Sangue Novo
Applications until July 19
Movement.
Heartbeat.
Pulse.
Tension.
Friction.
Urgency.
Transfusion.
We ignite SANGUE NOVO, demanding new ways of creating, communicating, opening possibilities and taking up space.
We call for SANGUE NOVO in the way we listen to communities and territories, in collective memory and in the transformations shaping the present.
We breathe SANGUE NOVO, rejecting compulsive speed, empty aesthetics, comfortable repetition, imitation, trends and algorithms.
We cultivate SANGUE NOVO through the process itself, bringing together hybrid references and making room for experimentation, imperfect techniques, mistakes and strange materials.
We embrace SANGUE NOVO in support of an authorial culture where Fashion is shaped with intention, design provokes emotion and thought generates new languages.
We are SANGUE NOVO, a collective project made up of individual voices capable of imagining what does not yet exist.
Miguel Flor, Jury President
For more than three decades, SANGUE NOVO has been a launchpad for emerging Fashion Designers in Portugal. Created by Associação ModaLisboa and co-organised with the Municipality of Lisboa, the competition supports new talent at the moment when education gives way to professional practice.
It is a period marked by experimentation, uncertainty and discovery. A time when creative identities begin to take shape and fundamental questions emerge: Which ideas are worth developing? What values define a brand? How can creativity find its place within a wider industry? What does it take to build a project that lasts?
Throughout its history, SANGUE NOVO has offered a space for growth, reflection and creative development, placing as much value on critical thinking and authorial vision as on the final outcome.
Applications are open until July 19th and welcome final-year students enrolled in higher education and vocational Fashion Design programmes, as well as Designers who completed their studies within the past five years and are currently developing their work in Portugal.
POSTER: Photo: Luís Miguel Fonseca . Model: Kostia / Best Models
FAQ’s
Who can apply to SANGUE NOVO?
The competition is open to final-year students enrolled in higher education and vocational (levels 4 and 5) Fashion Design programmes, as well as young Designers who have completed their studies within the last five years and are currently developing their projects in Portugal. Applicants do not need to have an established brand to participate.
Can I apply with my final-year project?
Yes. Final-year projects are eligible, provided they have not been publicly presented outside an academic context.
Can I submit a project that has already been entered into another Fashion initiative?
Yes. Projects previously submitted to other Fashion initiatives may be entered, provided they were neither selected nor publicly presented as part of those applications.
Can I apply if I study or work outside Portugal?
Yes, provided you meet the remaining eligibility criteria outlined in the regulations and are developing your project in Portugal.
Can I apply as part of a team?
The competition is intended for individual applications. In specific circumstances, applicants are encouraged to contact the organisation in advance.
Can I submit a menswear, womenswear or genderless collection?
Yes. Menswear, womenswear, genderless and mixed collections are all eligible.
What should be included in the application?
Applications must include a mood board, a conceptual statement, a nine-look line-up, technical drawings, project descriptions, a colour palette, a materials board, photographs of at least one fully realised look, a presentation video, academic documentation, a criminal record certificate and a CV. Please consult the regulations for detailed requirements.
Why is a video required?
The video allows the jury to better understand each applicant, their development process and their ability to present and contextualise their proposal. SANGUE NOVO looks not only at a collection, but also at the vision, intention and creative journey behind it.
How should I submit my application?
Applications should be sent to sangue.novo@modalisboa.pt via email, WeTransfer, Dropbox link or Google Drive link.
Which dates should I keep in mind?
19 July 2026 – Application deadline
31 July 2026 – Results communicated to applicants
September 2026 – Public announcement of the selected projects
October 2026 – SANGUE NOVO show during the 67th Lisboa Fashion Week and announcement of the five finalists
November 2026 – January 2027 – Mentoring programme with industry professionals
March 2027 – Final show during the 68th Lisboa Fashion Week and announcement of the winning projects
How does SANGUE NOVO work?
The competition unfolds in two stages. In the first phase, up to ten projects are selected to be presented at the SANGUE NOVO show during Lisboa Fashion Week. Following the presentation, the jury selects five finalists, who then develop a new collection for the final stage of the competition.
Do I need to attend the mentoring sessions and presentations?
Yes. Selected participants must be available to attend meetings, mentoring sessions, presentations and all other activities associated with the competition.
Who is responsible for producing the collection?
Each participant is responsible for the production and styling of their collection. Associação ModaLisboa establishes textile partnerships with Calvelex / Fabrics4Fashion, RDD Textiles and Riopele to support collection development throughout the competition.
