From Waste to Beauty—Eco Competition Exhibition

As part of the European Capital of Culture 2025 Nova Gorica - Gorizia official programme, the brand Benedetti Life has invited fashion designers and students to participate in an international competition celebrating the art of upcycling – transforming waste into aesthetically refined and sustainable fashion.

The exhibition demonstrates how waste materials can become a valuable source of creativity, opening up space for a new paradigm of contemporary design that promotes innovation, sustainability, and the transition to a circular economy.

10 selected works, evaluated by an international jury of fashion experts from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Slovenia, will be on display.

The finalists of the competition are: Zala Hrastar, Ivana Ivanović, Maja Modrijan, Petra Jerič, Neža Pleštenjak, Ela Pušnik, Maša Brna, Zoja Muhič, Hana Krnc, Geja Šušteršič, Saša Židov, Ana Omahen, Maša Vajd, Karin Golobič, and Margrieta Anna Apfelberga.

The exhibition was made in collaboration with the Faculty of Design in Ljubljana. Students developed more than ten sustainability-focused concepts for the design of shop windows in Nova Gorica and Gorizia. The experts selected the most refined project created under the mentorship of Associate Professor Mojca Perše and Professor Ivo Koritnik.

Authors of the exhibition design concepts: Adam Gabrijela, Artnak Neža, Gea Bešter, Leila Botonjić, Nika Krecelj, Nika Dužević, Pia Franko, Ema G. Lesjak, Laura Jelovšek, Lucas Kantarevič, Tinkara Klemenčič, Alja Kotar, Tia Kuruzovič, Nejc Kutnar, Eva Kvatérnik, Tea Letnar, Nejc Oštir, Manuela Perovšek, Špela Pezdir, Anja Planinšek, Katja Repanšek, Bruno Gabrijel, Lucija Sedlar, Sara Sihur, Teja Šegš, Maja Šijakov, Karin Terglav, Deja Vinder, Eva Šintler.

The competition was established by Matea Benedetti, founder of the award-winning sustainable and vegan fashion brand Benedetti Life, recognized as a pioneer of sustainable luxury worldwide. Her creations have shone on the most prestigious red carpets—from the Oscars and Cannes to the Venice Film Festival—worn by influential figures committed to sustainability and ethical fashion.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, 13 September 2025, at 20:30 under the arcades of the City Municipality of Nova Gorica, just before the visionary fashion show by Benedetti Life, which will conclude this important cultural evening.

Seven internationally recognized awards will be presented:

• International Lab of Mittelmoda – award for the most creative solution,
• The Bicester Collection – award for an emerging designer,
• Art & Parfums Milano – award for originality,
• Heineken – award for green solutions,
• Gloss – media award,
• Benedetti Life – sustainability award,
• GO! 2025 – award for the best shop window concept.

Special thanks to the sponsors: MOVIA, Steklarstvo Loverčič, and Maravee Projects.

Photo: Jernej Lasič