Rafael Kouto is an independent Swiss fashion designer of Togolese origins. His brand is characterised by a distinctive hybrid aesthetic that reflects our globalised world, merging West African and Western European cultures.

Led by an uncompromised approach to sustainability, Rafael’s designs combine upcycling techniques with local manufacturing and traditional, artisanal practices. His work earned him numerous awards like the Diesel Award and the Swiss Design Award, and led to features in publications such as Vogue, ELLE, DAZED and i-D.

Creative education advocate and sustainable fashion powerhouse PATRICK MCDOWELL strives to reinvent luxury in an ethical way. Born and raised in Liverpool he uses this to inspire his collections, most recent being sponsored by Swarovski, Burberry and others. He graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2018 and had been captivating the fashion industry since. He was also nominated by Anna Wintour for the prestigious Stella McCartney Today For Tomorrow award for his work.

DUST MAGAZINE presents a unique artistic project in the form of a clothing line titled “DUST CAPSULE / WEARABLE PAGES.” This ongoing adventure takes place twice a year following the release of each new issue, and is only available in a few selected stores worldwide.For its inaugural collection in 2016, a feature from DUST ISSUE #8 was transformed into tangible, wearable sweatshirts featuring the works of artist Peter De Potter’s “Young King New Castle”.

Helsinki Fashion Week delivers conversational AI for the first-of-its-kind all digital showcase. The Helsinki Digital Village takes traditional principles of sustainability in Fashion into Cyberspace. The international and inclusive Digital Village approaches Fashion from a holistic standpoint, connecting all creative disciplines. Attendees have the opportunity to wear the clothes in cyberspace, pre-order the looks in real life and can claim an asset on the blockchain, use it, trade it, and exchange.

Design Switzerland aims to connect emerging Swiss design with the national and international markets. Initiated by Pro Helvetia, Design Switzerland enables young Swiss studios to gain visibility, build professional networks and reach their business goals.

The Circular Fashion Summit by lablaco focuses on vitalising fashion and sustainability by supporting the transition to a digitised circular economy. In partnership with Vogue Business,  the Circular Fashion Report aims to ignite immediate action on measurable and sustainable goals set by the United Nations. Following its first edition in September 2019,  Circular Fashion Summit 2020 has pioneered the digitisation of Le Grand Palais in collaboration with Oculus, AltSpaceVR by Microsoft and Unity. Experts at the top leading organisations ranging from The North Face, H&M Group, LVMH and the British Fashion Council attended this summit using a VR headset.

Kam Ce Kam is a furniture and interiors brand born from a passion for innovative design conceived through traditional methods of manufacturing, coupled with a genuine desire to revive the heritage of Indian craft in a considered, conscious and contemporary manner. Creative director of the brand and designer of the launch collection, Jehanara Knowles, grew up between New Delhi and London, fuelling her passion for the fusion of tradition in her early years.

Created in 2006 from the merger of two prestigious schools, the École Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and the Haute École d’Arts Appliqués, HEAD – Genève draws on a rich cultural and artistic heritage to nurture young creative talent nationally and internationally. Renowned for the quality of its bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications and design, it has established itself as one of the leading schools of art and design in Europe. 

Matteo Cibic is a multidisciplinary designer with a focus on combining both craft and wit through his various commissioned and personal projects. Already a prolific name for over 10 years in his native Italy, his pieces have ventured into both the functional and conceptual, with notable pieces commissioned for cultural institutions, private collectors and brands alike – these include the V&A, Replay, Mint Gallery and Musee Pompidou.

Räthel & Wolf is a London-based jewellery label founded in 2016 by designers Sari Räthel and Ricarda Wolf. Exploring new ways of wearing jewellery, the brand creates forms directly on the body, subverting the norms of gender identity and body awareness. The label strives to contribute to a wider shift away from traditional gender constructs, with progressive desirable gender-fluid jewellery collections.

The Design Prize Switzerland is an association and a private initiative that fosters the exchange, mediation and promotion of Swiss design across disciplines. It rewards the most innovative, meaningful and sustainable projects of Swiss design today.

Marco Campardo focuses on design and research across different platforms, materials and disciplines. He has a particular interest in ‘making’ as a form of critical practice, where objects are perceived as tools to explore wider narratives about culture, materiality, identity or authenticity. His work and research with M-L-XL, a studio he co-founded, have been exhibited since 2005 at Milan Design Week, London Design Festival, Tate Modern, London Design Biennale, Venice Art and Architecture Biennale – documented by leading publications, such as Wallpaper*, New York Times and Financial Times.

The fashion-forward footwear brand 4CCCCEES pushes the boundaries of materiality and form, thanks to innovation in technology and manipulation of materials. Korean born co-founder Sang-Min Park established the brand in 2020 after working for the iconic fashion house, Alexander McQueen and becoming head designer at United Nude. 4CCCCEES maintains a unique focus on the stride and posture of the wearers by prioritising the foot’s anatomy, rhythm and movement within the design process.

Founded by Ana Kerin in 2012, Kana’s approach to work is both experimental and playful, never following a procedure, and creating new recipes daily. Working with a unique mixture of clays and mixing her own glazes, Kerin often turns her back on traditional ceramic practice. Building with her hands, rather than turning on the wheel, further emphasizes the individuality of each piece.