North Macedonia (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – For years, in Europe we have watched the rise of Milan, Paris and London as dominant fashion markets. It is time for Southeast Europe, not the Balkans, to inspire to create and present their work to the world. A project inspired by the region, its long history and culture. The Skopje Fashion Festival can play this role and become the new reference point in the region.
Where There is a Need, There is an Inspiration
Markets now direct fashion as they have done for investments for decades. There was a gap in the region, which was filled by the markets of Istanbul and Milan. Now the designers of the area have a point of reference, a project where they can work for years to come.
The Skopje Fashion Festival was the first and unmatched fashion event in the country, launched in response to the widespread demand for a modern, high-quality cultural and entertainment experience in Skopje. This festival brought together prominent figures from the creative industry while also offering a platform for emerging talents to showcase their work.
Now recognized as the premier local event for fashion enthusiasts in the capital, the Skopje Fashion Festival showcases the finest of Macedonian culture through a fusion of design, art, education, and entertainment. It also attracts notable personalities from the regional and European scenes.
Talk of the Region
Organized by MAX Management Agency, the event features over 60 designers, brands, and academies, with more than 300 accredited journalists, photographers, and representatives of new media. In just two years and three seasons, it has drawn nearly 25,000 guests to its fashion shows, showrooms, and related activities.
With an audience of 10,000 over three festival nights, the third season, in partnership with the National Lottery and under the slogan “JOIN FOR LUCK!,” surpassed all expectations. It reached 150,000 unique Instagram users, generated half a million readers from media partner articles, and garnered over a million impressions on social media, setting a new record for both the Macedonian and Southeast Europe fashion scenes.
The event brought together over two hundred journalists, media outlets, influencers, and representatives from the business sector and the creative industry, along with well-known figures from show business, art, culture, and fashion. In addition to the international participation of multinational attendees, representatives from the diplomatic corps were also invited, as they were regular and valued guests of the festival. The festival attracts thousands of spectators in person, with 300 to 500 guests per show, and generates between 1.5 to 2 million social media impressions.
