polimodafirenze

FUORIMODA!: CHALLENGING THE FASHION SYSTEM | A manifesto in motion by @matteo.ward “Ward’s message was uncompromising but deeply inspiring. “Raise your voice,” he urged. “Call out what is Fuorimoda!, even if they don’t listen immediately, keep going. Change doesn’t come easy, but it starts with persistence.” The intimate setting of the Aula Magna at Manifattura Campus buzzed with anticipation on the evening of November 26, as students, faculty, and industry professionals gathered for the presentation of Matteo Ward’s new book Fuorimoda!. As a third-year Undergraduate student in Fashion Business, I had the opportunity to report live for the Journal, capturing the vibrant energy and critical discussions that defined the evening.” Written by Giulia Sofia Rivers, Undergraduate in Fashion Business student @_giuliasofiarivers_ Link in our Stories to read the full article!

We’re thrilled to share 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.

Fashion designer @marcorambaldi_ recently met with our second-year Undergraduate in Fashion Styling students. During the session, he reviewed their moodboards and provided feedback to help them prepare for an upcoming photoshoot. Thank you, Marco!

In occasion of Pitti Uomo 107, Polimoda presents AN/ARCHIVE EVENT TWO: blue r/evolution, an unprecedented exhibition that transcends traditional fashion discourse and explores the evolution of blue, denim and its connection to work, identity, crisis, and revolution. 14 January – 15 February 2025 Open daily from Monday to Saturday 10 am – 7 pm Free entry Polimoda Manifattura Campus Via delle Cascine 35 Florence

MELANCHOLY’S REBEL | From X Factor’s stage to Sanremo Giovani’s spotlight: our students on set with Angelica Bove Undergraduate Fashion Art Direction students filled one of Manifattura Campus’ photo studios, selecting looks and props, set designing, fitting and styling for the young Sanremo Giovani tipped star, Angelica Bove, while holding to her innate intrepid nature and rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic. Link in our Stories to read the full article! Undergraduate in Fashion Art Direction students Art Direction: Paula Alarcon Torres @paulaa.alarcon Sara Oliver Di Massimo @saradimassimo Apolline Deleu @apollinedeleu Carolina Ciambella Set Design: Marianna Fontana @mariifontanaa Jana El Rifai @janariifaii Aleksandra Eremashvili @ea_l_e Light Design & Effects: Sofia Malogioglio Jared Spacino Digital Content & Media: Laila Alhashani @lailahashani Mobina Mirzaei @themobinamirzaei Gaia Marraffa @wikiotaki Marta Sestini @marta.sesty Styling: Vittoria Mengoni @vittyvix Isabella Sarcone @isabellasarcone Julia Sette @julssette Magdalena Kohlmaier Photos: Felicia Iannone Make Up and hair: @newlineacademy

COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES | Creative Director of @marni and alumnus Francesco Risso tackles creative process to a packed lecture hall This was a guest lecture of different sorts, The Process as Manifesto. Risso, Creative Director of Marni and former Polimoda student, took on hundreds of students, challenging their creative impetus, breaking the status quo not only of what a lecture should be, but of how we can approach creating and making, and more importantly, how we can do it together. We sit in silence, to contemplate and connect with any sounds or sensations that come our way, any movement, the sound of peers breathing, coughing. We are then divided into three groups; Wolves, Tulips and Tears. Each group is given a sheet of paper on which each person is to write phrases or words, fold over their section and pass it on. Risso collects them, reads some of them out. Some phrases are emotional, others witty and whimsical, “we are in a room with no tulips, no plants, no sunlight, but full of life”. Read the full article on our Journal!

SUBVERTING THE RULES OF COSTUME DESIGN | Alumnus Massimo Cantini Parrini’s journey through cinematic wardrobe While one of his latest works “Maria”, the biopic of Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie and directed by Pablo Larraín, is being released in movie theaters, we retrace his extraordinary educational path, including Polimoda and the most renowned costume design institutes in the film industry. Born in Florence, Italy, @massimocantiniparrini as a teenager first fell in love with costume and clothing after a visit to the Costume Gallery at Palazzo Pitti where his passion for collecting was ignited. Starting as a child to collect interesting objects and historical garments, first from his great-grandparents house and then at markets and antiques stalls where he would spend Sundays scouring, he began his own collection of period clothes. He wanted to save clothes, seeing salvation as a way to give a second chance to a garment, to breathe new life into it, a philosophy he would bring into defining costume design itself. Throughout his childhood, he was equally inspired by his seamstress grandmother, as it was with her that he had his first foray into the tricks of the garment designing and making trade. Link in our Stories to read the full article!

FASHION CREATES CONVERSATION | Walter Van Beirendonck is put in the spotlight by students in his first session as Mentor Walter Van Beirendonck’s inaugural lesson as Mentor for the Master in Fashion Design was a meeting between minds. The class was attentive and curious while their mentor took them on a journey through his fashion history, answered their questions and took part in a dynamic exchange throughout the students’ personal presentations. For his first lesson at Polimoda, Walter Van Beirendonck also sat down with his students for a candid and unprecedented Q&A, reflecting on the challenges of breaking through in the early stages of a career, balancing creative vision with commercial expectations, politics and AI. “What do you expect from your students? What qualities do you value most in young designers?” asked Master in Fashion Design student Emily Gerleit. “I expect my students to be drawing, to be getting better and doing their best”, shared Van Beirendonck. “I want to get to know my students, to “learn” them and to understand what the student is standing for. That way, I can interfere, get in their heads, and guide them. The most valuable thing for a designer is to have a strong force and a strong synergy. Studying and school is the basis for a student’s future, so it’s really important in this time at Polimoda to go as deep and as far as possible.” Link in our Stories to read the full Q&A!

From the Renaissance frescos of Villa Campus to the vast, modern spaces of the brand new Manifattura Campus, Polimoda now offers over 15,000 square meters of inspiring, state-of-the-art fashion education. Nestled in the heart of Florence, Villa Campus is Polimoda’s historic nerve center, where fashion business courses—from marketing and merchandising to sustainable fashion—are taught under centuries-old ceilings. This Renaissance villa not only serves as our administrative hub but also as a vibrant cultural landmark where fashion intersects with other disciplines. A short distance away, the newly opened Manifattura Campus redefines modern fashion education. Here, multifunctional classrooms and specialized labs are fully equipped for apparel design, leatherworking, knitwear, and textile research. The campus also boasts six photography studios, drawing spaces, and cutting-edge computer labs, all designed to emulate real-world industry standards and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration. “Innovation, agility, and multidisciplinarity are the foundations of fashion, which by definition is change and renewal”, shared Director Massimiliano Giornetti. “University is where experimentation comes to life, through projects developed in collaboration with the industry and various fashion disciplines. Together, Villa Campus and Manifattura Campus form a singular educational base for over 2,000 students, a place where tradition and modernity, history and innovation, coexist—each campus inspiring the next generation of fashion visionaries in their own unique way. Link in bio to discover more about our two campuses and our fashion education ecosystem!

BEYOND PRICE TAGS | Master’s students uncover new perspectives at Florence’s antique biennial How can we define luxury? What does the future hold for this exciting and transforming sector? Find out with Master in Luxury Business students and art advisor and guest lecturer, Clarice Pecori Giraldi, at Florence’s BIAF, a biennial antique art fair held at Palazzo Corsini. Link in our Stories to read the full news! Photography by Antonello Tofani

We continue to support young talent even after they have finished their studies at Polimoda. Those who develop an interesting business idea which could prove successful in the fashion and luxury sectors have the possibility of being selected for #PolimodaTalent. Who can apply Polimoda Alumni who have successfully completed a Polimoda Undergraduate Course or Polimoda Master Course. They must be between 18 and 30 years of age. Duration 6 months Benefits The chosen candidates will receive a grant from Polimoda worth € 20.000,00 divided as follows: € 10.000,00 as an economic contribution, € 10.000,00 as hours of professional consultancy. Polimoda will also provide facility and services costs for 6 months. Application deadline: 18 November 2024 Announcement of winners: 13 December 2024 Link in our Stories to discover more.

Under the theme ‘The Real You’, this year’s Welcome to School brought together all Polimoda students, faculty, and staff to celebrate the start of the academic year at our brand-new Manifattura campus. To mark the occasion, the 10,000-square-meter campus, lit up red from within, was buzzing with energy; new friendships blooming, old pals catching up, and creative sparks flying everywhere. Relive your night, check the email the Academic Affairs just sent to you to access your photos.