Last night, Polimoda students and faculty gathered at B11 on the Manifattura Campus for Back to School, the night that opens the academic year. This edition carried extra meaning: 2026 marks Polimoda’s 40th anniversary, and the evening took its cue from the year it all began.
Polimoda was born in Florence in 1986 as the result of a partnership between local institutions, banking foundations, business associations and New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. It arrived in a decade defined by optimism, forward thinking and innovation. Its first home was Villa Strozzi, and although over the years the school has changed campus several times and been guided by many influential presidents and directors, one thing has never changed: its roots in Florence and the surrounding fashion production district.
Today, more than 12,000 square metres of campus are spread across two locations: Villa Campus, in the centre of Florence, and the Manifattura Campus, one of the most technologically advanced fashion campuses in the world, with its newly acquired B11 building, soon to house the Polimoda library. It was here that the welcome event, in its raw, industrial form, took place. The right backdrop to celebrate 40 years of a school that has always gone hand in hand with innovation and radical creative thinking, while keeping solid, lasting ties with the fashion industry.
The invitation was simple: Party like it’s 1986, make it couture. The dress code, “Back to the 80’s, your fashion icons”, asked everyone to bring their own references to the floor, from power shoulders and sharp tailoring to bright colors, leather and unapologetic volume.
@polimoda Was it 80s enough? 👀🖤
♬ audio originale - Polimoda
Four decades on, the Polimoda community looks different, but the spirit hasn’t changed: a place where fashion is a shared language and everyone shows up with something to say.
It being the 80s, exaggerated shoulders and silhouettes took centre stage. Like Moah, 4th year Fashion Design student, who was inspired by dramatic coats and big shoulders, or Zuzanna, 1st year Fashion Business who took the 80s theme to mean “big shoulders and a little bit of form”, in a dress by Polish designer Ismena Warszawska.
The designers who defined the decade were also well represented: Luca, 4th year Fashion Design, took inspiration from 80s Gucci, while Salvador, 2nd year Fashion Business, embodied John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier. Thierry Mugler was a big hit: both Mark, 2nd year Fashion Business, dressed all in white was inspired by the iconic designer, and Evangeline, 2nd year Fashion Design, with an ensemble that involved very broad shoulders and a tiny waist.
@polimoda What about you? We’re dying to know what’s your favorite 80s fashion moment?
♬ 80s style synthwave with guitar and synth(1373279) - LiberakunSound
Street and pop culture shape what we teach and inspire who we teach. This year, our students remixed their favorite moments into something entirely their own, drawing on the 80s, the decade that brought youth culture to the fore and made optimism the point. Frederick, 1st year Fashion Design student, took the 80s punk movement in London literally with a leather jacket, distressed jeans and big boots, while Vittoria, 3rd year Fashion Design Management student, arrived as a true member of the band Kiss, with a star on her face, a long black leather skirt and a red bralette.
It’s not the 80s without music: Gabriel, 3rd year Fashion Design, was influenced by Madonna’s Virgin era, with a white, flowing, chiffon see-through gown. Streetstyle came back into the mix when Pablo, 1st year Fashion Business student told us, “honestly, my look is a mix of how a truck driver would dress and Michael Jackson.”
Some pieces were found, borrowed or inherited. Students took inspiration from personal stories, like Cosimo, 2nd year Fashion Design student, who when asked about his blazer replied, “this is my mum’s from the 80s”, or Jason, 1st year Fashion Styling student, who surprised us with “I found my hat next to a trash can in the US.” Lautaro, 4th year Fashion Design student, confessed: “I collect clothes obsessively”, as he wore a Yohji Yamamoto blazer with a cinched waist and big shoulders straight out of his personal collection, while Maya, 1st year Fashion Styling student, took particular interest in David Bowie and Madonna for her funky and colorful look, nonchalantly shrugging, “I just searched online.”
@polimoda A bit behind the looks… still thinking of those tbh!!
♬ Retro 80s Synthwave - MokkaMusic
A night of time travel with a purpose, bringing 1986 to 2026. The school’s founding era was translated by today’s students: sky high shoulders, tiny waists, bright colours, flowing shapes, the references ran from Mugler and Galliano to Madonna, Kiss and London punk. The 80s were a decade defined by true innovation, optimism, technological advancement, and shattering subcultures. It’s only fitting that the students of today took to the theme so naturally, the next generation of fashion professionals who yesterday embarked on their journey that began, in a sense, 40 years ago.
CREDITS
Journal team
- Giuditta Donnini, Editorial Assistant Intern
Social media team
- Marta Borgio, Undergraduate in Fashion Business
- Olivia Grantham, Undergraduate in Fashion Art Direction
- Mahidi Madiva Camilia, Undergraduate in Fashion Art Direction
- Riccardo Rinaldi, Undergraduate in Fashion Business
Photobooth by
Photos by