Tradition in Motion: Inside MODAPORTUGAL LINKS 2025

MODAPORTUGAL celebrated the craftsmanship, sustainability, and technological advancements of the textile and apparel industry, skillfully merging tradition with innovation throughout the entire value chain, from design to production.

The MODAPORTUGAL LINKS event served as a dynamic nexus for creative ideas and production, creating a constructive dialogue between manufacturing industry and creativity from December 8 to 12 in Porto, Portugal. Coordinated by CENIT and ANIVEC, this program reaffirmed its mission to forge new connections between creators and the industry, showcasing the innovation, sustainability, and technical prowess of the Portuguese textile and apparel sector. This initiative emphasized collective collaboration and knowledge sharing, greatly enhancing Portugal’s influence in contemporary European fashion.

MODAPORTUGAL LINKS’ program formed part of the Projeto Lusitano Action Program, which was co-financed by the PRR - Recovery and Resilience Program and the Next Generation EU Funds. It created a collaborative environment where design and industry intersected, encouraging meaningful exchanges between creators and manufacturers.

This year, six prominent European fashion schools brought their top students to Northern Portugal for an enriching experience that combined education, cultural exchange, and direct engagement with the country's vibrant textile and apparel industry. During the course of two days, participants—including students, educators, and members of the international press—visited key manufacturing sites that showcased the industry's strengths, such as technological innovation, skilled craftsmanship, and a robust commitment to sustainable practices. On December 11, they gathered at the Palácio da Bolsa for the 2025 Business Excellence Awards, where they recognized companies that are leading the way in modern, responsible, and competitive Portuguese textiles and apparel.

The press team explored several remarkable manufacturing companies, starting with INOVAFIL, where innovation begins at the fiber level. Founded in 2011, the company specialized in developing high-performance and sustainable yarns through advanced spinning technologies and dedicated research and development efforts. INOVAFIL demonstrated its commitment to textile innovation by utilizing a diverse mix of natural and artificial fibers, in addition to technical and recycled materials. The INDUSTRY TOUR, which was part of the MODAPORTUGAL LINKS program, provided an international delegation of creatives with an immersive two-day journey to see the innovative facets of the Portuguese textile industry. One key site visited was CITEVE, a cornerstone of Portugal’s textile innovation ecosystem. As the sector’s leading technology center, it offered vital support to companies through laboratory testing, certifications, advanced consultancy, and research and development initiatives, thereby accelerating digital transformation and material innovation.

Another noteworthy company was Valerius360, recognized for its fully circular textile production approach. This innovative company collected and mechanically recycled cotton waste from its own operations and clients, regenerating materials into new jersey fabrics, and planned to expand to produce cotton paper. This process significantly reduced resource usage and set a new benchmark for low-impact textile manufacturing. At PEDROSA RODRIGUES, the art of garment making thrived through a skilled workforce, precision, and decades of technical evolution. The company, boasting a team of over 100 specialists, adeptly transformed ideas into high-quality jersey pieces using an integrated workflow that spanned sourcing, development, modeling, and production.

The culmination of this collaborative effort was realized in the MODAPORTUGAL LINKS Fashion Design Competition, where an international jury, consisting of representatives from each participating country and chaired by Eduarda Abbondanza, evaluated the work of emerging designers. The jury members were joined by renowned industry figures, including Adriano Battista the Editor-in-Chief of Fucking Young; Ines Amorim and Reid Baker, the Founders and Creative Directors of Ernest W Baker; Livio Facchini, the Founder and Director of Public Image PR; Miguel Flor, an independent creative director and photographer; Mira Wanderlust, MA mentor and lecturer; and Serge Carreira, the Director of the Emerging Brands Initiative at the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode in Paris.

The fashion design presentations took place in the Salão Árabe of the Palácio da Bolsa, where each of the 18 young designers showcased three unique looks in competition for this edition’s awards. The showcased collections exhibited distinct approaches to construction and technique, assessed through criteria like conceptual clarity, execution, and the integration of responsible production methods. These presentations served as the basis for the awards ceremony, which recognized the strongest project from each country and the collection selected for its overall coherence.

The jury’s assessment highlighted those projects that presented a mature approach to creation, effectively combining intention, methodology, and formal consistency. Among all of the collections presented, the standout entries demonstrated impressive technical command and a clear vision regarding fashion's role in today's society. The winners from each participating country included:

- @tildawallius, from @aaltouniversity, Finland.

- @vicenteaycaguer, from @ifmfashionba, France.

- @nansencapici, from @polimodafirenze, Italy.

- @datorresilvia, from @modatex.design.porto, Porto.

- @alaaalaradii, from @headgeneve, Switzerland.

- @ca1umholmes, from @lcflondon_, United Kingdom.

Additionally, the jury awarded the title of Best Collection to @vicenteaycaguer from @ifmfashionba, solidifying this collection's status as the most outstanding among the talented participants. This recognition underscored the achievement of combining creativity, technical skill, and a strong vision, enriching the event's overall legacy and emphasizing the remarkable potential of emerging designers in the European fashion landscape.

ALL PARTICIPANTS:

FINLAND // Aalto University (@aalto_fashion) | Teacher MAIJA HILKKA FAGERLUND

1. Eetu Heikkinen @e2heikkinen

2. Marine Puumala @extraultramarine

3. Tilda Wallius @tildawallius

FRANCE // Institut Français de la Mode (@ifmparis) | Teacher PAUL KAPLAN

1. Peru @peru_goenaga

2. Vicente Aycaguer @vicenteaycaguer

3. Zilan @boomzilan

ITALY // Polimoda (@polimodafirenze) | Teacher ANA CLÁUDIA ANTUNES

1. Amina Vanneling @aminavanneling

2. J.T. Prince @jt_prince

3. Nansen Capici @nansencapici_

PORTUGAL //

1. e.p.atel'ye 2. Maria Miguel 3. Sílvia da Torre @epatelye from ESAD (@esadmatosinhos/)

@m.m.archive from FA.UL (@fa.ulisboa/)

@datorresilvia from MODATEX PORTO (@modatex.pt /

@modatex.design.porto)

SWITZERLAND // Head Genève (@headfashiondesign) | Teacher ZOÉ MARMIER

1. Alaa Alaradi @ahoneysmacks

2. Hippolyte Laporte @hippolyte_lprt

3. Xavier Weber @weberxavier24

UNITED KINGDOM // London College of Fashion (@lcflondon_) | Teacher PHILIPPA HINO

1. Calum Holmes @Ca1umholmes

2. Janet Qiu @janetqiuuxx_

3. Martha Bird @marthabird

RED•EYE WORLD