Sibiu, July 18, 2025

The 17th edition of Feeric Fashion Week began yesterday in Sibiu with a series of spectacular shows held in unconventional spaces, marked by current themes such as sustainability, collective memory, and visual research. The first day of the most important fashion event in Eastern Europe brought to the public’s attention creations signed by both established and emerging designers from around the world.

The festival opened with a visual manifesto: “Timeless Threads” by Hooldra, the fifth project presented by Feeric Hub. The collection demonstrated how responsibility and creativity can generate remarkable pieces, born from the deconstruction and regeneration of second-hand clothing. Inspired by the aesthetics of the 1960s and reinterpreted by emerging designers from across Europe, the show paid tribute to ethical fashion and long-term impact. The setting matched the message, as the presentation was staged among the new textile waste collection bells installed across Sibiu County and a significant quantity of already collected waste. In just a month and a half the time it took to create Hooldra’s collection over 3,000 kilograms of textile waste were gathered in Sibiu. “We all try to recycle, to transform, and to make better choices. But real change begins before the trash bin, with conscious consumption, responsibility, and a commitment to reducing waste at the source. Let’s not limit ourselves to transforming what’s already been thrown away. Let’s rethink the way we consume,” said Dumitru Preda, president of Feeric Fashion Week and initiator of the Feeric Hub project.

The next collection was presented in the city’s salt storage warehouse used for winter road maintenance, a space belonging to the company SOMA. The collection OP:1 by designer Wijnruit offered a reflection on memory and identity. The designer used recycled materials — military canvas, lace, wool, lycra, and custom prints to create modular pieces with cropped jackets and detachable sleeves, evoking memories and values passed down through generations.

The first group presentation took place at the Feeric Venue, hosted this year by Promenada Sibiu, and brought together international fashion education initiatives: Ukrainian Fashion Education Group, Newgiza University, New Bulgarian University, Almog Pinto Cohen, and “Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad. The models walked through a diaphanous setting, showcasing how innovation and academic training can shape the future of the industry.

At the end of the collective presentation, the audience was invited to explore the exhibition signed by Ana Farima “Bogdaprosti.” Inspired by a fragile period of childhood, the collection reconstructs the imaginative world shaped by grandmothers’ words and incantations, transforming memories into garments with strong visual impact. Each piece is made using traditional techniques, enhanced by an innovative material – an eco-leather obtained from vegetal waste that brings a subtle dialogue between craftsmanship and experimentation.

At Feeric Fashion Week, sustainability has been a central priority for over nine years, given that fashion remains one of the most polluting industries in the world. The event embraces its role as an educator and promoter of a responsible fashion future, emphasizing the need for more conscious environmental impact. In this spirit, the Bogdaprosti exhibition also marked the launch of the IZVOD LAB project, a research and exhibition initiative dedicated to innovation and ethical practices in garment production and the new directions of fashion.

Later in the evening, two fashion shows transformed the underground parking lot of Promenada Sibiu into a true contemporary art gallery. INSIDE upcycling couture presented the collection “Appearance of Transition │ Transition of Appearance,” a visual exploration of metamorphosis, with handcrafted pieces made from abandoned materials juxtaposing light and shadow, color and monochrome.

Following this, the brand WE Wilczewska Emilia introduced the collection “DOM,” inspired by the idea of home as a refuge and a space of protection. Materials such as pillows, quilts, and curtains were transformed into ample silhouettes designed to bring comfort and reassurance.

The final two presentations of the day also took place in the industrial setting of the underground parking area. The Fashion Department of the National University of Arts in Bucharest brought to the stage a selection of BA and MA graduation projects, exploring fashion as a space for critical reflection and visual research. The pieces stood out through their diversity, personal themes, and experimental forms.

The evening concluded with the collection “Escapism” by Michal Duraj (Faculty of Art, Wrocław, Poland), inspired by the film The Virgin Suicides and the nostalgia of imaginary summers. Faded tones, weathered textures, and recycled materials shaped a poetic and fragile fictional wardrobe.

Feeric Fashion Week 2025 opened with a demonstration of creative strength and commitment to sustainability, education, and diversity. The first presentations confirmed Sibiu’s status as a reference point in international fashion, a place where past and future meet on the runway.

For more information about upcoming events, we invite you to check the full schedule on the official website feeric.ro or on the event’s social media channels.

Today’s first presentation will take place in the courtyard of the Evangelical Church in Cisnădie, starting at 2:00 PM.