By: Lyssanoel Frater
The final runway of the iD International Emerging Designer Awards is underway at the historic Dunedin Railway Station. Beneath its Neo-Gothic arches, a 120-meter-long platform has been transformed into one of the fashion world’s most unique stages. Among the finalists selected from a variety of countries, one collection caught the attention of both judges and the audience as it moved down the platform—Collection 0, the graduate work of Brunela Ramirez, an MFA designer from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
This collection is centered around interpretation, blending art and philosophy to explore individual growth. Ramirez has crafted this collection with the aim of visually interpreting the observation of how humans are shaped. “We are constantly being shaped by what surrounds us—by our experiences, by the environments, by the individuals in our lives,” she says. “My garments reflect that process, illustrating how we interact with the world around us, expressing our identity and growth through visual form.”
At the core of Ramirez’s practice is an open, inquisitive approach to design. She resists fixed categories and stylistic dogma, choosing instead to learn, adapt, and absorb from across disciplines and cultures. Her aim is not to create spectacle, but to seek clarity through balance and thoughtful consideration. In her work, silhouettes are shaped not by trend, but by inquiry: a constant negotiation between expression, function, and the ever-evolving dialogue between form and context.
This principle stems from her transnational education and professional background. Having studied and worked in Peru, the U.S., and Europe, she learned early on that identity is fluid and fashion must be responsive. “What I took from each place wasn’t style but perspective,” she says. Her garments do not seek to provide answers—they raise questions. How do we define ourselves through shape, through absence, through choice? What does it mean to wear a narrative?
Photo Courtesy: Brunela Ramirez
“I’ve had to become fluent across all parts of the process,” she says. “Not because I want to control everything, but because I see it all as one language.” That language produces collections that feel intentional down to the stitch.
Her selection as an iD International finalist is not her only achievement. Ramirez was also named a finalist in the ArtsThread Global Design Showcase and won the DressX Contest. Her work has also been featured in leading fashion publications such as Vogue. Taken together, these honors reflect the growing recognition of her design language—one that blends conceptual depth with a distinct personal aesthetic, and is steadily gaining visibility on the global stage.
However, Ramirez is less focused on industry validation than she is on impact. “Being recognized is encouraging—it suggests that I’m on the right path,” she says. “But I care more about whether the work resonates with others, whether it allows them to feel reflected.”
Looking ahead, Ramirez sees her future rooted in creation—continuing to develop her brand while collaborating with other artists across disciplines. Art direction has become a central part of her practice, and she hopes to shape not just garments but the visual worlds they inhabit. But above all, she remains committed to designing from instinct, curiosity, and connection.
“I want to be a designer who is never afraid to try everything,” she says. “Someone who connects with their audience and takes their brand to different parts of the world, creating a lasting impact on those who experience her designs.” In a fast-moving industry, Ramirez is building something slower, deeper, and lasting: not just a label, but a body of work that captures how people grow, shift, and continue becoming.
