Phase 1 is over, here are the results
The partnership between “Design Na Pele” and Arsutoria Vision Lab, has seen the translation of some of the fashion trends developed by ARSUTORIA for the SS23 season into the leathers of the 5 Brazilian tanneries that are part of the project.
Download the brochure to see the exclusive leathers!
Next Gen Designers 2022 is a project linked to the broader “Design na Pele” initiative promoted by “Brazilian Leather”, a program created in partnership between the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) with a dual intent:
The results of this initiative (leathers, fashion creations, objects and furniture pieces) are presented through fairs, seminars and conferences to a wide audience of interest to Brazilian tanneries, such as manufacturing companies and designers.
The fifth edition of the Design Na Pele initiative is taking place in partnership with Arsutoria Vision Lab, the trend research center of the publishing house EdizioniAF, whose consultants - professionals specialized in designing and implementing on leather and accessories the fashion trends developed by Arsutoria - are working alongside 5 Brazilian tanneries in the creation of new leathers, in line with market demands:
At the end of Phase 1, the brand new leathers will be made available for Phase 2, the NEXT GEN DESIGNERS project, whose protagonists are designers from the International Network of Arsutoria School.
In this second phase, the NEXT GEN DESIGNERS Project foresees a selection of 5 designers, each of whom is assigned a single Brazilian tannery and the relative leathers processed ad hoc by Arsutoria Vision Lab consultants.
On the basis of a project brief, the designers must develop the leathers into a capsule collection that, through design, enhances their uniqueness, peculiarities and beauty.
The development of the projects is supervised by a professional designer of the school, who, with a weekly schedule of onsite or online reviews, helps the designers to finalize the concept and the design of the capsule. From this, two prototypes (1 bag and 1 shoe or 2 shoes or 2 bags) will be chosen and produced by Arsutoria School for each capsule.
If you are chosen among the 5 designers, you will be able to participate in a design and creative experience that will enhance your professionalism at an international level and put you in contact with important realities of the fashion industry:
The prototypes from the development of your project will become part of the Brazilian Leather collection and may be exhibited during trade fairs and world events in the sector.
Since 2013, the Brazilian Leather collection has been exhibited in more than 30 events: in fairs such as Première Vision (Paris), Lineapelle (Milan), Lineapelle New York, APLF (Hong Kong), ACLE (Shanghai), Shoes and Leather Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh), Inspiramais (Sao Paulo), among others.
Your project and prototypes will be published on dedicated brochures, distributed at various international events of Brazilian Leather Project and will be able to participate in international design events and competitions, which will be reported to you from time to time.
You will have visibility on Arsutoria School and Brazilian Leather Project institutional channels and will be featured in a NEXT GEN DESIGNERS launch and closing article in Arsutoria Magazine, both in printed and online formats.
Your project will appear, together with others, in a dedicated NEXT GEN DESIGNERS for DNP webpage, updated every step of the project, from concept development to making of prototypes.
the portfolio and all information contained therein relating to projects, previous or current professional experiences, will remain strictly confidential and used only for the selection for participation in the project
Portfolio submissions
No later than February 4th, 2022
Official announcement of the 5 selected designers
February 11th, 2022
Brief and project development
February - March 2022
Capsule collection prototyping
March - June 2022
The initiative promotes the image of Brazilian leather commercially and institutionally within a varied strategic public all over the world. Through planned actions, the national tannery industry has been able to expand the market – with exports to almost a hundred nations -, grown in numbers and technologically developed with a positive concept in the most demanding global markets, in addition to contributing to the economy of the country.
The Brazilian Leather project is developed through a partnership between the Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).
The Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry (CICB) has been working as the official representative body of all Brazilian tanners for 60 years, defending and promoting the sector in the domestic and international markets. The entity pursues the sustainable growth of the segment, while maintaining high standards of professional qualification, health and safety and technological improvement.
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad, and to attract foreign investment to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. ApexBrasil organizes several initiatives aiming to promote Brazilian exports abroad.
For years ARSUTORIA, a magazine focused on promoting all-round the footwear and leather goods sector, has been carrying out a Trend Research expressly dedicated to the world of shoes and bags.
The creation of new materials of ARSUTORIA’s VISION LAB section is based on reflections developed following the key concepts provided for future seasons. Ideas that are reified with intuition and creativity and born from the collaboration between Arsutoria and some of the most important companies in the sector. As a result there are innovative proposals, capable of arousing new ideas and interesting inspirations.
Founded in Milan, Arsutoria School has been providing training programmes for the footwear and bag industry since 1947, supporting students to express their talent in fashion production worldwide. There are hundreds of success stories of its graduates (coming from more than 50 countries), who now manage the design, marketing and development departments of industry giants, as well as alumni who have succeeded in creating their own brands and companies.
Design Na Pele
Next Gen Designers
2022 Edition thanks to:
Alexandros Vasdekis is a Greek footwear designer with a deep love for shoes and a passion for nature. After graduating with a biology degree from the UK, he decided to pursue his life-long dream of becoming a footwear designer. He attended the prestigious London College of Fashion and Arsutoria School Milan, where he acquired designing and technical skills, which he then honed through his work experience as a footwear designer in Italy, London and Greece. For the past year he has been working as a footwear designer and consultant for a Los Angeles-based luxury footwear brand. Alexandros has participated so far at six international footwear design challenges and competitions, where has was either selected as the finalist or the winner. Biology remains his biggest source of inspiration, and through his designs he creates stories and raises awareness about environmental issues and unknown aspects of biology.
Gisele Germany is a Brazilian designer passionate about crafts, textures and unusual mixtures of materials and techniques. She holds a Fashion Design degree from the Universidade de Caxias do Sul in Brazil. In addition, Gisele studied pattern-making for leather bags at the prestigious “Alta Scuola della Pelleteria Italiana” in Scandicci, Italy. For several years, she worked as a luxury handbag pattern-maker developing exclusive designs for brands such as Burberry, Givenchy, Chloè and Victoria Beckham. In 2012 and 2013, she joined the team of pattern-makers at “Divisione Industriale Calzature and Pelletteria” at Dolce & Gabbana, in Incisa Val d’Arno, Tuscany. Currently in Brazil, Gisele is focused on developing creative projects and manual production in leather merchandise. In her studio, Mastri, she teaches, helps other designers and also develops her own pieces using the handbags construction techniques she learned after her long experience in Italy.
Karisma is a budding Indian footwear designer. She has experience working in a fast-selling footwear range of a top retailer brand in India. Her graduation journey began at NIFT Shillong, India's top University of Fashion Technology, which paved the path for her career choice as a footwear designer. She then gained valuable hands-on experience at ENSAIT France, where she pursued sustainable design for a semester. During her short two-year stint, she has successfully imbibed and promoted the 'Artisanal Collection,' a significant project focusing on hand-embroidered sandals for women hand-made by local artisans across India. She is currently pursuing her MA Design Innovation from De Montfort University to gain knowledge on starting her own enterprise. She aspires to be a Fashion Consultant guiding independent designers and entrepreneurs as they attempt to establish their brand & identity.
Laura Giancola is a fashion, footwear, and accessories designer with a background in Fine Arts and printmaking. She conceptualizes and develops ideas through a variety of approaches, often inspired by art history and contemporary design. Her collections combine visual and theoretical elements that inform each new direction. At École de la Chambre Syndicale in Paris, she studied techniques in style development. She continued her education at Arsutoria in Milan, where she studied footwear design, marketing, pattern making, and prototyping. With each new project, she brings an innovative approach to design and integrates her life experience.
Masha, immigrated to the US in the late 90’s from Belarus, completed a BA in Graphic Design at Iowa State University. Later, she moved to NY and pivoted her career into Fashion Design. Footwear design has captured her soul and she was lucky enough to design shoes for several years, while working for many companies. She had the opportunity to be part of the entire design process, starting from concept research and development to prototyping. Being an immigrant in the US, she has always kept appreciation for other cultures. She has traveled the world and lived in East Asia while running a design office. A sustainable approach to design and embracing the diversity of the people has been her driving force for inspiration. In 2018, she attended Arsutoria School and attained the Footwear Design diploma. This amazing opportunity gave her a much-needed creative re-boot and reminded her why she fell in love with footwear in the first place.