21 February 2026  Tracking careers through the AFA networkRecent newsletters by the Austrian Fashion Association (AFA) offer a clear snapshot of how Austrian designers build international careers. By reporting on grants, awards, runway appearances and informal industry gatherings, the updates make it possible to follow where designers work today, how they stay connected to Austria, and how public support shapes long-term development. The latest edition highlights both established names and emerging labels whose careers now stretch far beyond Vienna.Martin Niklas Wieser: from independent label to GucciOne of the most prominent examples is Martin Niklas Wieser, currently among the most successful designers supported by AFA programs in recent years. Wieser was born in South Tyrol and grew up in a working-class environment that still informs his design approach. He studied fashion design at the Weissensee Academy of Art in Berlin and later continued research at the Royal College of Art in London.After professional experience in Berlin, Paris and New York — including work for Proenza Schouler and Nicolas Andreas Taralis, and consulting for Mytheresa China — Wieser launched his own label in 2015. Following several years inside major fashion houses, he relaunched the brand with the Spring/Summer 2023 collection, using it as an experimental space for gender-neutral silhouettes, craftsmanship and questions of luxury. In autumn 2025, Wieser was appointed Menswear Design Director at Gucci, a move widely seen as a milestone for designers with Austrian ties. His career has been supported by AFA funding and recognition, including the City of Vienna Fashion Prize (Modepreis der Stadt Wien) 2024, and further acknowledged internationally with the Munich Fashion Award. Fashion meets everyday Vienna: the Gucci livestreamWieser's new role is also reflected in an unusual public event. On 27 February 2026, the AFA team invites the local fashion community to watch the Gucci Fall/Winter 26/27 runway livestream during Milan Fashion Week at Hermann's Würstelstand. The setting — a traditional sausage stand in Vienna — underlines the contrast between global luxury fashion and everyday urban culture. The event was announced via the AFA newsletter and its Instagram channel, and is positioned as an open, informal way to follow an international runway moment from Vienna.Austrian designers at Paris Fashion WeekThe newsletter also points to Austrian participation in Paris Fashion Week Women's Wear Fall/Winter 26/27, with further details available on the AFA website. Among the designers listed are several who have received state or AFA support — this article reflects only a selection.• Laura Andraschko was born to Austrian parents, grew up between Vienna and Berlin, and now works from London. Her label is known for a subversive, club-influenced aesthetic that comments on European class systems. She has shown in Paris and received funding through AFA Support, as well as the City of Vienna Fashion Prize (Modepreis der Stadt Wien) 2025. • Vautrait, founded by designer Yonathan Carmel, is based in Paris and on the official Paris Fashion Week calendar. Although the brand operates internationally, it maintains strong ties to Austria through Carmel's family roots. Vautrait was a semi-finalist for the LVMH Prize and focuses on tailoring, craftsmanship and garments designed to age with the wearer. • Hisu Park, a Korean-Austrian designer based in Vienna, founded her label in 2023. Educated at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, she combines couture techniques with contemporary ready-to-wear. Her collections are produced largely in Vienna and shown internationally, including in Paris showrooms, with support from AFA initiatives. • Florentina Leitner grew up in Vienna, trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, and previously worked for Dries Van Noten. Her Antwerp-based label is known for playful, floral designs and strong storytelling. Leitner's work has been shown in Paris and worn by international artists, while remaining connected to Austria through education, production links and AFA support. Austria as a creative anchorTaken together, these examples show a pattern: many designers work across borders, operate studios in several cities, and present collections internationally. Austria — and Vienna in particular — often remains an anchor rather than a fixed base. Through funding programs, networking and visible platforms such as newsletters, livestream events and Paris Fashion Week listings, the AFA documents how local support can feed into global careers, while creative roots continue to point back to Austria.Image: Split image, Paris - Milano: central runway with model walking in long coat. Left and right: minimalist racks with outfits. Illustration: © Fashion.at / Generated with Grok by xAI |