Between October 15–18, Bucharest will become the stage for Romania’s most important fashion event: Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week – Fall 2025 edition. For four days, the city will embrace its role as a key hub, directly connected to the international pulse of fashion.
This season, Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week (October 15–18, 2025) debuts with the very first edition of NEXT GENERATION – Fashion Talent Award, a program designed to support and promote the new generation of creators and entrepreneurs in the Romanian fashion industry.
Launched in March 2025, the NEXT GENERATION project has been developed as an educational and creative ecosystem, meant to provide mentorship, resources, and visibility to young designers and students at the beginning of their careers.
Throughout the summer, the 10 finalists of the Fashion Talent Award competition benefitted from one-on-one mentorship sessions led by Massimiliano Giornetti, Director of Polimoda. The final fitting, held on September 13, represented a key moment of preparation for the runway show on October 15, where their collections will be presented to both the public and the jury for the first time.
A Launchpad for the Future
The prize awarded to the winner of the Fashion Talent Award consists of an international educational experience at Polimoda, complemented by an internship at an international fashion brand — two essential steps that will provide both high-level academic training and direct exposure to the practice and dynamics of the global industry. In addition, the winning collection will be showcased on a top e-commerce platform, offering visibility and direct access to the wider public, thus strengthening the project’s mission to create real bridges between young Romanian creatives and international fashion institutions.
“Fashion is at a point of no return. Students must be trained with the awareness that their unique language is a force to be preserved. Together with MBBFW, we launched this initiative out of the conviction that Romanian identity and cultural heritage must be amplified, not subdued. We worked with 10 young creatives, respecting their vision while offering my knowledge and experience of the market. Working with recycled materials from already worn garments is a challenge that today can be defined not only as sustainable but also ethical. It means valuing what already exists in order to create new forms of economy. Creativity knows no limits.” – Massimiliano Giornetti, Director of Polimoda
The NEXT GENERATION runway will officially open the Fall 2025 edition of Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week, bringing into the spotlight an international jury composed of representatives from Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, Polimoda, as well as top industry professionals — from an international showroom and a leading publication to a global influencer and renowned buyers.
The theme of this edition – Cultural Heritage in Fashion. A bridge between tradition and innovation – invites the new generation of designers to highlight local traditions and identity through a contemporary and sustainable lens.
Sustainability and Partnerships
A key pillar of the project is sustainability. In partnership with Auchan Romania, participants integrated pieces sourced from the “O nouă viață” (A New Life) sections of stores dedicated to circular economy. Through processes of deconstruction and reconstruction, students gave garments a new identity, exploring fresh forms of creative expression and environmental responsibility.
“We are delighted to once again partner with Mercedes-Benz Bucharest Fashion Week and to support the NEXT GENERATION project, which blends creativity and responsibility. Through our ‘O nouă viață’ program dedicated to the circular economy, we provided young designers not only with raw material but also with the opportunity to give garments a second life, transforming them into unique pieces with a strong message of sustainability. This collaboration underlines Auchan Romania’s commitment to sustainability, and we are glad to see how the new generations of artists embrace these essential values in their approach to fashion.” – Corina Dospinoiu-Imre, Sustainability Director, Auchan Romania
Another important pillar of NEXT GENERATION is business and entrepreneurship, developed in partnership with Banca Transilvania, known for supporting local initiatives and creative industries. Within the competition, students will participate in a workshop dedicated to fashion entrepreneurship, aimed at providing practical tools for managing a brand — from strategy and financial management to developing a long-term sustainable vision.
On October 15, 2025, ahead of the official collection presentations, Promenada Mall Bucharest will host the NEXT GENERATION Conference, an event that will bring together renowned international representatives and local industry experts. Under the theme “Next Generation in Fashion: Creativity, Business & Sustainability”, the conference will address the three pillars of the project — design, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
NEXT GENERATION also enjoys the support of Romania’s leading art and design universities — the National University of Arts Bucharest (UNArte) and the University of Art and Design Cluj-Napoca (UAD) — consolidating its role as a platform for education and innovation for the future of the fashion industry.
Event Support
- Title sponsor: Mercedes-Benz
- Main partners: IQOS, Banca Transilvania, Auchan
- Partners: Fashion Days, Oral-B, STIL Diamonds, Pepsi, adidas, Returo, Promenada Mall Bucharest, Heineken, Evian, Glenfiddich, Martini, Schwarzkopf Professional, Murfatlar, Wizz Air, Apivita, Filorga, Uriage, Regina Maria, JBL, BoConcept, Apius, InterContinental Athénée Palace
- Institutional partner | Event supported by: National Heritage Institute
