s judges. Her portfolio’s flawless presentation throughout the submission process was a major selling point for them. Before founding her own company in 2020, Sato worked for textile companies in Japan after graduating from Bunka Fashion College in Japan and Nottingham Trent University in the UK.

A number of designers from Japan and China were among the thirteen awards bestowed upon the sixteen finalists. The Japanese duo Takayuki Miyazaki and Mieko Tsuboi were given special mentions in many categories, while Tomohiro Shibuki was the big winner, taking home multiple accolades like the ITS Challenge The Status Quo and the GO! 2025 Borderless. First prize went to Clémentine Baldo of France, and second place went to Ivan Delogu of Italy, who also won a bunch of awards.

Yuxi Sun of China took home the ITS Accessories Award, and Xiaoyue Lu was singled out for particular recognition, demonstrating the event’s influence on Chinese designers. One example of the varied skills on display at ITS 2023/24 was Wanqi Huang, who also won accolades.