The Transylvania Fashion Festival (FTF), held from September 8 to 10, 2023, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in collaboration with the European Fashion Council (EFC) and FashionTV, captivated the audience with a stunning catwalk staged on the esplanade of the Urban Culture Center in Central Park, Cluj-Napoca. The runway featured over 60 models presenting the creations of 43 invited designers at this year’s edition of the Festival.
The designer section featured prominent names from the Romanian fashion industry, including Kinga Varga, Paul Palm, Daiana Nealcoș, Cristina Lazăr, Mihaela Hanches, Tudor Halatiu, Oana Livia Badea, Inga Bragaru, Raluca Soare, Luminița Balazs, Mihnea Covaci, Anca Manea, Ioana Degău, Tessuto – Adrian Iliescu, Mihaela Hanches, Daniel Gorban, Alexandra Constantinescu, Raul Matiș, Mara Popa, and Renata Mihaly. The international section of the festival shined with the presence of celebrities like Angelika Hirschler and Vincenzo Merli from Maison Fürstenberg (as special guests), Monica Grüber, ORHA, Josephine Cosonatto, Carmichael A. Byfield from House of Byfield, Kárpáti Rebeka from KINDA Clothing, Milica Trickovic, Monika Pizur, Aidarkhan Kaliyev, and Galina Ivanov.
The festival also incorporated a segment dedicated to universities, spotlighting seven esteemed academic institutions with a rich tradition in fashion art in the Republic of Moldova. This included the Faculty of Design at the Technical University of Moldova, represented by its graduates:
- Elena NOGAI showcased the ELLA collection, making a striking statement on sustainability by ingeniously transforming recycled men’s clothing into distinctly feminine pieces. Coordinator: Iarîna SAVIȚCAIA-BARAGHIN;
- Daniela BARONCEA showcased the DEMONETIZARE (Demonetization) collection, featuring partial anatomical modifications portrayed through distorted faces, providing an intriguing perspective on fashion. Coordinator: Alina TOCARCIUC;
- Daniela RAILEAN showcased the METAMORPHOSIS collection, ingeniously crafted from fabric remnants turned into artistic pieces, conveying a strong message of waste reduction and pollution awareness. Coordinator: Anna PALAMARCIUC;
- Dorina TÎJU showcased the collection SOLSTIȚIU DE VARĂ (Summer Solstice), drawing inspiration from the folklore myth of the “Sânziene,” and emphasizing the beauty and enigma surrounding these magical figures. Coordinator: Alina TOCARCIUC;
- Anastasia GABURA showcased the ALEAN collection, taking us on a colorful and meaningful journey into the world of Basarabian rugs, promoting a reconnection with our cultural heritage. Coordinator: Iarîna SAVIȚCAIA-BARAGHIN;
- Ana-Olga BĂDĂRĂU showcased the IT’S STILL HERE collection, a tribute to the essence of romanticism and a redefinition of femininity through a refined visual language. Coordinator: Alina TOCARCIUC.
During the festival selection, a committee led by Prof. Elena Basso Stănescu, Ph.D., handpicked five collections from the pool of over 100 submissions by designers on the official festival website, ftf.ro. Among these, “C’est Cher,” a brand from the Republic of Moldova, stood out. The brand redefines elegance, particularly in shirts, and extends its product line to include skirts, pants, and shorts. Each piece crafted by this brand weaves a unique tale through unconventional details and bold cuts. The founders of this brand are Ludmila SECHER (a Master’s student in Fashion and Textile Design) and Ana CARAUȘ, both alumni of the UTM Faculty of Design.
The Dean of the UTM Faculty of Design, Assoc. Prof. Sergiu TRONCIU, expresses gratitude to the UTM administration for their support in promoting talented designers who proudly represent Alma Mater – the Technical University of Moldova. We also extend our thanks to the organizing team of FTF 2023, including Dr. Matei MIKO – President and General Producer of the Transylvania Fashion Festival, Prof. Elena BASSO STĂNESCU – FTF Spiritus Mentor, Anca Elena BĂLAN – FTF Associate Producer, who is also the President of the Romanian Fashion Council and Executive President of the European Fashion Council, Mirela Presecan TIBERI – FTF Executive Producer, Diana LOȘONȚI – FTF Executive Producer, and Victoria POP – FTF Associate Producer.
This edition of the Transylvania Fashion Festival was a success, showcasing the vibrant diversity and creativity within the world of fashion.
