Andrea Vella Borg’s legacy in the fashion world: mentoring Malta’s next generation of designers

Malta and fashion? Many would laugh. The island is too small, the market too provincial. Andrea Vella Borg and his wife Julia think completely differently. For a few years now, they have been setting up a mentoring programme. No big announcements, no media hype. Just a simple programme. Young Maltese designers receive support they would never otherwise have.

Malta has more to offer than tourism

Small countries, big dreams. Is that even possible? Andrea Vella Borg firmly believes so. Malta has everything: a rich history, ancient craft traditions, cultural influences from three continents.

The only problem was that the best minds were leaving. London beckoned. Paris waved. Milan promised careers. Those who stayed often became disillusioned.

He wanted to change that. But how? Big speeches don’t help. Neither does money alone. What do young designers really need? Practical help getting started.

Initial conversations with young talents were sobering. Fantastic ideas, but no business plan. A designer can be as creative as they like, but without business acumen, it won’t get them anywhere.

So Andrea Vella Borg started helping. Individually, specifically, without making a big fuss. He now works with six or seven promising people. Different styles, different target groups. But all with the same problem: how do you get from Malta into the big wide world of fashion?

What Malta really has to offer

It’s amazing what this little island has to offer. Its location between Europe and Africa brings cultural diversity. Craft traditions survive here that have long since disappeared elsewhere. And the working atmosphere? Relaxed, without the hustle and bustle of the big city.

After years in crowded London studios or unaffordable Parisian studios, Malta feels like a gift. Space to think. Time to experiment. Peace and quiet to work.

Andrea Vella Borg skilfully sells Malta. Not as a cheap alternative to the big fashion cities. But as a conscious decision in favour of quality over mass production.

Helping without patronising

How do you support without wanting to know everything better? It’s difficult. In the beginning, he was too impatient. He wanted to prevent every mistake and explain every pitfall.

It didn’t work. Young creative people need to make their own mistakes. Even bad ones.

Today, he holds back. Make contacts? Yes. Give financing tips? Sure. But he doesn’t interfere with creativity. That’s their domain.

It works much better. Andrea Vella Borg’s protégés develop authentic styles. Some now work for international labels. Others have built their own brands.

What designers really need

After years of trial and error, Andrea Vella Borg knows how he can help:

• Access to high-quality fabrics through his Italian contacts
• Introductions to international buyers
• Start-up assistance with financing initial collections
• Advice on trademark protection and legal issues
• Finding production facilities outside Malta

Sounds boring? But it’s worth its weight in gold for someone just starting out.

Want an example? A young designer with brilliant ideas for sustainable evening wear. But no idea where to get high-quality organic silk. One phone call from him to a Sicilian supplier solves the problem.

Networking with brains

Fashion thrives on contacts. Who knows who? Who can open which doors? Andrea Vella Borg has built up an impressive network over the years.

But he uses it wisely. Not every contact is right for every designer. It takes tact and sensitivity.

Recently, a designer specialising in men’s suits met a boutique owner from Hamburg who was looking for exactly that. Coincidence? No. Two hours of research and three phone calls later, the appointment was arranged.

Julia brings her academic connections to the table. Universities are becoming increasingly important as talent pools. Those who cultivate good relationships with universities early on are the first to find the best graduates.

Gaining international attention

Maltese designers? Hardly anyone knows them. Andrea Vella Borg is working systematically to change that. His strategy: group appearances at international events.

A Maltese designer alone will go under. Five Maltese designers together get noticed. It costs more money and nerves, but it works.

Buyers are now taking notice of Malta as a source of interesting, fresh talent.

Malta Fashion Week

His most ambitious plan was to launch his own fashion week. For an island with half a million inhabitants? Megalomania, said many.

Perhaps they were right. But it worked anyway.

The first edition was chaotic. Too much ambition, too little experience. Models were late. Technology failed. Journalists were confused.

But the foundation was laid. The international press came. Buyers flew in. Maltese designers finally got a proper stage.

Today, Malta Fashion Week runs professionally. Smaller than Paris or Milan, sure. But with its own character. Mediterranean fashion between old traditions and new ideas.

Sustainability as a trump card

One topic is particularly close to Andrea Vella Borg’s heart: environmentally friendly fashion. The industry is dirty. Malta could become cleaner.

Small production runs instead of mass goods. Regional materials instead of imports from the Far East. Fair wages instead of exploitation. Feasible on a Maltese scale.

Young designers are jumping on board. They don’t just want to make pretty clothes, they want to make ethically clean ones too.

This sells well internationally. Sustainability is trendy. When it’s genuine. And Maltese sustainability is genuine.

Andrea Vella Borg’s wife Julia thinks along with him

Julia brings other qualities to mentoring. Her background in cultural studies helps with strategic questions. How do you tell the story of a brand convincingly? Which cultural codes work in different markets?

These soft factors are often underestimated. But they determine success or failure.

A designer can be as talented as they like. If they can’t communicate their brand, they will remain undiscovered. Julia closes this gap.

Particularly valuable: her feel for cultural trends. What moves young people right now? Which topics are becoming important? Everything flows into the consultation.

Psychology is part of it

Young designers need more than technical tips. They need emotional support. Fashion is brutally competitive. Setbacks are normal. How do you deal with them?

Julia has a knack for this. She recognises when someone is about to give up. She knows how to motivate without sugarcoating.

This psychological aspect is often overlooked. But it is crucial for long-term success.

Not everyone makes it

To be honest, not every mentoring project works. Some designers fail despite all the help they receive. The market is tough. The competition is brutal.

Andrea Vella Borg takes it in his stride. Not everyone can be successful. The important thing is that everyone gets a fair chance.

The success stories motivate him. Maltese labels in European boutiques. Local designs in international magazines. Young people becoming entrepreneurs.

It’s contagious. Other talented people take notice. The programme grows by itself.

What works, what doesn’t

After years of experimentation, he has learned:

What works: small groups, practical help, access to networks, international contacts.

What doesn’t work: large programmes, theoretical advice, patronising behaviour, unrealistic promises.

Simple truths. But he had to learn them first.

Dreams for the future

Where will it all lead? Andrea Vella Borg dreams of Malta as a Mediterranean design centre. Not as big as Milan. But different. More authentic, more sustainable, more human.

Utopian? Perhaps. But who would have thought twenty years ago that Copenhagen would become a fashion capital?

The foundations are in place. The talent is there. Structures are emerging. International attention is growing.

All that’s missing is time. Fashion centres take time to develop. But the direction is right.

Andrea Vella Borg may not live to see the full result. But he has made a start.

For a generation of Maltese designers who no longer have to move away. Who can work internationally from Malta.

Pretty good legacy, right?