Protégé to show upcoming designers at Milan Fashion Week

The team of mentors is offering a select group of fresh talent the experience of collaborating on the Protégé label. The invited designers will have an inside track into the Milan fashion market through the label’s uniquely crafted International Fashion Intensive Program (IFIP) at IULM University in Milan, Italy.

The top secret creations of the chosen designers will ultimately be showcased exclusively under the Protégé label. The combination collection of pieces will be unveiled in February 2014 during Milan Fashion Week and later available at top Italian stores.

San Diego based actress and former Guess designer Melissa Scott Clark (Biggs) has teamed with established designers and buyers Cecily Dean (Los Angeles) and Elizabetta Zenatello (Milan) to comprise the versatile group of fashion industry mentors at Protégé. Combining several years of experience and connections, they are aiming to take the next generation of young, gifted designers to the next level and expose their designs to Italian buyers.

“This is an opportunity to gain access to the Milan fashion world with an inside track.  I'm a firm believer that hands-on experience is essential. Every new designer starting out would benefit from manufacturing a private label for a larger brand. It is a great way to gain invaluable experience and get your own brand known in the market place even faster. But these things do not come easily, and we hope to change that with Protégé,” states Melissa Scott Clark (Biggs).

Cecily Dean adds, "It’s an invaluable opportunity for young aspiring designers with a full immersion experience into the international fashion world."

Protégé