Overview
What is Atelier Design at Polimoda?
Dive into the heart of fashion creation with Polimoda’s Atelier Design program. This innovative course bridges the gap between atelier designers and fashion designers, offering a fresh perspective on the intricate world of pattern making and garment construction, and underlining the crucial and symbiotic relationship between the two professional figures. Atelier Design incorporates elements such as pattern making, sketching, draping, tailoring, as well as theoretical study of fabrics and their relation to the body. It is a technical immersion into the world of structuring and making garments according to the body and design. This is a place where you will learn technical excellence, sewing practice, as well as the importance of this role in the fashion design field.
Highlights
The course covers the spectrum from technical skills (pattern making, draping) to creative skills (illustration), as well as theoretical knowledge (fashion history) and practical industry skills (production techniques, project coordination). This comprehensive skill set prepares you for a wide range of roles in the fashion industry as well as helping you to develop soft skills such as teamwork, initiative and self-confidence.
- Pattern making Construction
- Couture Techniques
- Digital Pattern Making
- Draping and shirting
- Jersey Draping
- Prototypes
- Fashion Textiles
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Sketches
- Fashion History
- Work alongside students from Collection Design (Master) and Fashion Design programs, simulating real-world industry dynamics.Â
Why at Polimoda
Unique mindset: We foster a distinctive mindset in our graduates. You’ll master the art of transforming abstract concepts into concrete designs. Our innovative approach pushes you to forge unexpected connections between mood, visuals, and clothing, readying you for the professional reality of atelier design.
Professionals and industry experts: The course provides opportunities for collaboration with teachers active in the industry as well as guest lectures, workshops and field trips with working professionals from the pattern making and atelier world.
Careers networks: The course has a great relationship with the international fashion community, providing many intern opportunities from a wide range of sources.
Alumni success: Our graduates are successful across the fashion industry and have gone on to work in the best ateliers, companies and brands as employees, managers, freelancers and consultants.
Learning method​
- Lessons conducted by experienced teachers with tangible industry experience
- Laboratories
- Practical workshops
- Guest lectures
- Field trips
- Presentations
- Group projects
- Midterms and final exams
- A mandatory final project
- Internship at the end of the second year
- 700 contact hours each year
- 60 credits per year
This course description is representative but not exhaustive of the full program.
Partnership
Partners share tools, guidance, insight and resources with students throughout their program. They play an important role in the professional lives of young students.
Pattern Group
Pattern Spa is a leading company in prototyping, engineering and production of fashion show collections for the most important international luxury fashion brands.
The company, founded in 2000 by Franco Martorella and Fulvio Botto, began in 2017 a structured growth process, which ended in 2022 with the creation of the Italian Hub of Luxury Fashion Engineering.
Following the listing on the Euronext Growth Milan Market of Borsa Italiana in 2019, Pattern continued its strong growth by external lines with the acquisition of 10 companies, each leader in the prototyping and production of different luxury product categories.
Pattern Group is therefore present today with 12 companies in 7 regions of the Italian territory (Lombardy, Piedmont, Emilia Romagna, Tuscany, Abruzzo, Umbria and Puglia), it is positioned on the main luxury product categories (men’s and womenswear, clothing and accessories, still fabric, knitwear and leather goods) starting from the Research and Engineering phase up to Production.
Pattern Spa is also the first Italian company in the sector to have obtained the SA8000 / Social Accountability Certification in 2013 and an ESG Rating from 2019, confirming the company’s strategic choice to invest in sustainability, technology and human resources.
Careers
Based on individual character and acquired skills, you can become the next:
A Pattern Maker creates the pattern for a garment. They interpret sketches from fashion designers by both draping and computer pattern making methods, working closely with the designer to translate the designer’s ideas into a reliable and functional pattern that can be sent to the manufacturer. They follow the development of the first prototype and make toiles following the designer’s specifications.
The process often involves grading or adjusting the pieces to produce different sized garments. A Pattern Maker also uses computer programs to draw out and nest pattern pieces to minimize waste of fabric. Pattern Makers have extraordinary hand-eye coordination and pay very close attention to detail with a think-outside-the-box approach to their work, providing effective and cost-efficient pattern solutions.
They have excellent teamwork skills and often have to manage other pattern makers and technical designers as well as building strong relationships with buyers and other departments. Pattern makers can work in many different types of contexts, from small brands, to maisons and haute couture ateliers.
A Pattern Designer is involved in the conceptual design and development of the patterns, determining the overall silhouette, fit, styling, and technical specifications, while relying on the Pattern Maker’s expertise to translate those designs into physical patterns. They design the technical specifications and schematics for patterns. Together with the fashion designer, they determine the materials and construction methods, ensuring the garment not only reflects the creative concept but is also practically feasible.
They have excellent teamwork skills and often have to work side by side with Fashion Designers for the concept and development of the garments, and Pattern Makers for the technical execution of the garment. Pattern Designers can work in many different types of contexts, from small brands, to maisons and haute couture ateliers.
A Product Developer is essential to any atelier or couture studio. They work closely with the head designer or creative director to interpret the collection’s design concept and vision and ensure the feasibility and quality of the garments. This can involve adapting the original designs to ensure they meet the construction and fit requirements of a couture standard of production.Â
They work closely with Pattern Makers to develop technically complex patterns and to ensure that the patterns capture the intended silhouette, proportions and detailing while remaining faithful to the designer’s vision. They oversee the development of prototypes and sample garments. They collaborate with the team of seamstresses to construct these initial samples as well as working with the design team to refine the patterns and construction methods as needed.Â
They are highly organized individuals, ensuring that the production timeline and control measures are in place to deliver a collection on time. They are a crucial bridge between the designer’s vision and the technical execution of a collection.
Furthermore, you can become a Technical Designer, Patternmaking Consultant, Custom Dressmaker, Fashion Illustrator.
Career services
The Career and Company Relations Office supports all students by creating a connection with the working world. It promotes educational collaboration with fashion companies via field trips, workshops and lectures. Our customized career services like CV help, career days, individual interviews and internship proposals help students access the job market.
Facilities
Polimoda hosts a range of world class facilities such as state of the art computer labs equipped with an array of 3D modelling and graphic programs, study areas for communal and independent study, two lecture halls, academic services, large professional workshops, tailoring studios and knitwear studios with technical professional equipment, photo studios, shop, and café.
Library
Polimoda’s library is one of the largest fashion libraries in Europe. Located in Florence’s Villa Favard, Centro di Documentazione Matteo Lanzoni – Polimoda Library holds an extensive collection of fashion publications.
Since its establishment in 1986, the Polimoda Library has grown to become a hub of fashion knowledge. With over 29,000 volumes, including books on fashion history, design, textile technology, marketing, and economics, it caters to diverse interests. The library also features an array of fashion magazines, look-books, film resources and online materials. It is also a place for quiet, independent study.
Requirements
The basic requirements to apply for this course are:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) with motivation letter
- English language proficiency
- Secondary school (high school) diploma or equivalent
- In order to be eligible for this course, you will need to apply via our admissions process.Â
During the application you are required to upload a Portfolio including an overview of your previous work with samples and photos.
