Learn Directly From Luxury’s Elite: Study Fashion Where Industry Icons Guide Your Design Journey
A diploma or degree is nice but a direct line to luxury fashion’s biggest names like Olivier Rousteing and Giambattista Valli is even better.
Fashion may be built on talent, but talent alone won’t cut it. You need access, opportunity and training that mirrors the pace of the industry. Enter Istituto Marangoni, the Italian institution that has been shaping fashion’s biggest names for 90 years.
Just ask Dario Vitale, the newly appointed creative director of Versace. Before stepping into one of the most coveted roles in fashion, he sharpened his craft at Dsquared2 straight out of school, then rose through the ranks at Bottega Veneta and Miu Miu, where he became design director of ready-to-wear and head of image.
But Vitale’s story isn’t a one-off. It’s a blueprint. From Alessandro Sartori at Zegna to Gilda Ambrosio, co-founder of cult-favourite label The Attico, fashion’s current power players have one thing in common: they got their start at Marangoni.
Dario Vitale steps into the spotlight as the new chief creative officer of Versace, ushering in a bold new era for the iconic fashion house.
The numbers speak volumes. Up to 70 per cent of graduates go on to work in top-tier fashion houses (think Sartori), while 30 per cent launch their own brands a la Ambrosio.
These alumni journeys exemplify how Marangoni’s commitment to nurturing talent creates leaders redefining the industry. Their innovative visions and global influence reflect the power of an education that prioritises creativity, real-world experience and impact.
So, what is the secret sauce? A curriculum that blends Italian style – a global symbol of luxury, beauty, quality, craftsmanship and excellence – with the tempo of modern fashion: fast, competitive and always ahead of the curve.
That approach has earned Marangoni a spot at the top of Italy’s AFAM-accredited fashion institutions and a place in the QS World University Rankings for Art and Design.
Global Learning, Local Expertise
With campuses in Milan, Paris, London and Dubai, students aren’t just attending school in these cities. They’re woven into the fabric of the industry from day one.
Milan offers the kind of technical precision and luxury craftsmanship that defines Italian fashion, while Paris delivers an education in legacy and couture just by walking down the street. In London, creative chaos reigns supreme, while Dubai’s fast-growing scene blends luxury with global ambition.
Being in these cities is also about real-world immersion. These fashion capitals thrive on a delicate balance of honouring heritage while embracing constant reinvention. This dynamic environment shapes students into visionary creatives who merge tradition with innovation.
Bold, expressive and street-ready. Student collections capture the energy of fashion capitals like London, Paris, Milan and Dubai.
With a student body representing over 107 countries, that global perspective is built into the experience. The school also doesn’t just train designers, it connects them.
Faculty members are industry professionals who bring current know-how straight from the studio, showroom or strategy table into the classroom. As a result, the curriculum moves with the speed of fashion itself. What a student learns on Monday might be what the industry’s reacting to on Tuesday.
That relevance is woven into every programme. The Design track takes students from foundational skills like illustration and pattern cutting into advanced territory like 3D printing and laser-cutting, all while embedding sustainability as a non-negotiable.
Through I’M Conscious, second-year students partner with brands like Gucci to explore how ethical thinking shapes the collections of tomorrow.
Students get to experience real-world learning in fashion capitals, stepping into industry roles from the moment they arrive.
In Styling, it’s less about putting looks together and more about building brand identities. The course blends fashion photography, editorial direction, public relations (PR) and media planning to teach students how to craft an image that can live on a mood board or dominate a campaign.
Meanwhile, the Fashion Business programme gives creatives the tools to run a label – from trend forecasting and supply chain logic to marketing strategy and financial planning.
Beyond fashion, Istituto Marangoni offers specialised courses in Interior and Product Design, Visual Design, Multimedia Art, and Art Curation and Management, giving students the option to move fluidly across creative industries.
Graduation is just the beginning as top student designers present their final collections to international buyers, editors and recruiters.
Then there’s beauty and fragrance – a space where creativity and commerce collide.
Marangoni’s curriculum in this field provides deep knowledge, practical skills, and hands-on training in luxury product development and brand management. This prepares them to excel in the growing global luxury industry, making them valuable assets to companies seeking innovative and strategic thinkers.
The Fragrance and Beauty programmes don’t skim the surface. Students are trained in communication and marketing, including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven storytelling, virtual reality content, editorial production and PR. Those leaning toward the business end tackle brand and licensing management, learning the economics of launching and scaling a fragrance line globally.
From Classroom To Couture
One of Istituto Marangoni’s greatest flexes? It knows exactly where to place talent. While students elsewhere are building portfolios, Marangoni students are working directly with people who set the tone of the industry.
Final-year designers in Paris are mentored by Giambattista Valli, while Olivier Rousteing of Balmain offers his take on what it takes to thrive inside a major house.
Hands-on projects with Louis Vuitton (through the Accessories Design Contest) and Dolce & Gabbana Beauty bring students into real-world brand challenges. And when it’s time to graduate, the top ten designers don’t just get a certificate – they get a runway show of their own, complete with international buyers, editors and recruiters in the front row.
Behind the scenes at the student fashion show where every look is prepped, styled and ready to make its mark.
Support doesn’t stop there. Post-graduation, students access career coaching, CV reviews, portfolio polishing, and mock interviews. The ‘In Conversation With…’ speaker series brings industry insiders in to share what they’re really looking for in new hires.
Marangoni doesn’t wait for recruiters to come knocking. It hosts Career Days where brands actively scout and hire students. For those ready to launch, the I’M Talent Showroom gives five handpicked graduates (three from established labels, two emerging) the space to show collections to buyers, journalists and headhunters.
It’s this kind of ecosystem that explains why 91 per cent of graduates secure roles within a year. By the time they leave campus, they’ve already gained industry experience, built a global network and made connections that turn into jobs.
Innovation takes centre stage at Istituto Marangoni as student designs explore new techniques, forms and sustainable thinking.
Not quite ready to hop on a plane? Istituto Marangoni’s Foundation Year lets you kick off your education from anywhere – 75 per cent online, with the final stretch spent in workshops, store visits and full city immersion in the fashion capital of your choice.
And to widen access, the school has teamed up with names like Vogue Italia, offering scholarships for standout trend reports, and designer Rahul Mishra, supporting students behind sustainable capsule collections.
Future creative directors, brand founders and industry disruptors aren’t made overnight, but if you want to be in the rooms where fashion’s biggest decisions happen, this is where it begins.
Apply to Istituto Marangoni and launch your fashion journey with industry giants.