Vogue Italia supplement Vogue Talent

One of my favorite things about Milan Fashion Week is being exposed to new talent. However, seeking the next big thing can be exhausting, because of the sheer number of designers exhibiting their work in shows, presentations, trade fairs, and expositions. Thankfully, Vogue Italia made my job easier by publishing Vogue Talents, a supplement to its September issue that spotlights 140 hand-picked up-and-coming designers from Italy and abroad.

Some of the most exciting designs in the supplement came from recent graduates of Italy’s prestigious fashion schools. These designers are so new to the field, I couldn’t even find information about them on the Internet. Check them out here:

Rocco Ianone, 25, Istituto Marangoni

Rocco Ianone feature in Vogue Italia supplement Vogue Talent

His look: classic silhouettes with a spiritual approach, in vibrant colors

He says: “A summer afternoon someone very important to me let me cross the threshold to their wardrobe of clothes by Gianni Versace. I knew nothing of him, and the experience gave me an understanding of the genius whom the world was mourning in that summer of ’97. That was when I decided what I wanted to become.”

Francesca Imoli, 25, Università IUAV di Venezia

Francesca Imoli feature in Vogue Italia supplement Vogue Talent

Her look: futuristic synthetic accessories

She says: “Dark, violent, dynamic, animal. It is an expression of the relationship between material and form, nature and culture.”

Melissa Simionato, 23, Università IUAV di Venezia

Melissa Simionato feature in Vogue Italia supplement Vogue Talent

Her look: innovative and refined, with attention to detail

She says: “If we think of fashion as a combination of everyday habits and attitudes, my first memories are linked to how carefully my mother used to select her and my Sunday clothes.”