IDEAMODA 2026 Honors the New Generation of Young Fashion Designers

The international competition awarded five prizes this year

Two first-place winners and four distinguished collections marked the grand finale of IDEAMODA 2026 – the international competition that, for the sixth consecutive year, showcases the new generation of fashion designers.

The sixth edition of the competition, organized by New Bulgarian University in partnership with the Ivan Asen 22 Conceptual Design Platform, took place on June 7 at the Toplocentrala Regional Centre for Contemporary Arts in Sofia. The event brought together participants, fashion industry professionals, academics, journalists, and guests for an inspiring fashion show presenting bold ideas, a high level of craftsmanship, and diverse creative concepts.

Following the presentation of the competing collections, the jury announced the winners of IDEAMODA 2026 during an official ceremony. First place was shared by Hubert Pelc, a young designer from the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, for his collection “Folk Is My Second Favourite F Word,” and Ivayla Petrova, a student at New Bulgarian University, for her collection “To Die, To Sleep”:

“I love every part of creating garments – developing the conceptual foundation and its elements, experimenting with techniques, pattern making and draping, and the actual production process. My next steps include pursuing a Master’s degree and developing a brand focused on unique and experimental knitwear that people will value and preserve for many years. Of course, I am always open to new directions as well, so I will simply enjoy whatever life brings my way and do my best to make the most of it.”

Second place was awarded to Zhaklin Ilieva for her collection “Stained,” while third place went to Kristina Lyubenova for the colorful collection “Harajuko Taksim,” both students at New Bulgarian University.

The jury also presented two special awards. Nia Yordanova, a student at the National Academy of Art, received the opportunity to showcase her collection “More” in the showroom of the Ivan Asen 22 platform, while Ivayla Petrova was awarded a professional photo shoot and a feature in an upcoming issue of EVA magazine.

With each edition, IDEAMODA creates opportunities for young designers to connect with the professional community, encouraging the development of new ideas, original approaches, and future careers in the fashion industry.

More information about the sixth edition of IDEAMODA can be found on the website ideamodabg.net, as well as on the competition’s social media channels:

https://www.facebook.com/IdeaModaCompetition
https://www.instagram.com/idea.moda.competition