Between October 15 and 18, Bucharest once again became the vibrant heart of fashion in Eastern Europe. The third edition of Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week brought together established designers, emerging voices, cultural institutions, and industry leaders for four days dedicated to creativity, sustainability, and innovation.
Organized under the aegis of the Council of Fashion Designers of Romania (CFDR), this season’s event reaffirmed its mission to position Bucharest as a regional hub of fashion and cultural dialogue. With Mercedes-Benz as the main strategic partner and the continued support of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, the platform strengthened its presence on the European fashion circuit.
The week opened with the Next Generation Conference
Moderated by Amalia Enache, the conference featured personalities such as Roberto Liberti (Milano Fashion Institute), Iris Skrami (Renoon), Matteo Patalano (Space & Agency Group), Alina Ceușan, and Andreea Bădală (MURMUR). The discussions explored the future of fashion at the intersection of creativity, business, and sustainability.
The central moment of the day was Next Generation – Fashion Talent Award, organized in collaboration with Polimoda, under the theme “Cultural Heritage in Fashion: A Bridge Between Tradition and Innovation.” The competition named Mara Popa as the winner, whose creations impressed the international jury through a poetic and contemporary reinterpretation of cultural identity. The finalists also included Roxana Tudor (“DOR”), Melisa Savu(“NUCA”), Genghiz Beghim (“Common Thread”), Azime Őnder (“Contemporary Eternity”), Bogdan Bodroș (“Dansul Ursului – The Bear Dance”), Rebeca Andreea Neagu (“Roots”), Ioana Dodoloi (“Petrichor”), Ema-Sara Căprușor(“Blooming Heritage”), and Darius Boar (“Rituals Undone”), each exploring the link between tradition and modernity.
Memorable shows at the National Museum of Art of Romania
The Throne Hall of the National Museum of Art became the stage for a week dedicated to the art of clothing. In a solemn setting, warm light reflected the textures, volumes, and stories of each designer a celebration of the aesthetic diversity of Eastern Europe.
AMI AMALIA – SS26
Ami Amalia brought the magic of fairytales back to life through sustainable, modern knitwear made in Transylvania from natural yarns. Inspired by stories and ancestral symbols golden trees, healing flowers, enchanted beings the collection blended childhood nostalgia with the elegance of the present. Each piece was a story about comfort, meaning, and refinement.
ALMAZ – SS26 Private Show
The ALMAZ SS26 collection was a declaration of feminine strength. Intended for those who do not ask permission to shine, but do so naturally, the show was marked by a strong, urban aesthetic, with precise lines, glossy materials, and metallic accents. ALMAZ offered a tribute to the woman who transforms vulnerability into power.
GUDU – SS26 “A New Verse in Black Poetry”
Lasha Mdinaradze transformed black into a living language. In GUDU SS26, absence became presence. Sculptural suits and silhouettes cut with geometric precision intertwined with ethereal knitwear, suggesting the balance between strength and fragility. Black was not worn to hide, but to dominate to speak without words.
RXQUETTE – SS26 “Vespertine”
RXQUETTE brought cinematic elegance to the stage, inspired by the evenings of the 1930s and the refinement of the 1950s. Fluid silhouettes, backless dresses, tailored jackets with accentuated waists, and fine textures reimagined classic femininity. Recycled fabrics, embroideries, and vintage details turned nostalgia into contemporary sophistication.
CARMEN SECAREANU – SS26
The Carmen Secăreanu SS26 collection combined sustainability with poetic chaos. Recycled fabrics, hemp, linen, and vintage embroideries merged with silk and lace, transforming ordinary materials into expressions of oneiric rebellion. The collection evolved like an “invasive summer,” surprising through energy, details, and visual emotion.
BORBALA – SS26
BORBALA redefined the idea of recycling as an aesthetic gesture. Through vibrant patchworks and unexpected structures, the designer transformed textile remnants into wearable works. Each piece was a story about rebirth and creative freedom, a celebration of individuality.
VOL – SS26 “A Celebration of Freedom”
The result of a creative collaboration between Bianca Tăban and Massimiliano Giornetti, the VOL SS26 collection was inspired by water and the freedom it offers, guiding the entire artistic and visual direction of the presentation.
The collection marks an important moment for VOL, stepping into new territory by introducing an extended range of accessories: snake and pony leather bags, statement chains, earrings, luxury swimwear, belts, and more. Each piece and accessory bears the collection’s defining symbol the metallic bird, a distinctive sign present throughout.
RAFAELA PESTRIȚU – SS26 “The Barefoot Bandit”
A collection about femininity that refuses to be tamed. With mixed prints, fluid materials, and bohemian accents, Rafaela Pestrițu built a world in which the woman dances and runs barefoot through the conventions of the world. Freedom, rhythm, dream in continuous motion.
SAMAN LOIRA – SS26
Inspired by the Neapolitan volcano, the Saman Loira collection was an eruption of sensuality and strength. Fluid silhouettes, sculptural corsets, and mineral textures captured the telluric energy of the earth. The highlight: forest dress a collaboration with chocolatier Gay Odin, a sculptural dress that transformed luxury into tactile emotion.
MURMUR – SS26
Andreea Bădală built a story about assumed fragility. MURMUR SS26 blended the aesthetics of vintage lingerie with architectural cuts. A delicate palette of white, pink, and lavender, balanced by black, emphasized the contrast between vulnerability and power. A collection about femininity that does not need to justify itself.
MEDEEA – SS26
MEDEEA SS26 brought an introspective perspective on femininity. Classic materials cotton, wool, silk joined metallic inserts and industrial cuts. In collaboration with Emilian Pospaii, curated by Marian Palie, the collection became a wearable journal, an embroidered poem about memory and vulnerability.
M.MARQUISE – SS26 “A Manifesto of Light and Joy”
A celebration of light and pure joy. With noble materials silk, Mikado, Solstiss lace, and sparkling applications M.Marquise created an ethereal collection, a manifesto of elegance that comes from within. Each piece was a reflection of feminine optimism.
LADO BOKUCHAVA – SS26
Inspired by the horror aesthetics of the 1980s, Lado Bokuchava explored the tension between refinement and deformation. Femininity took shape here as a paradox: fragile and at the same time indestructible. Reimagined evening dresses, sharp lines, dense materials a gothic poem about imperfection.
ALEXANDRA SIPA – SS26 “Out of the Woods”
Alexandra Sipa reinterpreted the mythology of the iele mystical creatures of the forest. Lace, silk, tulle, and metallic threads transformed into ethereal creations, full of mystery. A collection about the duality between beauty and danger, between seduction and wildness.
The designer concluded her show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week with an emotional moment dedicated to women’s safety. The models wore T-shirts with messages about domestic violence and femicide, and the creator launched a call for solidarity and action, emphasizing the need for a world in which women live free, without fear and with confidence.
NISSA SS26 – “VENUS”
The NISSA SS26 collection was born from inspiration that captures the glow of moonlit waters and the mystery of shells, embodying timeless femininity and radiant grace. Fluid silhouettes and refined textures reflect the brand’s sustainable vision of sophistication, craftsmanship, and sustainability, celebrating eternal beauty and the confidence of the modern woman.
Showroom Moment for Buyers at Corinthia Hotel Bucharest
The Showroom Moment for Buyers section brought together fashion and business in an exclusive networking experience, connecting designers with key international retail houses. Each brand was presented in a personalized setting, offering guests a curatorial journey through the creative universe and craftsmanship of each designer.
Buyers in attendance included: Level Shoes (UAE), Antonia (Italy), Suits (Italy), Riccardo Grassi (Italy), Dell’Oglio Boutique (Italy), Studio Zeta (Italy), Firis (Austria), Galeries Lafayette (France), DOFAMIN (Republic of Moldova), United Arrows, Hankyu Department Store, Isetan Mitsukoshi (Japan), Tomorrow (Italy), as well as Camera Buyer Italiaand Camera Showroom Milano.
A WEEK OF SUBSTANCE: SUSTAINABILITY, COLLABORATION, ART
Beyond the runway, MBBFW 2025 was defined by responsibility and innovation.
The Sustainability Dinner, hosted at Loft Bucharest, marked the official moment of CFDR’s accession to the European Fashion Alliance (EFA) a symbolic step that places Romania among the European leaders of sustainable fashion.
Art also played a central role through two major exhibitions: “Brancusi and the Muses of Dance,” organized by the National Heritage Institute, and “MRACONIA | BY BALKAN,” curated by Stefan Dragić and Vasilis Marlantis, a visual exploration of Balkan identity and memory.
BEYOND THE RUNWAY
From the Throne Hall of the National Museum of Art, transformed into an elegant creative hub, to the exclusive parties powered by IQOS, the energy of MBBFW went beyond the catwalk.
The final day was animated by a live performance by Delia, supported by adidas, and concluded with the Closing Party powered by IQOS, held at Fratelli Studios, which became one of the most sought-after moments of the week. With a live set Golan x MUSE quartet and an electrifying performance by Anthony DJ, the night was an explosion of rhythm, style, and expression.
Through its initiatives, IQOS consistently supports the creative community in Romania, offering a space for the manifestation of talent and innovation. Participation in Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week consolidates this mission, creating a platform of exposure, visibility, and collaboration for the materialization of artistic visions.
Under the city lights, designers, artists, and guests celebrated elegance, diversity, and the new energy of Bucharest a city reclaiming its place on the global fashion map.
Event partners
- Title sponsor: Mercedes-Benz
- Main partners: IQOS, Banca Transilvania, Auchan
- Partners: Fashion Days, Oral-B, STIL Diamonds, Pepsi, adidas, Promenada Mall Bucharest, RetuRO, WizzAir, Evian, Martini, Glenfiddich, Apivita, FILORGA, URIAGE, Schwarzkopf Professional, TOP Line Unalike Beauty, BoConcept, JBL, Regina Maria, Murfatlar Vinul, Heineken, Julius Meinl, Apius / Innovate Moldova / Invest Moldova, InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest
- Strategic media partner: Antena Stars
- Media partners: mediaTRUST, euromedia, Ringier, ELLE, VIVA!, Libertatea, Virgin Radio, KUDIKA, Garbo, Wall-Street, Haute Culture, Luxury, Touch Magazine, EVA, Ego, Radio Romania Cultural
- Institutional partners: Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Ministry of Culture, National Heritage Institute
- Academic partners: Polimoda, National University of Arts Bucharest (UNArte), University of Art and Design in Cluj-Napoca (UAD)
About Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week
Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week is the first international fashion event in Romania, dedicated to promoting local designers and transforming the “Made in Romania” label into a globally appreciated symbol. This exceptional event brings together fashion creators, clients, industry professionals, and fashion enthusiasts to celebrate the art of clothing and encourage dialogue and collaboration at an international level.
