About Polimoda

The Undergraduate in Fashion Design is a wide art and design program, created to help students express their creativity with a personal signature in style. Becoming Fashion Designers and, ultimately, Creative Directors, means researching, analyzing, experimenting, discovering and creating with solid training in techniques including pattern design, knitwear, printing, drawing and draping. 

Play the role of an authentic author on the international scene and challenge yourself with your first fashion show. The only rule is this: be yourself if you want to become who you are.

There is visible vertical improvement among the students, starting with the basics in the first academic year and followed by the possibility to create a real collection in the third year. The final year offers master’s level learning; students select a specialization and present their dream collection on a real runway with a jury and international press, supported by a portfolio.

Career Opportunities:

Based on abilities and acquired skills, Fashion Design graduates qualify for jobs as Fashion Designers and Creative Directors who are specialized in womenswear and menswear, reference materials (textile, knit, leather) or category (eveningwear, streetwear, underwear) as well as Costume Designers, Accessories Designers and Freelance Fashion Consultants in design research and development.

The Undergraduate in Fashion Business is a wide and complete statement program, perfectly balancing cultural and practical skills to shape you as a Businessperson. Become a manager or executive who plays within a corporate team or an entrepreneur who achieves success by founding a new company.

These leading figures have the skills to start and run fashion business units, retail chains, e-commerce businesses, single brands, agencies and whole portfolios, using both conventional and unconventional promotion tools inside and outside the box. 

Career Opportunities:

Based on abilities and acquired skills, Fashion Business graduates qualify for jobs in fashion management (Fashion Merchandiser, Marketing Manager, Finance Manager, Buyer, Retail Manager, Brand Manager and, ultimately, CEO of a Fashion House), agencies (Strategic Planner, Fashion Trend Forecaster, Communications Manager, Account Manager, Client Director), press (Editor, Journalist) as well as Freelance Project Managers and Entrepreneurs in the fashion and luxury fields.

The Undergraduate in Fashion Art Direction is a leading creative program, translating a concept into all possible languages —from textual to audiovisual— and shaping Art Directors, Graphic Designers, New Media Experts, Fashion Editors and Fashion Curators who are ready to tackle international multimedia, advertising agencies and creative studios.  

The desire of fame feeds our youth, so perhaps we should stay young forever. From the architecture of an image to a whole editorial issue or from the emotion surrounding a single object to the multidimensional curation of an exhibition space, this creative mind coordinates imaginative projects and artistic teams by feeling the spirit of the time and moving beyond aesthetic conventions. This program offers vertical progress, starting with learning basic skills in all areas during the first academic year to practical skills in the third year. Once students' soft skills and sense of leadership are developed, master's level learning is offered in the final year. Horizontal progress is guaranteed with two projects per year and includes a personal portfolio.

Career Opportunities:

Based on abilities and acquired skills, Fashion Art Direction graduates qualify for jobs in creative agencies, museums, magazines, brands and design studios, working as Art Directors, Graphic Designers, Artistic Directors, Illustrators, Photographers, Fashion Trend Forecasters, Editors, Curators, Visual Merchandisers, Strategic Planners, Bloggers, Communications Managers and, ultimately, Creative Directors.

Fashion Styling is a creative program in which mental imagery, inventiveness, aesthetic sensibility and culture are perfected to converge and shape a fashion image and visual professional. A Fashion Stylist works for fashion houses, online and print magazines, media, bloggers, advertising agencies, fashion retailers and E-commerce platforms. 

This program is for those who wish to fulfill an important visionary role.

The Undergraduate in Fashion Styling offers vertical progress, from learning the basic skills required by the market to more practical tasks such as curating a fashion movie and providing consistency and appeal for a designer’s image. Horizontal progress is guaranteed with two projects per year, to be included in a personal portfolio.

Career Opportunities:

Combined with a natural flair for fashion, sociological understanding and good organizational skills, Fashion Styling graduates qualify to work for fashion brands, fashion magazines, creative boutiques, shopping centers, retail stores, event management companies, modeling agencies, advertising agencies and celebrities, igniting new aesthetics and shaping a clear vision.

The Undergraduate in Fashion Marketing Management is an applicative program, revisiting the idea of marketing and management by going to the heart of the matter and zeroing in on factories, companies, producers and markets. The focus is on becoming more sustainable and digital.

This program shapes Fashion Coordinators and Fashion Managers capable of supervising and coordinating the Marketing, Merchandising, Buying, Operations, Production and Purchasing areas. This individual understands the peculiarities of the fashion industry, converting ideas into a perfectly working machine able to generate a return of investment and respecting a given budget. They can develop, merchandise and distribute the right product for the right market, securing the business of any fashion company today while working on a better future tomorrow.  

Vertical progress if offered, starting with basic skills in all areas during the first academic year to metric and performative abilities in the third year. Once students' soft skills and sense of leadership are developed, master's level learning is offered in the final year. Horizontal progress is guaranteed with two projects per year and includes a personal portfolio.

Career Opportunities:

Based on abilities and acquired skills, Fashion Marketing Management graduates qualify for jobs in fashion production (Fashion Merchandiser), fashion companies (Fashion Buyer, Communications Manager, Marketing Manager, Operations Manager, Strategic Marketing Planner), distribution (Retail Manager, License Manager, Sales Manager) as well as Freelance Project Managers and Entrepreneurs in the fashion and luxury fields.

The Undergraduate in Atelier Design is a deep craft program designed to create a 360° garment professional. Students sharpen their skills and conceive dresses, tailored garments, streetwear and knitwear.

Mastering techniques such as pattern making, draping, cutting & sewing, print design and embroidery—including a deep knowledge of raw materials and product development processes—is essential for every quality-driven brand, further demonstrating why this role is very sought-after in the job market today.

This program encourages students to make things exactly as they would in an atelier. As each student’s technical ability rises from the first to the second year, a specialization is chosen among the many categories of fashion products (including men’s suiting and women’s underwear) so participants can develop their portfolios and execute their final project.

Career Opportunities:

Based on abilities, experience and acquired skills, Atelier Design graduates qualify for jobs as Pattern Makers, Textile Specialists, Materials Purchasers, Quality Controllers, CAD Designers, Garment Technologists and Product Testers. Their careers can then lead them to becoming Cutting Room Managers, Product Development Managers, Buyers, Product Trend Forecasters, Heads of Innovation, or pursuing independent careers as Bespoke Tailors.

The Undergraduate in Fashion Accessories Design is an intensive learn & practice program, teaching individuals how to design high-fashion shoes and athletic footwear, bags and metal hardware, and is appropriately held in Florence, the production capital of leather goods for the most important brands in the world. 

This program forms a well-defined professional Accessories Designer capable of applying traditional skills of craft together with conceptual and avant-garde research. This person can run a laboratory to create the latest fetish object of desire in fashion.

The first year of Fashion Accessories Design teaches the basic skills required to create a pair of shoes and a bag. From the second year, students are able to go in-depth and focus on all the footwear, bags and accessories technicalities, incorporating small leather and metal goods. In the third year, they develop a personal portfolio and final project that includes an iconic product and its packaging to be presented as an installation. 

Career Opportunities:

Based on abilities, experience and acquired skills, Accessories Design graduates qualify for creative jobs as Bag Designers, Shoe Designers, and Accessories Designers; technical jobs as Materials Purchasers, Quality Controllers, Developers and Leather Technologists; managerial jobs such as Technical Directors, Product Development Managers and Heads of Innovation or for a freelance career as a consultant.

The Undergraduate in Product Management aims to provide a technical and strategic insight into the entire production chain, training professionals capable of dealing with key areas of the industry. With a focus starting from raw materials to finished products in the areas of packaging, accessories and fashion jewelry, the course hones in on marketing, merchandising, logistics, purchasing and quality.

Fashion is a complex system of creativity, innovation, precision and the ability to improvise solutions as essential values. The dynamics of creativity are closely linked to new production perspectives and potential. The market requires prepared and flexible professionals who understand creativity and research and are qualified to plan and manage the entire life cycle of a product.

Career Opportunities:

The course aims to train professionals highly specialized and sought after on an international level, playing multiple roles within the areas of Product Development, Product Management, Merchandising, Management, Supply Chain and Purchasing Office. This is a fashion professional who looks towards the future and is prepared for technological change with the ability to combine creativity and management, from research to planning, planning to collection production, merchandising, logistics and the supply chain.

This program is multidisciplinary, comprehensive, up-to-date, professional and taught in Italian. Immediate entry into the industry from different areas of interest such as business management, market trends and brand communication—interrelated in the practice of contemporary fashion—is the main focus.

The Undergraduate in Fashion Communications covers all of the basics during the first year, including an English fashion course and management tools that are intensively developed in the second and third years. Preparation for work becomes evident in the final project, where students must be capable of selecting strategies and languages suitable to the strategic scenario of reference.

Career Opportunities:

Based on personal abilities and acquired skills, the course qualifies graduates for senior positions in the fields of Marketing and Communications (Communications Manager, Graphic Designer, Fashion Editor, Blogger, Event Manager, Strategic Planner, Copywriter, Press and PR Manager).

Endowed with strategic vision, complete knowledge of production techniques and a scientific approach to the market, this designer creates an imposing brand name with real media impact, cutting through the complexity of today’s fashion system.

There is visible vertical progress among the students, from learning the basics in the first year to gaining the ability to create, communicate and merchandise a real collection in the third year, giving students the possibility to create their own brand to be part of a new concept fashion show.

Career Opportunities:

Based on the student’s personal abilities and acquired skills, the course qualifies graduates for jobs in fashion design and management as Creative Directors, Fashion Designers, Fashion Coordinators, Collection Managers, Design Managers, Trend Forecasters, Merchandisers, Product Managers, as well as for a career heading up new industry-driven designer brands with an entrepreneurial attitude.

The Undergraduate in Digital Marketing is a practical program with a strong focus on digital transformation. Students are given access to all of the new tools that brands and companies need for now and for emerging markets in the near future.

The program shapes Digital Marketing Managers able to supervise and coordinate digital marketing areas: from social networks to online advertising, from SEO to Web Analytics and Content, from CRM to E-commerce and from marketing automation to mobile marketing. This professional must learn to have an ethics-driven approach to Data Governance in order to encourage sound knowledge of protection laws and the appropriate use of collected granular data and information.

Career Opportunities:

Based on personal abilities and acquired skills, the course qualifies graduates for jobs in marketing and digital management as Digital Marketing Managers, Social Media Managers, Content Strategists or Digital Marketers.

The Master in Fashion Retail Management, operated in partnership with Gucci, is a professional program aimed at shaping the ultimate retail shopping experience professional.

Human behaviour is taught with all of the necessary tools of management, including finance, operations, distribution, buying, merchandising, floor management, product communication and commercial direction. A retail journey should feel like a movie, beginning before you walk through the doors of a store and ending when you finally wake up and are living your dream job. There is the possibility of completing the program with an internship at Gucci or within Gucci’s network.

Based on individual character and acquired skills, Fashion Retail Management graduates can aim for careers as Retail Managers, Store Managers, Sales Managers, Retail Buyers, Merchandising Managers or Distribution Managers.

The Master in Fashion Brand Management is the most up-to-date program at Polimoda. It is known for its visionary, active, creative and relational qualities, ideal for individuals sparkling with charisma. Welcome to the big bad world of Brand Managers. 

Brand Managers are experts in creating, preserving and reshaping the identity of a brand. They speak to the subconscious and win the battles going on in the minds of consumers. One day, they'll become the CEO.

This program features three main areas: Vision; the tuning between humans, society and industry that makes brands relevant; Management, the strategic marketing of a business model in real case scenarios and Communications, the creation and delivery of a sense-based message to seduce and aggregate.

Career Opportunities:

Brand Manager graduates, formed by a method based on the creation of original materials, can work in a wide range of areas in fashion companies, trend or communications agencies and other industries driven by the expression of identities such as technology, art, publishing, cinema and music.

The Master in Luxury Business hones in on both the culture of business and the business of culture. A masterpiece program shaping Chief Executive Officers who are ready to tackle all luxury categories at full speed, students — levering on heritage or innovation — learn to manage small companies or luxury holdings, conquer mature or emerging markets and even turn wishes into reality. 

This program features three main areas: Branding, Prestige and Value & Price. Each in-depth and intensive area includes a training project and a final project centered on uniqueness, allowing students to implement their own business formula to further develop a new start-up or an existing company.

This intensive specialization program includes many field trips, including one week in Paris accompanied by Linda Loppa as well as several internship opportunities. Classes focus on hands-on material and are run by teachers and guests from the industry, who also act as one-to-one consultants during the final projects presented in front of headhunters, investors and human resource managers.

Career Opportunities:

Luxury Business opens the doors to careers as executives or entrepreneurs in many categories such as Fashion, Leather Goods, Fine Jewelry, Writing Instruments, Watches, Cars, Perfumes, Yachts, Interior Design, Real Estate, Hotels, Food, Wine & Spirits, Wellness, Antiques and Art. Graduates become the ultimate expression of a unique lifestyle.

The Master in Fashion Art Direction, operated in partnership with Vogue Italia, forms a multi-dimensional professional who is skilled in the world of magazine media, graphic design and typography.

The Art Director of a magazine is the über-talented professional behind an issue’s every detail and the mastermind responsible for creating innovative layouts with breakthrough typefaces, design elements and photography. They tell the stories that impact nearly every aspect of the readership’s life, gripping its attention from cover to cover. This is a person fueled by a never-ending and intense desire to produce content based on originality of thought, expression and vision with a primary concern: to inspire and guide the team towards the creation of an ironclad editorial project.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

Endowed with an imaginative but strong character, Fashion Art Direction graduates can lead the way and create a shared vision for Magazines and Publications, Full-Service Communication Agencies and Luxury and Fashion Companies, both offline and online. Another career path could involve launching a Fashion Studio, taking on the role of a storyteller and ultimately creating an exciting and balanced 360° sensory experience.

The Master in Fashion Design is a star program, fulfilling the dream of entering the world of fashion and handing out the keys of its main language. 

It is the personal expression of an expert creator who can think up an idea and transform it into a wearable cult piece wanted by those desiring change. If you are looking for a shortcut that will allow you to enter the behind-the-scenes world of the fashion panorama, this could be your first step.

This program perfectly integrates the words contained in its title, Fashion and Design, into two main areas. The first area is based on research —a full immersion to acquire cultural and technical skills— while the second is practice-driven and aims to realize and present an impressive capsule collection.

This intensive specialization program is run by teachers from the industry and special guests, granting unlimited access to the Design Lab, computer labs and the immense library. It also includes a starting toolkit, a field trip to Milan Fashion Week and internship opportunities. The two main projects —the first involving the research of figurines and the second transforming those figurines into capsule collection— can be presented as a high-quality personal portfolio.

The Master in Collection Design is a constructive program created to develop Fashion Designers who master technical skills and are capable of producing a sure-fire collection that is fully fashioned, well finished and merchandisable.   

The collection will be ready for industrialization in either classic, casual, street, or other categories and presented in an original way to show the ultimate expression of a brief. 

This program is composed of three main didactic areas: Craft, the acquisition of cultural and technical skills; Design, the research and conception of a collection and Development, the creation, fashioning and finishing of the garments. The final presentation consists in the exhibition of a personal portfolio and public performance of a collection.

This intensive specialization program is run by resident teachers from the industry and international guests. It features field trips to production sites, workshops in tailoring techniques, draping, pattern making and printing, constant teamwork with master artisans and a special applied project with an external company as well as internship opportunities.

The career of a Collection Design Specialist requires a broad set of competencies, from translating contemporary culture and trend references into winning product lines to following every working stage —idea to delivery— with determination.

Throughout the course, students will fine-tune a repertoire of industry knowledge, from interpreting materials to researching innovative production techniques, new forms of merchandising management and the strategies behind collection planning. By examining heritage, market trends and sales structures as related to select brands, the program aims to incite the creation of products that mirror the versatility and dexterity required by the industry today.

Shoe Design lectures are held by esteemed business professionals, with direct intervention of executives and representatives from Salvatore Ferragamo. Students will have access to international guest lectures and field trips to the headquarters and production plants of relevant companies in the Florentine area, plus a behind-the-scenes look at Salvatore Ferragamo production and business sectors. During the 9 months, students will develop a collection project to be presented as both the Mid-term (capsule collection) and Final Project (main collection), valid as a personal portfolio. The students will additionally formulate a brand-specific project as related to the Salvatore Ferragamo partnership.

Depending on previous experience and academic achievements, employment can be found within the areas of Shoe Design, Product Development and Shoe Merchandising Management.

Both creative and practical, this course will provide an in-depth study of production techniques and materials, merchandising strategy and collection planning – all to form the accessory designers of the future (leather goods and small leather goods) with a strong and forward-thinking creative direction.

Today more than ever the accessory has gone beyond its complementary function to become a true object of desire, with the power of driving and even determining a brand’s success. Quality, craftsmanship and design form the identity of this manufacturing sector, requiring highly specialized profiles capable of reinterpreting and translating the know-how and heritage of Made in Italy into new global scenarios.

The course includes master classes, workshops and a brand-specific project in collaboration with the fashion house, as well as visits to sites and production plants in the Florentine area. Lectures will be held by industry professionals with a practical and in-depth knowledge of the sector and will be integrated with guest lectures by international figures. During the 9 months, students will develop a collection project to be presented as both the Mid-term (capsule collection) and Final Project (main collection), valid as a personal portfolio.

The Master in International Fashion Business is an unparalleled program building fearless leaders in the business of fashion’s global world. This key figure optimizes the market where it exists and invents one where it does not, daring to make risky decisions that have the potential to maximize sales. 

By focusing on advanced big data analysis and management to decode the future, knowledge is instilled by an approach focused on entrepreneurial, statistical, data-driven, administrative and legal elements.

The Master in International Fashion Business is composed of three main areas: Fashion Analysis, including fashion trend forecasting, analytics, quantitative methods for business and design thinking; Report and Data Production, encompassing digital marketing, omnichannel marketing, data analysis, strategic planning and Business Application, incorporating import/export, commercial development, fashion operations as well as online and offline distribution.

International Fashion Business graduates can become Entrepreneurs, on-the-ground Trend Hunters, Project Managers, Strategic Planners or Executives in a fashion company. They are part of the creative class and know that being able to calculate and present numbers can boost the growth of an artistic environment like fashion.

This master course integrates three main modules: Fashion System; products, designers, brands and trade fairs, Methodology; product categories (from textiles to knitwear, denim and leather accessories), product development and construction techniques based on different raw materials and Management Tools; purchasing, operations and pipeline, project management and product management.

This intensive specialization program is taught by resident teachers from the industry and international guests, features field trips to production sites renowned for both raw materials and finished products; throughout the master, multiple projects will be assigned to explore the different production methodologies and techniques.

Lessons take place from January to September and amount to 700 contact hours. There is the possibility of completing the course with an internship in a fashion company, leading to the overall obtainment of 80 credits. English proficiency and attendance are required. Candidates are eligible and selected after the admission process.

Depending on previous experience and academic achievements, employment can be found within production firms, brands, design start-ups, retailers or buying offices. The main job profiles are: Product Developer, Product Manager, Quality Controller, Merchandiser.

The Master in Fashion Marketing & Communications is a sharp professional program, focusing on creative and technical omnichannel marketing strategies applied to the new digital fashion system. 

Fashion is the most complete expression of society and understanding its complexity is paramount for its marketing. Learn how to gather information from different sources, write a marketing plan and suggest practical actions for maximizing a company’s visibility. This program promotes immediate entry into the workforce and includes several areas such as digital fashion, social communications, marketing trends, packaging, graphic design, strategic planning and brand communications. Everything is interconnected in contemporary fashion practice.

The three words contained in its title, Fashion, Marketing and Communications, also happen to be the main teaching areas. Above or below the line, conventional or unconventional, online or offline and a selection of images, numbers or words; the overall purpose is to convey clear and effective messages. This intensive specialization program is run by teachers from the industry and features international guest lecturers. Two projects, the launch of a magazine and the marketing of a company, will be ready to present in a personal portfolio. The program is completed with two experiential moments: a visit to Pitti Uomo and Milan Fashion Week.

Lessons take place from January to October or April to December and amount to a total of 700 contact hours. There is the possibility of completing the program with an internship at a fashion company, leading to the overall obtainment of 80 credits. English language proficiency and attendance are required. Candidates are eligible and selected after the admission process. 

A career as a Marketing & Communications Manager —whether for a company, an online or paper publication, or an advertising agency— requires a logical personality, the ability to organize a big quantity of data and the perfect stroke of genius that makes the difference.

The Master in Fashion Merchandising & Buying is an operative program that aims to prepare a passionate professional to work in the elusive art of buying and selling. 

Know what customers want even before they do and be well-educated in fashion trends, total awareness of current industry developments and superior forecasting ability. From production processes to buying techniques and with eyes on various markets (including Chinese, Russian and American), this technical Master is one of the most trusted by professionals.

Focusing on different categories such as apparel and accessories, it integrates two main areas: Fashion Panorama; trends, brands, trade fairs and calendars, fashion shows, online and offline shops and e-commerce as well as Operative Tools; merchandising and buying techniques, retail management, fashion marketing, visual merchandising, operations, fashion styling, advertising and marketing strategy.

A career as a Merchandiser or Buyer can evolve from intermediate steps and roles in E-commerce, Multi-brand and Fashion Brand environments into Retail Management. Depending on past experience and academic achievement during the program, employment placement can include contracting firms, brands, buying offices and major retailers.

This course will also provide an in-depth study of production techniques and materials, trend forecasting, merchandising strategy and collection planning, forming the knitwear designers of the future with strong and forward-thinking creative direction.

Throughout the 9 month program, students will develop a collection project, to be presented as both the midterm (capsule collection) and the final project (main collection), equally valid as a personal portfolio. Furthermore, a brand-specific project will be developed in collaboration with Missoni.

During the Master, Missoni will host students in their headquarters, located in Sumirago (VA), for field experience. The students will understand how collections are conceived and will have the opportunity to join Missoni’s design team and work with in-house production.

This intensive specialization program is taught by resident teachers from the industry and international guests. It also features field trips to production sites renowned for yarns,  material transformations and finished products.

Lessons take place from January to September and amount to a total of 700 contact hours. Thereafter, there is the possibility of completing the course with an industry internship leading to the overall obtainment of 80 credits. English language proficiency and attendance are required. Candidates are eligible and selected after the admission process. . Additional prerequisites include previous studies in areas related to Fashion Design with previous courses in Knitwear or professional experience in the business.

Depending on previous experience and academic achievements, employment can be found within any brand – particularly focused on knitwear – as a Knitwear Designer, Product Manager, Fashion Coordinator, Freelance Designer or Production Manager.

The Master in Creative Direction is a wide and deep program created to shape the newest and highest evolution of the Fashion Designer. This is how you become a Creative Director.  This individual leads a design studio, the identity of a fashion brand and special projects with the typical sensorial and conceptual approach required from art management.

With an eye on activewear and a hand on luxury athleisure, take your design to the next level. The Master in Creative Direction is based on three main areas: Design, trend and cultural research resulting in a fully visualized concept; Brand, market analysis resulting in brand identity strategy and Communications, the creation of written, visual and motion content delivered by a team.

This intensive specialization program gives students access to shows, trade fairs, exhibitions and museums in Italy and Europe as well as internship opportunities. It is run by teachers and guests from the industry who are dedicated to reviewing one-to-one student progress. The final project is a concept book that will be featured in a design installation at Villa Favard in front of a jury.

Lessons take place from October to June and amount to a total of 700 contact hours. There is the possibility of completing the program with an internship at a fashion company, leading to the overall obtainment of 80 credits. English language proficiency and experience in the field are required. Candidates with work experience or relevant studies in fashion and related fields are eligible and selected after the admission process.

A career as a Creative Director is built through talent, tenacity and connections. The students with the best CVs, consistent progress and impressive final projects are offered contacts with companies, wide exposure in Polimoda’s official communications and Linda Loppa’s tutorship.

The Master in Sustainable Fashion is an up-to-date program designed to shape Sustainability Specialists, Circular Economy Managers and Fashion Diversity Managers. 

Systems thinking, ethical fashion, circular business models and standards, eco-design, diversity and inclusion are the latest fashion buzzwords shining a light on some of the most critical themes of the contemporary worldwide agenda and are becoming increasingly accepted goals by fashion brands, luxury suppliers and non-profits. 

These key figures are responsible for innovative materials research, upcycling, recycling, traceability, reporting, transparency, community engagement, environmental health as well as the quality of fashion products and everyday life.

The Master in Sustainable Fashion is composed of three main areas: Brand Management & Fashion Sustainability, encompassing fashion sociology, cultural anthropology, sustainable fashion business models, sustainable design strategies, cause-related marketing, corporate social responsibility and fashion leadership; Sustainable Production, including new materials, production technologies, value chain management, suppliers and innovative textiles and Global Economy, diving into ecological economics, new trends, transparent corporate communications, digital transformation, future consumer behavior & lifestyles, diversity & inclusion management, global market ethics, sustainable businesses and start-ups.

This intensive specialization program is run by resident teachers from the industry with the direct involvement of international professionals. International guest lectures and two field trips to production sites are part of the program. Two main projects, a Midterm Project and a Final Project, can become part of the portfolio students present when applying for internship and job opportunities.

The Master in Fashion Critique and Curation is a program designed to strengthen independent thinkers who are able to influence the opinion of readers and fashion stakeholders on the basis of an accurate analysis of every nuance in this sector, diving into the deep understanding of fashion culture and criticism as a social and aesthetic phenomenon and as an industry. 

A sense of the politics of style, emotional intelligence, along with proper attention given to both ethics and aesthetics, will lead to a captivating critique of the fashion system that can positively impact the industry.

This program features three main areas: Fashion Culture, focusing the deep knowledge of the contemporary fashion system, its anthropological background and current players; Fashion Writing, diving into the curation of your own social network and writing both a daily digest and an article of journalistic criticism and Fashion Socialite, including event organization, oratory art and public relations.

This intensive specialization program is run by teachers from the industry. International guest lecturers, field trips to trade fairs, fashion shows, companies and corporate museums are included. Two main projects will lead to the formation of independent critical thought activity, including a physical diary reporting experiences and speaking out Instagram page (or blog).

Endowed with a personal critical perspective and a strong vision, Fashion Critique graduates can lead the way and create a shared vision for Magazines and Publications and to work as Fashion Curators, Fashion Theorists, Fashion Writers, Fashion Critics, Fashion Consultants, Visual Directors, Brand Communicators, Fashion Editors and Fashion Activists.

The Master in Fashion Trend Forecasting is an innovative program for sharp and intuitive minds. Welcome to the life of Trend Forecasters. This person is a master of the future who is constantly moving, researching and finding the golden thread between politics, economics, technology, art, music, and, of course, fashion. 

Trend Forecasters could be considered the fortune-tellers of fashion, arousing desire with new concepts of communication and product in an almost spiritual way.

The Master in Fashion Trend Forecasting dives into four main areas: Research, the analysis of data and phenomena; Link, the personal associations, inspirations and moods; Concept, the formulation of trends, counter-trends and sub-trends and Release, the application to product development, strategic marketing and communication purposes with presentation materials.

This intensive specialization program is run by resident teachers from the industry and includes international guest lecturers, workshops in Paris or London as well as field trips to the Pitti trade fairs in Florence and Milan Fashion Week. In collaboration with Li Edelkoort’s Trend Union, two main projects can be used as a high-quality personal portfolio. Internship opportunities are provided.

The Master in Fashion Styling shapes professional Fashion Stylists with excellent style, a steady wrist on set and a splash of personal taste. This is the master behind the image, dictating visuals by understanding the language of today’s aesthetic paradigms and shaping the collective imaginary of tomorrow. This is an icon maker who works closely with designers, videomakers, photographers and artists.

The Master in Fashion Styling offers five main areas: Styling a Collection, Styling a Still-life/Product Editorial, Digital Styling, Styling an Editorial and Personal Styling. Each area is composed of dedicated classes and ends with a project that can be presented as a personal portfolio, providing each student with a practical set of skills for the fashion industry.

This intensive specialization program is run by resident teachers from the industry and includes international guest lecturers, a field trip to Paris or London, workshops, attendance to Milan/Florence fashion weeks, internship opportunities, a visit to the Venice Biennale and the regular use of a professional photography studio.

Lessons take place from April to December and amount to a total of 700 contact hours. There is the possibility of completing the program with an internship at a fashion company, leading to the overall obtainment of 80 credits. English language proficiency and attendance are required. Candidates with work experience or relevant studies in fashion and related fields are eligible and selected after the admission process. 

The curriculum includes: a study of contemporary fashion including fashion systems, trade fairs, designers, and brands; the study of working with fabrics, knitwear and leather products; design concepts; 3D techniques and product development; fashion merchandising and collection planning, and line and product industrialisation; the study of consumer behaviour, market appeal and competition analysis.

The course also includes: a visit to the Gucci Garden or Ferragamo Museum; an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; a personal project; and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study.

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation in the fashion business, a course of study that may continue with the 4-year undergraduate program in Fashion Merchandising or with the 9-month master programs in International Fashion Business, Fashion Retail Management or Fashion Brand Management.

The Seasonal in Fashion Future Lab does not seek to address questions of whether, but rather how and why. Fashion is a mirror of society, subject to constant change with its current set of conditions, challenges and needs. In this unique Fashion Future Lab program, Polimoda and AMD Akademie Mode & Design explore why and how the world of fashion interprets social change, takes advantage of technological progress and creates new ethical design and business concepts.

The two-week program is a thoughtful combination of varied topics and focuses on sustainability and innovation in textiles and business and also covers forecasting and sociological issues. Our Expert Talk shares developments in the fashion world with Italian and German professionals. A group project allows participants’ to work on a given task in an international team, thus deepening their intercultural competence. Following the topic "Circularity in Fashion - 3 Steps to Success," participants will work in groups to examine the longevity and sustainability of a freely selected product. The core elements of the analysis will involve design strategies, future textiles and consumption models. These topics will be addressed in advance by our experts.

The curriculum includes: trend forecasting for the development of a megatrend, the future of textiles, performance textiles, bioengineering, sustainable circular economy in fashion and textiles, bioplastic, startup strategies, sociology of the imaginary, contemporary fashion, textile sciences, handcraft techniques, graphic design and art direction. 

The curriculum includes: exploration of the essential disciplines in fashion design – from composition to analysis and editing techniques – to the creation of a silhouette. Specific basic skills also developed include cutting, sewing and draping a model. The course also looks at the creative stages: research and concept; design and creation of a capsule collection, the development of a basic paper pattern and a prototype.

The seasonal course also includes: a visit to the Ferragamo Museum; an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; a personal project; and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study. The whole working process and final project will be documented in a design book, adding value to the portfolio of any fashion designer.

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation in the fashion business, a course of study that may continue with the 4-year undergraduate program in Fashion Design or the 9-month master programs in Fashion Design or Collection Design.

From concept to ideation and sketching to planning, this course effectively teaches the entire  pop-up shop process, including merchandising and budgeting. Students will learn how to create an organized calendar with milestones and deadlines as well as how to effectively supervise all the development stages of a fashion pop-up store in addition to visual merchandising, store planning, interior design, retail management and the fashion brand portfolio.

The curriculum includes: Retail Management, Interior Design, Business Administration, E-Buying, Visual Merchandising, Fashion Merchandising and Graphic Design.

The course also includes: a visit to explore classic and avant-garde stores in the city of Florence and surrounding areas, a final project presentation and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study.

Participation in this course provides learners with the opportunity to bring forward an idea to fruition and experience the advantages and challenges of teamwork with a practical final project. Students will benefit by applying the knowledge and tools acquired during their time at Polimoda and FIT, all while developing independent thinking, decision-making, strategy skills and creativity.

Dedicated to individuals with undergraduate or master degrees in fashion business and fashion design who are interested in developing and applying their soft skills, this course will help participants proactively secure a job or start a business with clear goals in mind. 

The curriculum includes: contemporary fashion, talent development, work orientation and coaching and one-on-one portfolio review sessions combined with visual and graphic advice as well as personal mentorship by Mimma Viglezio. During the course, students will discuss the balance between personal goals and industry goals through one to one coaching, where presentation and visual skills are key. 

The course also includes: a visit to Gucci Garden or Ferragamo Museum; an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; a personal project; a portfolio and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study. 

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation for entering the world of fashion or for a course of study that may continue with a 9-month Master in both Fashion Business and Fashion Design.

For 2020, Polimoda and Parsons Paris propose a one-month Summer Program in Luxury Design Management – Luxury Matters, where the first half of the course takes place in Paris’s historic 1st arrondissement to then move over to Villa Favard, Polimoda’s Florentine headquarters.

The Seasonal in Luxury Design Management is a specialized summer course on the essence, the heritage and the organization of high-end industries. It focuses on the strategic development of French and Italian leading luxury sectors and provides an interdisciplinary understanding of their processes and specificities at the crossroads of design innovation, business and culture. In Paris, special focus is put on Haute Couture and the relation between French fashion heritage, local crafts, creativity and strategic management. These topics are examined more closely in Italy through the exploration of the strong tradition of Florentine craftsmanship, the production of high-end leather accessories and the Made in Italy brand.

The curriculum includes: contemporary fashion, fashion marketing and corporate strategies with focus on Corporate Social Responsibility, Cause-Related Marketing and brand reputation, the business behind materials and their impact on the environment, technological innovation within the fashion industry, traceability in the supply chain, fashion law, the international standards, and environmental management.

The course also includes: a visit to the Gucci Garden or Ferragamo Museum; an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; a personal project; and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study.

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation in the fashion business, a course of study that may continue with the 4-year undergraduate programs in Fashion Merchandising or Fashion Business or with the 9-month master program in International Fashion Business.

The study plan includes: the sociology of the imaginary, from art to fashion, psychology, anthropology and subcultures; trend forecasting with theory and practice of color, materials, methods, and applications; photology; photography, and graphic design.

The course also includes: a visit to the Gucci Garden or Ferragamo Museum; an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; a personal project; and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study.

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation in the fashion business, a course of study that may continue with the 4-year undergraduate program in Fashion Business or the 9-month master programs in Fashion Trend Forecasting or Fashion Styling.

The curriculum includes: fashion photography; fashion art direction; press to impress; photology; study of pose; fashion budgeting; photographic production and post-production; casting management; colour theory; fashion trend forecasting.

The course also includes: a visit to the Gucci Garden or Ferragamo Museum; an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; a personal project; and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study.

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation in the fashion business, a course of study that may continue with the 4-year undergraduate programs in Fashion Business or Fashion Art Direction or with the 9-month master programs in Fashion Marketing & Communications or Fashion Trend Forecasting or Fashion Styling.

The curriculum includes: multi-disciplinary research incorporating psychology, anthropology, and sociology of the imaginary; brand identity studies through innovation, business design and brand construction; brand strategy with trend spotting, marketing, placement, competition and uniqueness; brand management, looking at merchandising, distribution and legal affairs; fashion communications; digital media; and the organisation and curation of shows and events.

The course also includes: a visit to the Gucci Garden or Ferragamo Museum; an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; a personal project; and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study.

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation in the fashion business; a course of study that may continue with the 4-year undergraduate program in Fashion Business or the 9-month master program in Fashion Brand Management.

The curriculum includes: Contemporary Jewelry History, Fashion Marketing and Fashion Jewelry. This project-based course allows students to work on their ideas. Participants will be challenged by professionals in the business to polish their creative skills as they go through the fundamentals of the process — from ideation to visualization and prototyping — bridging the gap between design ideas and resolution.

The course also includes: an international guest lecture by a fashion industry expert; special lectures and workshops with jewelry professionals and manufacturers; a personal project and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential and further opportunities to continue in this field of study. The whole working process and a final project will be documented in a design book under the supervision of Maria Sole Ferragamo, adding value to the portfolio of any fashion designer.

Participation in this course is an excellent initial stage of preparation in the fashion business, a course of study that may continue with an Undergraduate in Fashion Design, an Undergraduate in Fashion Business or a 9-month Master in Fashion Design.

The curriculum includes three main modules: Fashion Analysis, New Macro-Trends and New Business with a deep and careful study of new emerging markets, fashion politics, global economy, finance, data analysis, fashion future, fashion trend forecasting, fashion law, soft skills and sustainability. The course also focuses on proactive topics such as fashion start-ups, graphic design and pitching. The goal is to realign skills and knowledge to the new scenario that is developing at an exponentially incremental pace.

Next Reality to New Trends will take place entirely online, with the possibility of being followed at compatible times based on time zones. 

The course also includes a personal project and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential.

The curriculum includes two main modules: Fashion Analysis and Fashion Merchandising. The first is dedicated to data and trend analysis, focusing on new scenarios, the actual changes and the new themes that are shaping our new sociological patterns. The second is about the purest study of fashion merchandising, making it deeper and wider according to the new technologies, the digital revolution and the new virtual spaces.

Merchandising Analytics will take place entirely online, with the possibility of being followed at compatible times based on time zones. 

The course also includes: a personal project and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential.

The curriculum includes two main modules: Fashion Analysis and Product Management. The first is dedicated to data and trend analysis, focusing on new scenarios, the actual changes and the themes that are shaping our new sociological patterns. The second is related to going in depth about,first of all, the real processes of fashion sustainability and then materials purchasing, product development, product industrialisation, leather and textile technologies and collection editing.

Product Management will take place entirely online, with the possibility of being followed at compatible times based on time zones. 

The course also includes: a personal project and an individual interview with a senior teacher from the course to assess your potential.