On a perfect fall evening this week, “A Bunch of Designers” opened in the Upper Marais in Paris. Neither a show, nor a showroom, nor a prize, the initiative by the AZ Academy—the brainchild of the late Alber Elbaz—was the culmination of a 12-month program that lets emerging designers produce a first capsule collection and actually sell it during PFW.

“It’s our way of giving young creatives a chance to meet people who might fall in love with them—not just the industry, but clients too,” said Patrick Ferrand, director of strategy and growth, fashion & accessories maisons at Richemond, as guests packed into Heureux Les Curieux on the Rue du Pont aux Choux.

During couture, Richemont revealed the names of its first crop of grads. They are: Brais Albor (Milan, menswear), Caterina Moro (Rome, womenswear), Liwen Liang (Jingdezhen and London, clothes made using traditional Chinese porcelain), Manon Marcelot (Paris, leather accessories), Merle Breuker (Germany, womenswear), and Sandra Jao (Tokyo, womenswear).

Front and center were a couple of silhouettes by Lutz Huelle, a former AZ Factory “Amigo,” ambassador and mentor—if not godfather—of the program. Though 25 years old, his sweater fit right in with this season’s currents for earthy hues and ombré treatments.

“What’s nice about this [initiative] is that it’s completely real,” he said. “It’s always great to have prize money, but then how do you handle it? I like that there’s this spirit of transmission that offers grads real help and the means to actually become professional.”

In-store events include installations that spotlight the creative processes and techniques used by each designer, from pattern-cutting and embroidery to a ceramic kintsugi workshop, print design and leather goods making.

As for what Elbaz—whose portrait hangs in the window—might have made of it all, “My hope is that he’d have been proud of the continuity,” said Ferrand. In-store, the designer’s motto lives on: “Love Brings Love.”

A Bunch of Designers will be open at Heureux Les Curieux, 23 Rue du Pont aux Choux, 3rd arrondissement, through October 17th.