When fashion designer Domenico Orefice joined Polimoda Talent, his brand was still taking shape. Today, after presenting his collections at Milan Fashion Week and expanding internationally, he looks back on the experience that helped transform an ambitious graduation project into an independent luxury fashion business. In this conversation, he reflects on entrepreneurship, resilience and the challenge of balancing creativity with the realities of building a brand.
What did Polimoda Talent give you?
For me, Talent meant far more than recognition: it was a genuine starting point and an important opportunity to grow. It gave me the chance to believe in my work and to turn a dream into a concrete project. Thanks to this opportunity, I was able to start building what I had always aspired to — becoming a designer and bringing my own brand to life.
Beyond the financial support, Talent inevitably instilled in me a great deal of confidence and awareness, allowing me to look at my path with greater determination. It was the first step toward building an independent project, and it helped me face everyday challenges from a different perspective. Above all, it made me understand the potential of what I was building and the possibility of turning it into an authentic, lasting brand.
Even today, I consider that moment fundamental to the brand’s growth. Without that support, it would certainly have been far more difficult to launch the project and turn a personal idea into a reality that keeps evolving and growing, season after season.
What has been the biggest challenge you've faced, and how did you get through it?
The biggest challenge I faced was the shift from a purely creative mindset to an entrepreneurial one. During my studies at Polimoda, I was focused mainly on the project, on research, and on building a creative vision. Once the brand was up and running, however, I realised that creating a collection was only part of the work.
I found myself having to manage entirely new aspects: financial planning, production, supplier relationships, sales, logistics, and relationships with buyers. At first, it was hard to find a balance between the designer and the entrepreneur, because each role calls for very different skills and approaches.
I overcame this challenge by learning in the field, day after day, never losing my curiosity or my willingness to question myself. I tried to observe, to listen to those with more experience than me, and to turn every difficulty into an opportunity to grow. Today I consider this dual perspective one of the strengths of my journey, because it allows me to develop the brand in a way that is creative but also conscious and sustainable.
What is the current status of the project, and what are your future goals?
Today the brand is going through a phase of growth and consolidation, during which we are expanding our network of international partners and retailers and refining our identity and positioning with ever-greater awareness.
The goal for the future is to keep growing organically and sustainably, strengthening not only the brand’s structure but also the community taking shape around it. For me, it is essential to build an authentic dialogue with the people who share the project’s values, turning the brand into something capable of going beyond the product itself.
Another important goal is to maintain a continuous presence at Fashion Week through our shows. After the first show, I understood how important this format is for communicating the brand’s vision in full and for creating direct contact with buyers, press, and the public. At the same time, we will keep investing in product quality and in developing the atelier, always keeping our artisanal approach and creative identity at the centre.
Project Information
- Founder: Domenico Orefice
- Project: Domenico Orefice
- Founded: 2023
- Industry: Luxury Fashion
- Polimoda Talent: Winner 2023
- Website: www.domenicoorefice.eu
- Instagram: @domenicooreficetm
Highlights
Media
- Fashion United:Â Polimoda Talent also awards a digital runway casting solution platform
- MMScence: We Discuss SYNCRONI® Runway System W/ Founder Hatem Ben Hassine
- Fashion Times:Â Marco Rambaldi e il concetto di gioia radicale
Milestones
- Powered 10 international runway shows
- Beta tested during SS26
- GA launch planned for SS27
Founders stories
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