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Kety Kaviladze

Fortress Builders

Kety Kaviladze is a self-taught artist whose work carries hidden emotion and a distinct visual language that for years she shared without using her name. Her journey began seven years ago alongside her granddaughter Nutsi, whose curiosity and encouragement sparked Kety’s creative path. Since then, painting has become an integral part of her life, filling her days with colour, warmth, and humanity. Influenced by the watercolour master Yuri Skrynnikov and further trained in glass art at the Tbilisi Art Academy, Kety embraces every opportunity to exhibit, continually seeking growth, new challenges, and ways to share beauty with those around her.

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MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts

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Students from the MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts are showcasing their work at designMT, representing two courses within the school. Second-year students from the Advanced Diploma in Fashion and Retail are presenting their final major projects, marking the culmination of two years of study in fashion illustration, textile design, pattern drafting, garment construction, and fashion retail. Alongside them, students from the Advanced Diploma in Art and Design are contributing diverse creative works that reflect their multidisciplinary training. Their collective participation highlights MCAST’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent and bridging education with real-world creative industry experience.

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Gabriel Grima, Sarah Camilleri, Abigail Farrugia, Martin Gomez, and Jelena Milanovic

Fortress Builders

The AmbiWear team is a multidisciplinary group of five individuals from diverse backgrounds, each contributing unique skills and perspectives. Gabriel Grima is a fashion graduate with hands-on experience in the industry, particularly in creative pattern cutting. Sarah Camilleri is an environmental scientist and passionate sewist with a growing interest in fashion design. Abigail Farrugia is a graphic designer with a strong passion for sewing, fashion, and sustainability. Martin Gomez also comes from a graphic design background and runs his own sewing and repair business. Jelena Milanovic is an economist and entrepreneur who manages her own fashion brand.

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Keith John Caruana

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A retired Armed Forces of Malta Captain turned artist, leather-craftsman, and designer, Keith John Caruana always craved to create unique long-lasting pieces of art that serve a purpose. Having lived in Tuscany during his training with the Italian Navy, he spent all his weekends getting inspired by the skilled traditional leather-craftsmen showcasing their art in the narrow alleys of the world-famous leather market of Firenze. Today Keith John is the man behind Captain’s Cut, a boutique leather brand specializing in bespoke belts and leather art using sustainable practices and no electrical machinery.

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Marco Parascandalo

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Marco Parascandalo is a Maltese fashion designer and the founder of the contemporary label Parascandalo. With a background in digital arts and a passion for bold, culturally rooted design, Marco launched his brand in 2014 to challenge fashion norms and celebrate individuality. His work blends urban edge with Mediterranean influences, often incorporating Maltese language and social commentary. Over the past decade, Parascandalo has become known for its fearless approach to style, streetwear, and self-expression. Marco continues to evolve the brand while remaining true to his ethos: fashion should be expressive, inclusive, and always daring to be different.

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Federica Zahra

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Federica Zahra, 19, is a Product Design student at MCAST Institute for the Creative Arts, specializing in furniture that blends functionality with innovative design. For the past two years, she has worked part-time at a local furniture manufacturer, designing and building custom pieces that address real-world needs, gaining hands-on experience with materials, craftsmanship, and user-centered design. Inspired from a young age by home renovation and interior design, Federica’s early curiosity evolved into a passion for creating thoughtful, practical furniture, a drive that continues to guide her emerging career in the world of design.

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Nadège Renée Cassar

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Nadège Renée Cassar established her jewellery workshop, launching her namesake brand Nadège Renée in 2005. She designs and crafts contemporary pieces in gold and sterling silver, often combining them with precious or non-precious materials. Nadège specializes in unique, exclusive, and limited-edition collections, as well as bespoke jewellery created by recycling clients’ metals and stones. She is renowned for transformable designs that adapt to different styles and needs. Passionate about heritage, Nadège revives traditional techniques such as filigree, blending them with a modern aesthetic to produce jewellery that is both innovative and timeless.

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Alfie Gatt

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Alfie Gatt has been shaping a bold creative path as a multi-disciplinary artist since 2022. Specializing in painting, he brings canvases to life with traditional techniques while also mastering digital media, including video editing, graphic design, and 2D animation. His work spans platforms and audiences, with collaborations including the Office of the Prime Minister, Visit Malta, Visit Gozo, and global brands with a presence in Malta. Constantly pushing boundaries, Alfie creates immersive, thought-provoking experiences that blend artistry and innovation, establishing him as a versatile force in Malta’s contemporary creative scene.

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Alda Bugeja

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Alda Bugeja is a Gozo-based weaver, textile artist, and educator who began learning the craft from her mother and grandmother at age five. She specializes in traditional weaving, spinning, macramé, and kumihimo, sourcing and preparing local wool by hand. Over her career, she has won awards, exhibited internationally, contributed to documentaries, written instructional guides, created historical textile reproductions for Heritage Malta, and wove the stole for Pope Francis’ visit to Gozo in 2022. She teaches weaving and textile arts to all ages, blending tradition with contemporary designs to preserve and promote Malta’s artisanal textile heritage for future generations.

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Mark Borg

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A filigree artist who crafts intricate pieces, Mark Borg’s artistic journey began at the age of thirteen, when he studied the craft at the School of Art in Valletta. Over the years, he perfected his technique and expanded his repertoire to include not only traditional jewellery, but also innovative sculptures and automata. Mark’s work is characterized by a desire to push the boundaries of traditional filigree and explore new, uncharted territories. His creations are often inspired by the natural world, the passage of time, and diverse cultural influences, resulting in unique works that resonate with both history and modernity.