On December 11th, an event at the Palácio da Bolsa in Porto brought together young designers from across Europe. The competition, called MODAPORTUGAL LINKS, is part of a larger strategy to support the fashion industry. It featured students from eight major fashion schools in Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

The designers presented their collections on a runway, and an international jury, led by Eduarda Abbondanza and composed of Adriano Batista, Inês Amorim and Reid Baker (from Ernest W. Baker), Livio Facchini, Miguel Flor, and Mira Wanderlust, evaluated the work. They gave one award for each country represented and one overall prize.

The major winner of the night was Vicente Aycaguer from the Institut Français de la Mode in France. His collection, “Susanna Valenti,” won both the overall Best Collection Award and the France Prize. The collection is inspired by Casa Susanna, a place where men explored a constructed idea of femininity. Aycaguer describes it as a celebration of fluid identities and a wardrobe in transition. He presented three looks that mix masculine and feminine garments in new ways. After winning, Aycaguer said the prize money would help pay his rent and student loans. He also noted the importance of Portugal’s still-active textile industry, contrasting it with the lost industry in France.

The Portuguese award went to Sílvia da Torre, a graduate of Modatex Porto. Her collection, “Sacred,” starts from the concept of war and destruction as a form of renewal. The three looks reflect a scene of chaos, questioning what is preserved and what transforms.  Other winners included Tilda Wallius from Aalto University in Finland. Her collection, “Finders Keepers,” transforms forgotten objects into clothing, sculpting garments directly on the body. From Polimoda in Italy, Nansen Capici won for his menswear collection, “Silenzio Bianco.” It explores the tension between precision and vulnerability, inspired by the Arctic stillness. Calum Holmes of the London College of Fashion won for the United Kingdom. His collection, “Plane Clothes,” is inspired by his family’s passion for aviation, using minimalist pattern cutting reminiscent of a single sheet of paper. The award for Switzerland went to Alaa Alaradi from HEAD Genève. Her collection, “further deeper softer closer,” investigates the relationship between sculpture and movement using materials like silk, leather, silver, and clay.

Our photographer Rita Castel-Branco went backstage to capture our favorite menswear looks. Check it out below: