All the calls for proposals, incentives and subsidies to turn your fashion dream into a real business
"I would like to launch my own fashion brand, but I don't have the money to get started."
It's one of the phrases I hear most often. And I understand it perfectly: creating a brand requires a significant investment – we're talking about figures starting at £15,000-20,000 to do things properly. Not everyone has that kind of cash available.
The good news? The start-up financing In the fashion industry, they exist, they are tangible, and they are more accessible than you might think. Non-repayable grants, interest-free loans, tax breaks, regional tenders: Italy offers dozens of opportunities for those who want to start a business.
The bad news? Navigating this jungle is a nightmare. Bureaucracy, specific requirements, deadlines, documents... many give up before they even start.
Announcements change frequently. The information in this article is current as of December 2025, but I always recommend checking the official websites before proceeding.
Why Think of Fashion as a Business (Not Just Creativity)
I know what you're thinking: "Corrado, I want to design beautiful clothes, not spend my days reading notices and filling in forms."
I understand you perfectly. A passion for fashion stems from the desire to express a vision, to create something unique, to dress people with your art. But let me tell you an uncomfortable truth: Creativity alone is not enough..
I see it every day in our style office. Extraordinary talents arrive, people with an eye for fabrics that would be the envy of many established designers, with innovative ideas and a clear vision. Yet many of them make the same mistake: they think that creating a beautiful collection is enough for the world to notice them.
Fashion is a business. And like any business, it requires:
- A sound financial plan
- A marketing strategy
- An appropriate legal structure
- Capital to invest
- Management skills
In my book "Do you also want to be a designer?" I dedicate an entire chapter to this topic because I believe it is the first mental hurdle to overcome. Creativity is your superpower, but to turn it into a sustainable brand, you need more than that.
And this is where the start-up financing become essential. Because if there is one thing that can greatly accelerate your journey, it is starting with the right resources.
Types of Financing for Startups: A Map to Help You Find Your Way
Before going into detail about individual calls for proposals, it is important to understand the different types of subsidies available. Not all start-up financing They work in the same way.
💰 Non-repayable grants
Money that you do not have to return. The State or Region will give you a contribution to cover part of your expenses.
Pros: You don't return them.
Cons: Stringent requirements, high competitiveness
🏦 Zero-interest loans
Loans you have to repay, but without interest. Give back exactly what you received.
Pros: More accessible
Cons: They must be returned in time.
🎯 Non-repayable grant + loan
They combine both: a non-repayable portion and a portion as a subsidised loan. The most common formula.
Pros: Optimal balance
Cons: Complex documentation
📊 Tax Credits
Tax reductions that you have to pay. It is not money that you receive directly.
Pros: Useful if you already have a business
Cons: They require income from which to deduct
According to the European Court of Auditors, over 60% questions funding applications are rejected due to formal errors or incomplete documentation. It is not that opportunities are lacking – it is that accessing them requires preparation.
National and Regional Incentives for Fashion Startups (Updated 2025-2026)
Get ready, because what I am about to share is the result of in-depth research on all Italian institutional portals. I have combed through Invitalia, MIMIT, SIMEST, regional portals and Chambers of Commerce to offer you a comprehensive overview and verified start-up funding available in the fashion industry.
From creativity to business: the journey of every emerging designer
Specific Incentives for the Fashion Industry
Let's start with the best news: there are calls for proposals designed exclusively for those working in the textile, fashion and accessories sector. They originate from Law 206/2023 (the so-called "Made in Italy" law).
Call for Proposals: Ecological and Digital Transition in Textiles, Fashion and Accessories
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regulations | Article 11 of Law 206/2023 |
| Equipment | 15 million euros |
| Beneficiaries | Micro and small enterprises in the textile, fashion and accessories sector |
| Facilitation | 50% non-repayable grant (maximum €60,000) |
| Eligible expenses | Digitalisation, sustainability, new business models |
| Manager | Invitalia |
| Status | Closed - Monitor reopening in 2026 |
Call for Strategic Innovation in Fashion – Tuscany Region
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 9.5 million euros |
| Beneficiaries | Micro and SME fashion companies based in Tuscany |
| Facilitation | Contribution 80% up to €1.2 million |
| Questions | From 1 October 2025 on the SFT platform |
| Status | ACTIVE |
A contribution of up to €1.2 million from 80% is something exceptional. If you have an ambitious project and can locate your business in Tuscany – the historic cradle of Italian fashion – this could be the right choice.
Smart&Start Italia – The King of Funding for Innovative Startups
If I had to recommend a single tool To an aspiring designer with an innovative idea, this would be it. Smart&Start Italia is probably the most important source of funding for start-ups in Italy.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equipment | 200 million euros |
| Beneficiaries | Innovative start-ups (< 60 months) |
| Financing | 80-90% eligible expenses zero rate |
| Amount | From €100,000 to €1,500,000 |
| Non-repayable grant | 30% for locations in Southern Italy |
| Guarantees | No requests |
| Duration | 10 years + 12-month grace period |
| Status | ALWAYS OPEN |
"But can a fashion brand be an innovative start-up?" – I am often asked this question. The answer is absolutely yes, if your project has technological, process or business model innovation characteristics. A brand that uses innovative materials, sustainable production technologies or a disruptive sales model may qualify.
ON – Beyond New Zero-Interest Businesses
Among start-up funding options, this one is specifically designed for women (of any age) and young people under 35.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficiaries | Under 35 / Women of any age |
| Coverage | Up to 90% of the expenses |
| Maximum amount | 3.000.000 € |
| Form | Zero interest rate + non-repayable grant |
| Territory | All of Italy |
| Status | ALWAYS OPEN |
From 11 December 2025, the new platform more streamlined and intuitive application submission process.
Resto al Sud 2.0 vs Self-employment in Central and Northern Italy
Two "twin" instruments created by Decree Law 60/2024 for young people under 35. They represent some of the most generous start-up funding available in Italy today.
| Feature | Staying in the South 2.0 | Self-employment in Central and Northern Italy |
|---|---|---|
| Territory | 8 southern regions* | 12 central-northern regions |
| Non-repayable grant (up to £120k) | 75% | 65% |
| Non-repayable grant (120k-200k) | 70% | 60% |
| Basic voucher | 30.000 € | 30.000 € |
| Green/digital vouchers | +40.000 € | +40.000 € |
| Counter | Opened 15/10/2025 | Opened 15/10/2025 |
*Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily
Unlike Smart&Start, Resto al Sud 2.0 does not require technological innovation. You can establish a "traditional" fashion brand and still access the benefits. If you are under 35, unemployed, and want to launch your brand in Southern Italy, this is probably the best opportunity available today.
Tax Credits: Transition 4.0 and 5.0
Tax credits are powerful but often underestimated tools. They allow you to recover a percentage of investments in technology and machinery.
Transition Plan 5.0 – Up to 45%
| Energy Class | Tax Credit Rate |
|---|---|
| Class I | 35% |
| Class II | 40% |
| Class III | 45% |
Do you install energy-optimised automated cutting machinery? An investment of €50,000 actually costs you 27.500 €.
Protecting Your Creativity: Trademarks+ and Designs+
In the fashion world, protecting intellectual property is essential. 2025 budget: €32 million.
| Measurement | Max contribution | % Coverage | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patents+ | 140.000 € | 80% | Closed November 2025 |
| Trademarks+ | 9.000 € | 90% | Open 4/12/2025 |
| Drawings+ | 60.000 € | 80% | Opens 18/12/2025 |
🎯 Which financing option is right for you?
Innovative start-up < 5 years
Woman or under 35
Under 35 in the South
Under 35 in Central and Northern Italy
A trademark to be registered
Green technology
The Initial Investment: How Much Do You Really Need?
Before seeking start-up funding, you need to be clear about how much you really need. The investment required varies greatly depending on the type of product, business model, sales channels and positioning.
Scenario 1: Entry-Level Capsule Collection
- 8-12 items/models
- Made in Italy production (minimum 30 pieces)
- Basic branding
- Product photography
- Basic e-commerce
Scenario 2: First Structured Collection
- 15-25 items/models
- Full size development
- Professional branding
- Lifestyle + product photography
- E-commerce + social media strategy
Scenario 3: Full Brand Launch
- Complete collection (30+ models)
- Sample collection for buyers
- Premium branding + PR
- Wholesale distribution
- Presence at international trade fairs
With the start-up funding I have outlined, you can cover up to 70-90% of these costs. A €50,000 project with Resto al Sud 2.0 would only cost you 12.500 €.
Key Skills Beyond Design
Here is another topic I always insist on: you can't do everything on your own. And you don't have to. But you do need to know what skills are needed to run a fashion brand. Obtaining start-up funding is only the first step: then you need to know how to manage it and make it work.
💰 Financial Skills
- Business planning
- Pricing strategy
- Cash flow management
- Access to credit
⚖️ Legal Skills
- Company form
- Contracts
- Intellectual property
- Compliance and regulations
📣 Marketing Skills
- Brand positioning
- Digital marketing
- Public relations and media relations
- Strategia di vendita
🏭 Production Skills
- Supplier sourcing
- Quality control
- Supply chain
- Seasonal timing
Our Fashion Business Designer Canvas™ was created precisely for this reason: to help you visualise all areas of your business and understand where you need support.
How Be A Designer Can Help You Get Started
At this point, you may be wondering: "OK Corrado, I understand that there is funding available for interesting start-ups. But how do I actually access it?"
This is precisely where we come in.
Be A Designer It is the first independent Italian style agency specialising in supporting emerging designers. In over 14 years, we have launched over 200 brands, and we have developed a method – the BAD Method – covering every aspect of the journey.
We have prepared ready-to-use templates for you to plan your business:
What we can do for you:
1. Initial Strategic Consultancy
We help you understand which path is best suited to your project, which start-up funding you can apply for, and how to structure your business plan.
2. Financing Support
Identification of the most suitable call for proposals, preparation of documentation, drafting of the business plan according to the criteria of the call for proposals, assistance with bureaucratic procedures.
3. Collection Development
Product design and development, pattern making and prototyping, fabric and accessory sourcing, Made in Italy production (minimum order quantity of 30 pieces).
4. Branding and Communication
Visual identity and brand code, photo shoots, digital and social media strategy, PR and media relations.
5. Go-to-Market
E-commerce and direct sales, wholesale strategy, trade fair participation, buyer network and showroom.
Our approach is what I call a "turnkey service": we accompany you from the initial draft to the market launch. If the mere mention of the words "business plan" gives you a headache, take a deep breath: we make it for you.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
The main sources of funding for fashion start-ups in 2025–2026 are: Smart&Start Italy (up to €1.5 million at zero interest), ON – New Businesses at Zero Interest Rates (for women and under 35s, up to 90%), Staying in the South 2.0 (75% non-repayable grant for under-35s in the South), Self-employment in Central and Northern Italy (65% non-repayable grant), Trademarks+ e Drawings+ for the protection of intellectual property, SIMEST Fund 394 for internationalisation, and Transition 5.0 with tax credit up to 45%.
It depends on the call for applications. Many start-up loans allow you to apply as an individual and set up the business after approval, such as ON – New Businesses at Zero Interest Rates, Staying in the South 2.0 e Self-employment in Central and Northern Italy. Other tools such as Smart&Start Italy instead require registration in the Register of Innovative Startups.
My advice: do not register for VAT "blindly". First check which tender is most suitable for you, then structure your business accordingly.
With a entry-level capsule collection (8-12 models, Made in Italy production with a minimum order of 30 pieces, basic branding, essential e-commerce) you can start with 15.000-30.000 €.
However, thanks to the start-up funding available, your actual outlay can be drastically reduced: with Staying in the South 2.0 (75% non-repayable grant) a €30,000 project costs you only 7.500 €.
Absolutely yes. None of the start-up funding options I have outlined require specific qualifications in the fashion industry. The requirements are typically related to age, gender, geographical location, company characteristics, and the quality of the project and business plan.
The democratisation of fashion is one of the values I believe in most: anyone with passion, determination and the right approach can create a successful brand.
Yes, that is one of the services we offer. We know that Italian bureaucracy can be discouraging, especially for those who want to focus on the creative side of things.
Our support for start-up financing includes: analysis of the situation to identify the most suitable calls for proposals, preparation of documentation, drafting of the business plan, assistance in completing and submitting the application, support during the preliminary investigation and management of post-approval reporting.
🚀 Start Your Journey Now
Will 2026 be the right year to bring your project to life? Book a free consultation with me and let's evaluate the future of your brand together.
Book your free consultationI hope this guide has given you a clear overview of the start-up financing available in the fashion industry. The Italian incentive system is complex, but it offers concrete resources for those who have a valid project and the determination to carry it out.
Remember: there is no magic formula. Success depends on your ability to adapt these opportunities to your specific project, the quality of your business plan, and your perseverance in pursuing your vision.
But you don't have to do it alone. At Be A Designer, we believe that Italian fashion needs new voices, new visions and new talents. And we're here to help you make yours heard.
Good luck!
Corrado Manenti
Founder of Be A Designer
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Article updated in December 2025. Information is subject to change. Always check official websites before submitting an application.
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