From Accademia Costume & Moda to Milan Men’s Fashion Week: Nicolas Martin Garcia Debuts with GARCIAS

Every designer’s journey begins with a vision. For Nicolas Martin Garcia, an alumnus of the Bachelor of Arts in Costume & Fashion at Accademia Costume & Moda, that vision has led him to one of fashion’s most prestigious stages: the official calendar of Milan Men’s Fashion Week, where his brand GARCIAS made its runway debut this June.

An important milestone that reflects not only creative talent and determination, but also the power of building an authentic identity through education, experience and perseverance.

For emerging designers, showing at Milan Men’s Fashion Week is a defining career achievement. When Nicolas received the confirmation that GARCIAS had been selected for the official calendar, the moment was deeply emotional.

“It was one of the most emotional moments of my life. I immediately thought about everything that had brought me here: leaving Colombia at a young age, starting over in Italy with my family, my years of study, working for major fashion houses, and all the challenges I faced while building my brand.”

For Nicolas, this milestone goes beyond personal success.

“I saw it as proof that dreams can become reality if you keep believing in them, even when no one else does.”

His journey also carries an important message for aspiring creatives from diverse backgrounds: there is room in the global fashion industry for authentic voices and unique stories.

Before launching GARCIAS, Nicolas built his career within leading luxury fashion houses. It was during those experiences that he realised he wanted to create something deeply personal.

“I was helping other brands tell their stories, but not my own.”

GARCIAS was born from the desire to express his cultural heritage and personal journey, creating a dialogue between Colombia, Italy and the Americas through contemporary fashion.

Described by Vogue Business as “Latin Maximalism”, Nicolas’ creative language celebrates Latin American culture through colour, emotion, memory and imagination, while moving beyond stereotypes.

Each collection is rooted in real experiences, personal memories and cultural references, presenting a vision of Latin identity that is sophisticated, contemporary and internationally relevant.

Reflecting on his time at Accademia Costume & Moda, Nicolas credits the Academy with providing the foundations that continue to shape his professional practice.

“ACM taught me discipline, methodology and respect for the creative process. It gave me the technical skills to transform an idea into a collection, but above all it taught me that talent alone is never enough.”

Today, those same values guide every aspect of his work, from design development to running his own fashion brand.

To students dreaming of launching their own label, Nicolas offers simple but powerful advice:

“Don’t wait for the perfect moment, because it will probably never come. Start with what you have. Today, having an authentic vision is far more important than having significant financial resources.”

He encourages young creatives to embrace their individuality, remain consistent and build a strong creative identity instead of following trends.

The philosophy that inspires his work is captured in one sentence:

“Si lo crees, lo creas.” If you believe it, you can create it.

Nicolas Garcias’ story demonstrates how talent, dedication and a clear creative vision can open doors to the international fashion industry.

For Accademia Costume & Moda, the success of its alumni is a reflection of its commitment to nurturing emerging designers and supporting them as they develop the skills, confidence and creative identity needed to shape the future of fashion.

For today’s students—and tomorrow’s—his journey is a reminder that every great career begins with the courage to believe in your own story.