CNMI supports new Italian designers with Fashion Trust Grant

The Italian Chamber of Fashion (CNMI) has presented the third edition of the CNMI Fashion Trust
Subsidy program. The occasion was an opportunity for the leading authorities of the Italian fashion industry to take stock of this support program for new designers, equipped with a financial grant since 2020, promoted by the Camera Moda Fashion Trust, a non-profit company that helps new Italian designers.

“If it had not been for this support, 80% of Italian brands from the new generations of designers would have disappeared due to Covid-19. During this period, we took advantage of our entire network and the solidarity of the members who support us to to allow these young people to sell their inventory and fund their new collections,” said Warly Tomei, co-founder and co-director, along with Umberta Gnutti Beretta, of the Camera Moda Fashion Trust.

The CNMI grants are aimed at Italian brands that produce in Italy but whose designers are not
necessarily Italian, as was the case with the Japanese designer Satoshi Kuwata, who was nominated for
grant’s 2023 edition with his label Setchu. “This year we received 76 applications. Ten names have been nominated for the final round to be held in Milan on May 25, where a jury of 22 experts will select the three winners. They will each receive a grant of €40,000, as well as mentoring support,” said Tomei.

The Camera Moda Fashion Trust was created in 2017 and is chaired by the President of the CNMI, Carlo Capasa. It has a network of industry experts (lawyers, accountants, marketing specialists, etc.) who volunteer to help fashion designers manage and structure their business better. “We have also created a pool of about 40 ambassadors, high-society women, who buy and wear our young designers’ creations and showcase them at various events,” added Tomei.

For the 2023 edition of the grants, the program is jointly led by the influencer Chiara Ferragni and Elia
Maramotti, brand director of Max&Co., the modern line of the Max Mara group and one of the sponsors of the program. Among other things, the group will give one of the winners the chance to create a capsule collection for Max&Co.

The program is also supported by Italian luxury outlet store chain Fidenza Village, owned by
The Bicester Collection (part of the Value Retail Group). “This program is a concrete help for
young designers and we are happy to promote it. We will show the different ones free of charge
finalists’ collections in our pop-up space called The Creative Spot, giving them the opportunity to
gain visibility with consumers in an international context. This enables us to diversify our range
and be more attractive to Gen Z consumers, a fast-growing segment,” said Myrianne Gaeta,
communications manager for The Bicester Collection.

The program’s 2022 grants went to Act N°1, Cormio and Vitelli, and the 2021 grants went to Coliac, Act N°1 and Blazè. The 10 finalists this year are Cavia, Federico Cina, Florania, Francesco Murano, Marcello Pipitone, Marco Rambaldi, Niccolò Pasqualetti, Saman Loira, Setchu and Ssheena.