The Fortress Builders Hosts Diverse Line-Up Of Creative Talent For designMT
As part of this year’s designMT, Malta’s premier design expo, the historic Fortress Builders in Valletta has been transformed into a hub of creativity, showcasing the work of 16 exhibitors blending tradition, innovation, and cultural storytelling.
Running from 29th September to 4th October 2025, designMT is spread across Valletta’s iconic cultural spaces.
At Fortress Builders, visitors can explore an eclectic mix of art, fashion, design, and craft in an immersive exhibition that reflects the diversity of Malta’s creative community and international collaborators.
Here’s a quick look at what’s on show at Fortress Builders:
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Gabriel Grima, Sarah Camilleri, Abigail Farrugia, Martin Gomez, Jelena Milanovic -AmbiWear
Winners of designMT’s Fashion Jam, AmbiWear present a reversible, modular dress that transforms into multiple looks, even a bag, championing sustainability and adaptability.
Ruslana Grima – Woven in Protest
A handwoven dress made entirely from recycled garments, reflecting on sustainability and consumerism while giving discarded fabrics a new voice.
Kartelluni – Kartelluni Posters
Vintage-inspired poster art reimagining Malta’s past through nostalgic travel visuals and collaborations, including with Chocolate District.
MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts
Students from fashion and art diplomas showcase final projects and creative works, highlighting Malta’s upcoming generation of designers.
Stephanie Borg – Maleth Collection
A lifestyle collection celebrating Maltese heritage with motifs inspired by doors, tiles, wrought iron, and national symbols.
Kety Kaviladze – Echoes of Georgia
Supported by the Georgian Cultural Centre, Kaviladze presents stained glass, acrylics, and triptychs exploring colour, light, and symbolism.
Luke Azzopardi x Ozzy Chien – The Crypt Bag
The Crypt Bag, a couture collaboration between Azzopardi and leathersmith Chien, blending Maltese craft and haute couture.
Marylynn Naudi – Ħsejjes ta’ Malta
An abstract interpretation of Malta’s soundscape, transforming bells, fireworks, waves, and modern noise into colour and form.
Rebecca Grech – Glyphers Shoe Collection
Unisex footwear inspired by Maltese fishermen’s sandals and Mexican weaving, blending precision, culture, and craft.
Mark Borg – The Sleeping Lady Egg
A filigree Fabergé-inspired egg featuring amethysts and a miniature Sleeping Lady, merging Maltese history with intricate silverwork.
Alda Bugeja – Historical Pathway
A woven mural combining traditional techniques with ancient motifs, celebrating Malta’s textile heritage.
Alfie Gatt – Geosmin
A portrait merging oil paint and woven reeds, exploring memory, identity, and the Mediterranean landscape.
Nadège Renée Cassar – Modula Jewellery Series
Jewellery made from repurposed computer PCBs combined with silver and stones, turning electronic waste into wearable art.
Federica Zahra – Lumorack
A smart furniture piece with sensor-activated lighting, combining storage with modern design innovation.
Marco Parascandolo – 11:11
A fashion collection marking Parascandalo’s 11th anniversary, reimagining denim in gender-fluid, bold silhouettes.
Keith J. Caruana – MINSUGA: The Leatherace Collection
Captain’s Cut fuses leather, macramé, and Maltese lace into wearable pieces that blend rugged craftsmanship with delicate tradition.
The Fortress Builders exhibition is just one part of designMT, which runs from 29th September to 4th October across Valletta.
Free to attend, it offers a chance to see how Malta’s designers are blending tradition with modernity, crafting works that are as functional as they are meaningful.
designMT is being organised by the Malta Crafts Foundation, with the support of Arts Council Malta, Heritage Malta, the Industrial Property Registrations Unit within the Commerce Department, Malta Digital Innovation Authority, Malta Enterprise, and Visit Malta; and in collaboration with the MIDA – MALTA Interior Design Association, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta Cultural Agency; and Lovin Malta as Media Partners.
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