2024 is a year that can be defined by tangible forward momentum, showcasing the creative courage that makes Polimoda’s students and staff unique.
From the first edition of AN/ARCHIVE, to the opening of the new Manifattura campus, 2024’s graduation show and winning collection, a plethora of applied projects, new mentors, investigative editorials, and fantastic guest lectures, it’s been a wonderful year at Polimoda.
CORPORATE VIDEO
STUDENT AMBASSADOR WELCOME 2024
Polimoda’s Corporate Video for 2024, proudly presented by our dedicated Student Ambassadors, gives an idea of what it’s like to be part of our school from both design and business perspectives.
In this video, our ambassadors shared their diverse experiences and the skills they’ve honed at Polimoda. From innovative design to strategic business, and creative art direction to cutting-edge styling, get an inside look at our comprehensive programs that nurture industry-ready professionals.
AN/ARCHIVE EVENT ONE
THE BODY
The year got off to a great start with the first edition of AN/ARCHIVE, the new creative hub for fashion research presented by Polimoda. A space open to the city, designed to welcome researchers, curators, archivists, students, designers and businesses interested in studying fashion. This edition looked at The Body, showcasing works from designers, artists and researchers from various disciplines, ranging from olfactory art to choreography, in dialogue with an exhibition of iconic pieces by contemporary renowned designers, in collaboration with A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Archive.
COSTUME DESIGN
BROADWAY STATE OF MIND
Costume Design student Asta Bertelsen took on Broadway, New York and the bright lights of the big city during her internship in a costume studio. We followed her on her journey as she embarked on the next step in her career after her time as a student under Lorin Latarro in Summer 2023.
SUBVERTING THE RULES OF COSTUME DESIGN

While his latest work in the film “Maria”, the biopic of Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Pablo Larraín, was being released in US movie theaters, we retraced alumnus Massimo Cantini Parrini’s journey through cinematic wardrobe.
FASHION ART DIRECTION
GRASS STAINS: MASTER IN FASHION ART DIRECTION X VOGUE ITALIA
Carefree youth and a first foray into fatherhood emerge in an editorial shoot by Master in Fashion Art Direction students with actor Archie Renaux. The shoot evoked a nostalgia for outdoor adventures, dappled sunlight and late summer evenings, spotlighting the actor’s sincere yet playful demeanour, touching on his inspirations and emphasizing his relationship to fashion.
GUEST LECTURES
COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES

Creative Director of Marni and alumnus Francesco Risso tackled the creative process to a packed lecture hall, enthralling students, journalists and staff with his ingenious and original approach.
ROSSELLINI FEVER
Undergraduate and Master students were packed to the rafters in Manifattura Campus’ Aula Magna for a lecture by actor, model and all round fashion icon Isabella Rossellini. She introduced the students to her project “Mama Farm”, founded on a community basis, with a common goal of preserving and celebrating the heritage of the environment and of mother nature, the farm produces wool via the use of rare fleece producers by heritage breeds of sheep.
GETTING CREATIVE WITH PAUL SMITH

During Pitti Uomo, Britain’s foremost fashion designer came to Villa Campus to present Paul Smith’s SS 25 collection and give a guest lecture to students on the theme “Creativity & Inspiration”.
FASHION: THE NEW ESTABLISHMENT | TESSA GRIFFITH

A conversation took place live for students between Tessa Griffith, Managing Director of Molly Goddard, and broadcaster Mimma Viglezio. The pair delved deeper into the evolving landscape of the industry, as well as touching on Tessa’s own unexpected pathway into fashion, resulting in the 2nd episode of our podcast series Fashion: The New Establishment.
PROJECTS FROM THE FASHION WORLD AND BEYOND
NEW HABITS FOR GALLERIA DELL’ACCADEMIA DI FIRENZE’S STAFF

Master in Collection Design student Chuang Yu Hsuan was announced as winner for the design of the museum’s new uniforms. The project was open to all students of this course and involved a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia, designing the collections, as well as feedback sessions with the jury Director of Polimoda Massimiliano Giornetti, Director of Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze Cecilie Hollberg, CEO of Pitti Immagine Raffaello Napoleone, and Head of Editorial Content at Vogue Italia Francesca Ragazzi.
FASHION DESIGN COUNTS DOWN TO THE TOUR DE FRANCE

With 100 days until the world’s biggest cycling race took off, second-year Undergraduate in Fashion Design and Master in Fashion Design students took their designs to the streets of Florence accompanied by local social initiative Piedelibero’s bikes and hosted by the City of Florence.
7,689 KM – FROM KABUL TO BERLIN
Undergraduate in Fashion Design students collaborated with No Nation Fashion to create a capsule collection titled “7,689 km I From Kabul to Berlin”, symbolizing the number of kilometres walked by migrants from Kabul via Bosnia and Herzegovina to Berlin, a journey to hope and better life. The students visited No Nation Fashion studio to meet and show migrants the design of the garment they worked on. Situated in the temporary reception centre Ušivak, the studio is a place to learn, discover fashion design and handicrafts.
A FASHION ODYSSEY TO ATHENS: MADE IN ITALY DAY

For Made in Italy Day, Polimoda came to the Italian Embassy in Athens to convey the innovation and caliber of Italian fashion through a fashion show by graduate designer Domenico Orefice, and two lectures by the school’s director, Massimiliano Giornetti.
POLIMODA x silhouette
Silhouette Eyewear accompanied models down the runway during this year’s graduation show 昇華 (SHO-KA). Designed by final year Undergraduate Fashion Design students, Gabriela Blake, Ian Morris McDonald and Luca Polonio, this accessory completed some of the students’ looks.
House of silhouette
House of Silhouette opened its flagship store in Vienna, Austria with the help of final year Undergraduate in Fashion Business students. Some of the students provided designs for the retail space inspired by contemporary art, studying the structure of the city and the architecture, while others worked on new designs for pop-up retail spaces in the main international fashion cities, such as Milan and Paris.
GRADUATION SHOW
RADICAL AUTHENTICITY IS HERE
For 2024’s graduation show, 昇華 (SHO-KA), the theme of transformation and metamorphosis took center stage, embodying the “sublimation” of Fashion Design students’ hard work. This transformation of creativity into the expressive flowing matter of fabric unfolded on a catwalk situated in the gardens of Villa Palmieri, an ethereal setting that seemed to transcend nature.
BAJO MUNDO AWARDED BEST COLLECTION 2024

An in-depth interview with Jimena Guzman Garcia, winning designer of the 2024 graduation show, explores the genesis and development of her collection, “Bajo Mundo”; a feast for the senses, her astute observation and ability to translate a community into a collection was exciting and referentially substantial.
CONVERSATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES
THE WIDER YOUR KNOWLEDGE, THE BIGGER YOUR PLAYGROUND

It’s not everyday you get to sit down and pick the brains of a Creative Director that has led the likes of Kenzo and Lacoste. Mentor for Master in Creative Direction, Felipe Oliveira Baptista, revealed what it takes to thrive in one of fashion’s most dynamic roles.
WHERE DO ALL THE ACCESSORIES DESIGN GRADUATES GO?

An investigative editorial examined the puzzling shortage of Accessories Design graduates from fashion schools across the globe, despite a healthy jobs market, by talking to alumni of Polimoda’s course, and fashion designer and advisor of our design department, An Vandevorst.
THE REAL YOU
WELCOME TO SCHOOL 2024
In October, Polimoda’s new Manifattura Campus was well and truly opened by almost 1,000 fashion students. The theme “The Real You” inspired students from across years and disciplines to express themselves while marking the start of the new year with hope and positivity.
WELCOME NEW FACULTY
FASHION CREATES CONVERSATION

New mentor for Master in Fashion Design, Walter Van Beirendonck, was put in the spotlight by students in his first session which involved a lively Q&A for the original Antwerp six designer.
unique expertise becomes good design practice
Fashion Designer Peter Pilotto joined our Undergraduate in Fashion Design program as a teacher this academic year.
Thanks to his expertise in the fashion industry, Peter will offer students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of fashion design practices.
NEW CAMPUS OPENING
A FASHION EDUCATION ECOSYSTEM

For the 2024/2025 Academic Year, Polimoda unveiled its new Manifattura Campus at Florence’s Manifattura Tabacchi. This milestone marked a significant leap forward in our fashion education mission, which began in 1986.