THE WORLD ATA GLANCE

CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS, UAL LONDON, ENGLAND

Central Saint Martins, London’s landmark f ashion school, has expanded the offer ing of its MA Fashion Communication to include Fashion Image, which encompasses photography, styling, illustration, filmmaking, graphics and ar t direction. It has also broadened its one-year Graduate Diploma in Fashion pr ogram for fashion graduates: initially created for inter national students it is now open to domestic and EU applicants. The course aims to prepare designers for the next stage of their careers with specializations in Womenswear, Menswear, Fashion Design with Knit, or Fashion Design with Textiles. Students will also par ticipate in staffdirected and industry projects to help identify and develop strengths, as well as address areas for improvement. Recent examples have included collaborations with Net-a-Porter and Alexander McQueen. Developing personal presentation skills, including CV-writing, and access to free English language suppor t classes is a key offer for Saint Mar tins’ increasingly global student body.

AALTO UNIVERSITY HELSINKI, FINLAND

With fewer than 20 0 full-time students and extremely competitive admission criteria, Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture offers a profoundly enriching educational exper ience. In the f all, the school will r elocate to brand-new facilities in the Espoo area, just outside Helsinki, that which will house f ashion, design, media, architecture and ar t students. The school is also deepening its ties among across various branches, departments and programs to create new synergies: these include a very high-level textile collaboration with the School of Chemistr y called CHEMARTS, which involves creating new textiles from old fabrics, wood and even newspaper. In general, students here gain handson and detailed exper ience with fashion and textiles, along with a deep knowledge in patter n--cutting, garment construction and a multitude of textile techniques.

POLIMODA FLORENCE, ITALY

In 2019, Polimoda will open its third location inside Florence’s Manifattura Tabacchi, a severe 1930’s-built complex 1940s originally dedicated to the production of tobacco goods. Housed inside the Edificio dell’Orologio, the new outpost will accommodate 800 students and house classrooms, photography studios, art rooms, laboratories, pattern--making, tailoring and knitwear workshops, as well as a state-of-the art auditorium.“We are proud to hit this new milestone,” says Ferruccio Ferragamo, President of Polimoda, “both because of what it means to us as a school and what it means to the city of Flor ence. Like other international fashion schools, Polimoda has made a point of blending into the urban fabric, giving back to the city by rehabilitating historic buildings for public use, thus creating new centers for culture, beauty and knowledge.” Polimoda is known for its focus on craftsmanship, characterized by exclusive partnerships and mentorships with key personalities and fashion companies. Among these are a Master’s in Fashion Retail Management with Gucci, another in Luxury Business with Richemont, and a professional training program held in parternship with LVMH. Under the mentorship of Claudio Marenco Mores, Polimoda’s Head of Education Fashion Design and Design Management, students can now choose a tailor-made ninemonth’s program in which understand the entire life-cycle of a product, from the sketch to the catwalk and beyond.