Course
Fashion Design & Crafts is a multifaceted program that blends theory with practice. Through cultural research and technical training, students will develop a fashion design concept.
Anthropological and cultural dimensions of fashion are central to the exploration of traditional crafts and the global cultural dynamics that shape fashion trends. Culture will be translated into design concepts and visualized through analysis of the human figure and drawing, alongside the art of rendering fabrics. Studies of textile properties, embellishment techniques, and material manipulation will support the development of fashion design concepts, fostering trend awareness and, where relevant, a focus on sustainability.
The Fashion Design & Crafts Semester Program will include a workshop hosted by MADE. Based in Sicily, MADE is a dynamic institution recognized for its commitment to design for change and its dedication to preserving the artistic traditions and creative culture of the region. Guided by prominent creative professionals, students will participate in a hands-on experience that combines MADE’s learning approach, based on field practice and engagement with local cultures, with the rich industrial and artisanal heritage of the Tuscan territory. Through direct collaboration with artisans and industry experts, students will explore fabric and garment production, experiment with the responsible use of materials, and understand how traditional techniques can inspire innovation and contemporary design.
Structure
The semester is divided into five mandatory courses.
- Fashion Design: students investigate the dynamics of the fashion system, moving from research and analysis to a coherent collection concept. They identify trends, define personal aesthetics, and translate ideas into sketches, illustrations, and collages, supported by field trips and hands-on garment studies that connect craftsmanship, materiality, and design.
- Trend Forecasting & Crafts Culture: students learn to read culture through a designer’s lens, examining how craft traditions and local identities influence global trends. Guided from cultural analysis to concept development, they compile a polished trend book that integrates research, sketches, fabric selections, and embroidery samples.
- Iconography & Illustration: students refine the drawing of the human figure and the rendering of fabrics while exploring a range of illustration techniques. Study of fashion icons, museum visits, and studio practice build a distinctive visual language and strengthen each student’s artistic identity.
- Materials Manipulations: students engage directly with traditional craftsmanship—such as weaving, embossing, and intarsia—designing and producing original surface manipulations on fabric. Experimentation and collaboration with fashion design projects ensure techniques feed into final outcomes.
- Textures & Embellishment: students explore fabric properties and embellishment methods to turn concepts into tactile prototypes. By creating original, sustainability-minded textile samples, they sharpen trend awareness and elevate the finish of their final looks.
Polimoda’s semester abroad, through its varied teaching methods of lectures, seminars, hands-on learning, projects and field trips, is a valuable experience for any fashion student. Through the variety of the courses offered, the level of expertise of industry-based lecturers and teachers, and the school’s location in one of the world’s fashion capitals, the semester abroad program is an extensive focus on fashion and its systems, structures, and opportunities.
Expectations
During your semester abroad you will be expected to:
- Read selected magazines, dedicate time to research and share the results of your own work in the classroom.
- Use Polimoda’s library for research taking advantage of the extensive collection of books, magazines, films and important historical archives.
- Share individual progress and knowledge of visual representation tools with classmates.
- Use a sketchbook to write/draw and develop the topics of the course.
- A final, demonstrating students’ capability of transforming ideas into creative products.
- Mandatory completion of a “Health & Safety” course. An official certificate of attendance will be provided upon completion.
Requirements
- Minimum age of 18
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Currently enrolled full-time or part-time at a college or university (sophomore and junior)
- Second and third-year university students (sophomore & junior) majoring in design/art, fashion, fashion design, business,marketing, humanities
- Adobe Suite (recommended, not mandatory)
How to apply
Applications are managed by MADE, an institutional partner specializing in arts and design. Pay online in full or split your tuition into monthly installments (no extra fees).
Collaboration
Polimoda is proud to partner with MADE to offer this unique program opportunity in Florence.
MADE – The Rosario Gagliardi Academy of Fine Arts is an internationally accredited institution recognized by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR). Working at the crossroads of design, art, traditional crafts, and local culture, MADE’s study abroad programs are designed to empower students to engage with the unique traits of Italy and the Mediterranean Basin, while developing key career competencies and embracing their creativity.
