Overview
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 and agencies, using both conventional and unconventional promotion tools inside and outside the box.
Classes are held by teachers from the industry with hands-on and original materials. Fashion Business students have access to monthly guest lectures from experts and visionaries, an immense library and computer labs. Field trips to companies, fashion shows and trade fairs in Italy and Europe as well as applied projects with companies are organized throughout the program.
Each academic year includes a total of 600 hours of instructional activities and grants 60 Polimoda credits. The acquisition of credits is contingent upon passing individual subjects.
The course is completed with an internship in a fashion company at the end of the fourth year.
Curriculum
The curriculum of the course includes a range of subjects that will help students develop their skills and knowledge in the field. Some of the key topics covered include:
- Fashion Culture
- Product & Production
- Financials
- Fashion Management
- Fashion Communications
- Fashion Merchandising & Buying
- Fashion Retail
- Report and Data Production
- Career Orientation
- Branding & Entrepreneurship
- Soft Skills
Mentorship
Mentors at Polimoda are important professional figures from the fashion industry who come into the school to share tools, guidance, motivation and resources with students throughout their program. They provide valuable and practical insights into how students can take what they learn in their course and apply it to the real world. They usually meet with their students 4 to 5 times each year and are essential to fostering student empowerment via their challenging and stimulating lessons crafted uniquely for Polimoda students.
The Undergraduate in Fashion Business course welcomes Paolo Cigognini as its mentor for fourth year students. His mentorship is business and career focused, including insights on company structures and industry roles, values needed with industry and soft skills and career-oriented sessions fostering student empowerment.
Paolo Cigognini
Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Media at Tom Ford
Mentor for the 4th year
Paolo Cigognini is Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Media at Tom Ford, where he is in charge of ensuring that the brand’s communications and image are consistent and unified across all sectors. At Tom Ford, Cigognini oversees a broad range of responsibilities, from brand equity and strategic communications to paid, owned and earned media.
Prior to joining Tom Ford, Cigognini was Chief Marketing Officer at Alexander McQueen (2017 – 2023), Chief Marketing Officer and E-Commerce Director at Dolce & Gabbana (2014 – 2016) and, before that, Worldwide Communications Director at Bottega Veneta (2010 – 2014) and Communications Director (UK, France, Middle East) at Bulgari (2004 – 2010).
Careers
Based on abilities and acquired skills, Fashion Business graduates qualify for jobs in fashion management (Fashion Merchandiser, Marketing Manager, Finance Manager, Buyer, Retail Manager and Brand Manager), agencies (Strategic Planner, Fashion Trend Forecaster, Communications Manager, Account Manager and Client Director), press (Editor, Journalist) as well as Freelance Project Managers and Entrepreneurs in the fashion and luxury fields.
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.
Student work
From concept to creation with Dior product developers
Insider tips and strategies for success in fashion Product Development from Giada Tomelleri and Silvia Torrini’s exclusive lecture at Polimoda
To Create a Legacy in Fashion Business
Honesty, authenticity and a commitment to decisions: a leadership lesson by Paolo Cigognini
Highsnobiety mentors Fashion Business students in creating content at Pitti Uomo
What Matilda and Anastasiia learned while working with one of the best media platforms in the fashion industry
