Stemming from an initiative designed and funded on the initiative of the Municipalities of Florence and Prato and the Province of Florence, together with Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, the Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Confindustria Firenze and local business associations, in collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) of the State University of New York, the first Politecnico Internazionale della Moda, now known as Polimoda, was established in 1986.
Villa Strozzi, in the center of Florence, was chosen as the ideal location for the main campus and the first lessons.
Since then the school has grown in every way, becoming stronger, bigger, more influential, innovative and independent.
And while Polimoda has never lost sight of its roots, it has also understood that anticipating the future is more important than chasing it.
With this in mind, in 2006 Polimoda began a new chapter in its development with the appointment of Ferruccio Ferragamo as President, a role he held until 2026, and Linda Loppa as Director of the institute from 2006 to 2015. This period marked a turning point for the school and led to the opening of the campus in Villa Favard in 2011, now the headquarters of Polimoda.
In 2021, Massimiliano Giornetti was appointed Director. Formerly Creative Director of Salvatore Ferragamo and head of the Fashion Design department at Polimoda, he is a Polimoda alumnus and believes in the school’s international vocation, its connection with the city of Florence and the development of relations with the most important businesses in the sector.
In 2020 and 2024, Polimoda opened new buildings at Manifattura Tabacchi, bringing together the many disciplines from across the school and creating a single creative hub where business and design students can collaborate and learn together. These buildings consolidate the Polimoda Manifattura Campus and set a precedent for the future development of the school.
In 2026, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, Polimoda enters a new phase of its history with the appointment of Niccolò Ricci as President. CEO of Stefano Ricci S.p.A. and an active figure within key institutions of the Italian fashion system. His presidency reflects a vision of fashion education deeply connected to industry, international markets, and long-term value creation.
Today, after forty years of activity, Polimoda stands as a leading international institute for fashion education, rooted in Florence, shaped by industry, and oriented toward the future.