Feeric Fashion Week 2026: my personal list of fav 

It was a very full week. Dozen of new and interesting collections, young designers, a lot of interesting venues – Feeric Fashion Week 2026 stole my heart. 

More info & pictures on www.feeric.ro/ @feericfashionweek. 

The collections I’ve noticed at first sight…

Firstly, National Academy of Art, Sofia (Bulgaria) – with “Travelling”, a collaborative collection by four designers (Anastasia Tsulukidze, Dimitar Avramov, Krasimir Iordanov, Siana Damianova), exploring the idea of movement, discovery, and personal transformation (each designer interprets the journey through a unique artistic perspective). 

Secondly, Kaunas University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania). Ugnė Černaukaitė presented “Swallow”, a collection inspired by functional clothing, movement, and the search for safety in a changing environment. Gertrūda Sokaitė presented “Jūratė”, inspired by the Lithuanian myth of Jūratė, the Amber Castle, and the Baltic Sea. Tėja Macijauskaitė presents “Perfokorta”, a collection inspired by the Jacquard loom punch card and its connection to memory.

The venues I was impressed by… 

Of course I had to say that the highway factory caught everybody’s attention. HOOLDRA catwalk was amazing presenting 2026 Student Upcycle Collection (19 students, from 8 universities, across 3 countries: Romania, Moldova, and Poland). At the heart of this project stands a partnership with Humana, who provided rescued garments for these students to deconstruct and rebuild into entirely new silhouettes. 

Worth to mention the collections presented also here, on highway construction site. Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb (Croatia) – exploring personal and collective memory through contemporary fashion, transforming family stories, everyday rituals and inherited objects into wearable narratives. Then, the two collections presented by the students of Notre Dame University-Louaize (Lebanon) – Chanel Younes, with a collection inspired by transformation, exploring the journey from vulnerability to strength through the symbolism of the serpent and Pia Cherfan, with a collection that  reinterpreted architectural elements such as spires, arches, and sacred silhouettes through a modern lens.

* The show Cardinalia x Dharug (Romania) at Sibiu Immersive Museum. 

The stories with a meaning 

At the wonderful site A lu Escana – “Artisanal Jopoi, Haide!”, a story about the traditions and artisans from different countries, from two languages that have never met, Guarani and Romanian. Separated by hemispheres, by oceans, by centuries of distinct history, and yet, when you place them side by side, the resemblance is almost impossible to explain.

At Oberwwod Porumbacu de Sus – an amazing catwalk in “Lepedeul: Between Tradition and Modernity” capsule collection by Irina Silaghi and Cornel Crișan, inspired by the textile heritage of Cornel’s grandmother, Ileana Jurj, and the traditions of the Romanian village. Created from authentic handwoven lepedeie, wall hangings, table linens, and other natural textiles made over sixty years ago, the collection reinterprets traditional geometric and floral motifs through contemporary silhouettes, handcrafted details, and carved wooden accessories.

Plus: Humana installations – from old clothes to artistic projects. 

The Romanian fashion schools I was happy to see…

On rooftop parking at Promenada Sibiu – University of Art and Design, Cluj-Napoca (READ here about every collection presented at UAD Fashion 2026) and West University of Timișoara (Romania) – READ here about the collections presented at MDVTM 2026 Gala) 

Some nice outfits I saw at University “Aurel Vlaicu”, Arad (Romania), where the designers translated emotions into beautiful clothes and University of Oradea, Faculty of Arts (Romania) – that reinterprets Romanian folk costume in a contemporary language & bohemian aesthetics through a contemporary lens. 

The cool landscape of tires (at Sigemo) was the perfect setup for The National University of Arts in Bucharest (Romania) outfits – READ here about all the collections of 2026 graduates of UNArte. 

The special vibes… 

The shows in a very special place, Boromir Factory. IBU (Macedonia) – “The Art of Contrast” explores the dialogue between cultural heritage, artistic expression, and contemporary fashion. Inspired by the concepts of time, memory, traditional craftsmanship, Art Nouveau aesthetics, and Islamic ornament, the collection transforms historical references into modern design narratives. SAPU (Poland) – “The Third World of Women” is a story about beauty – women’s business in the society, which appears to be the theater of their enslavement. Raw fabric edges, virgin human hair and right-side male buttons are here to articulate the direction rather than please aesthetically.

The very nice collection Synergia by Promenada – created in collaboration with artist Raluca Elena Cinean, the collection brought together 12 looks that transform the energy of a contemporary expedition into a fashion universe shaped by fluid silhouettes, utilitarian details, original prints, and hand-crocheted lace.

The international schools…

UTM (Moldova) – “Envolving Joy” explores transformation as a continuous process of personal and creative evolution, reflecting the diverse perspectives and identities of a new generation of fashion designers. It combines natural fabrics with innovative textile techniques, emphasizing experimental silhouettes, layered constructions, and expressive details.
VIAMODA (Poland) – Designer Liza Dragan, exploring the beauty and danger of excess through her collection “Sweet Death”. Designer Illia Horin, whose collection “Deformed in Concrete” is inspired by Brutalist forms and the designer Piotr Powroźnik presented his collection “Lacemaker”, which draws on traditional women’s craft techniques and showcases their strength in today’s world. 

Donja Gorica University powered by Arizona State (Montenegro) – “Metamorphosis” is an experimental collection inspired by the transformations of nature, such as evaporation and condensation… translated into artistic expression. Sustainability is at the core of the concept. 
Dori Haskovcova from VOSON (Czech Republic) – “Harmony of Future Consciousness” envisions a future where technology, humanity, and nature exist in balance.

NewGiza (Egypt) – the collection was a celebration of creativity, and personal expression. Through the interplay of structure and fluidity, each designer explores the relationship between the body, fabric, and movement.
Alexander College (Cyprus) – Exploring the intersection between sustainability, innovation, and artistic expression, the emerging designers present collections rooted in the philosophy of upcycling and conscious fashion. 

Galala University (Egypt) – The collection reinterprets Egypt’s rich cultural heritage through a contemporary fashion perspective, drawing inspiration from the country’s diverse architecture, landscapes, and regional traditions.
Ukranian Fashion Education Group – A group collection by UFEG graduates and curators that merges the digital and the physical, just as humans strive to unite the transcendent and the earthly in their lives.

Photo: (c) Feeric Fashion Week.