The initiative, launched by the Vivolo company of the same name, promotes emerging talent in the field of fashion design and strengthens the connection between educational institutions and industry. In addition to cash prizes, winners also receive internships in Vivolo’s creative team.
The third edition of the competition marks a significant milestone: for the first time, the competition was open nationwide – all Italian art academies offering courses in fashion design (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) were eligible to participate. The finalists were asked to develop a practical project that combines creativity, technical skill, and industrial thinking. The awards were presented by company founder and president Luciano Vivolo together with Professor Rossella Piergallini, head of the fashion design programme at the academy in Bologna.
“I would like to congratulate all the students who took part. Talent needs to be heard, supported, and put to the test,” said Luciano Vivolo at the award ceremony. “This award is our way of recognising the value of those who are studying today and imagining the future of design, with the same curiosity and the same respect for craft and materials that have guided my journey since the very beginning.”
These values are closely linked to the history of the company: from the idea of using leather scraps to mend his son’s trousers, Luciano Vivolo developed a company in 1977 that now produces around 15 million leather accessories for clothing, shoes, and produces individually manufactured for leading international brands. The company is headquartered in San Lazzaro di Savena near Bologna.
In 2025, the company published its first sustainability report, which emphasises that training, knowledge transfer, and the promotion of regional resources are part of taking responsibility. The Luciano Vivolo Award is a central component of this strategy.
