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For the Ones the World Has Not Yet Discovered.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The Albania Rosario Fashion Grant — Eligibility Criteria

The Albania Rosario Fashion Grant is a global opportunity for the next generation of fashion visionaries. We are looking for emerging designers who possess extraordinary creative talent, a compelling point of view, and the hunger to build something lasting. This grant is not for the already-established — it is for the ones the world has not yet discovered.

To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Age
Applicants must be between 16 and 24 years of age at the time of application. There are no restrictions on nationality, country of residence, or citizenship. Applications are welcome from designers around the world.

2. Emerging or Independent Status
Applicants must be working as an independent, emerging designer — not employed full-time by a fashion house, corporation, or established brand in a design capacity. Student designers, self-taught designers, and early-career designers are all strongly encouraged to apply.

3. Original Portfolio Submission
Applicants must submit a portfolio demonstrating a minimum of 5 original pieces, a cohesive collection concept, or documented design work that represents their creative voice and vision. All submitted work must be original and produced by the applicant.

4. Vision Statement Video
Applicants must submit a 2-minute video — filmed in any format, on any device — in which they explain their design philosophy, the story behind their work, and why they deserve this opportunity. Authenticity matters far more than production quality.

5. Demonstrated Need or Limited Access to Resources
Applicants must demonstrate financial need or limited access to the industry resources, networks, and infrastructure required to advance their career. This grant exists precisely to bridge that gap.

6. Letter of Intent
Applicants must submit a written Letter of Intent (maximum 500 words) outlining their short-term and long-term creative goals, the specific ways this opportunity will accelerate their work, and the impact they intend to have on the fashion industry and their community.

7. Collection Concept or Inspiration Board
In addition to the portfolio, applicants must submit a collection concept — either completed or in development — including an inspiration board, fabric/material references, and a brief written description of the concept's creative and cultural intent. This demonstrates not just where the designer has been, but where they are going.

8. Personal Statement on Cultural or Community Impact
Applicants must include a brief personal statement (maximum 250 words) describing how their work connects to their personal background, cultural identity, or community — and the kind of impact they intend to create through fashion beyond the garment itself.

Strong Preference (not an exclusive requirement):
The Albania Rosario Fashion Grant places a strong priority on designers from Latin American, Caribbean, and other underrepresented global communities. This reflects the founder's personal mission — and the lived reality that the most extraordinary talent is often the furthest from opportunity.

All applications are reviewed by a panel of industry professionals. Selection is based on creative excellence, originality, clarity of vision, demonstrated need, and potential for long-term impact.

Applications open the day of announcement and remain open until February 2027.

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