SANTONI INDUSTRY PROJECT | MASTER IN ACCESSORIES DESIGN

Our MA in Accessories Design students have launched a new Industry Project in collaboration with Santoni, an internationally recognised Made in Italy brand renowned for its excellence in luxury footwear craftsmanship.

Titled “Preserving Excellence – Craftsmanship, Culture and Future”, the project is led by Project Leader Luigi Mulas Debois, with the support of assistant Paolo Rinaldi.

The brief was launched at Santoni’s headquarters in Corridonia, in the heart of the Marche region. Here, students had the opportunity to visit the production workshops, observe the processes that have made the brand one of the symbols of Italian manufacturing excellence worldwide, and learn more about the production processes, material selection, and attention to detail that characterize every stage of Santoni footwear manufacturing.

Founded in 1975 as a footwear company, Santoni has grown into one of the most iconic names in Italian luxury. In recent years, Santoni has also undertaken a process of further defining its identity, reinforcing the aesthetic and cultural codes that shape the brand’s distinctive character.

For the students, the collaboration represents a valuable opportunity to engage directly with the meaning of tradition and manual expertise, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of preserving and passing on rare artisanal knowledge. At the same time, the project encourages them to explore how this heritage can be reinterpreted through a contemporary design perspective.

Starting from Santoni’s heritage, DNA and brand codes, students are invited to develop a capsule collection of men’s and women’s footwear, with particular attention to craftsmanship and production techniques.

The collection will aim to evolve Santoni’s aesthetic language while remaining coherent with the brand’s identity and aligned with the expectations of a global market.

The project includes the development of five women’s styles and five men’s styles, supported by material and cost analysis as well as experimentation with leathers and production techniques.

Through this Industry Project, students will be guided in developing a conscious and contemporary design approach, learning to integrate artisanal tradition, attention to detail and innovation—key elements in the education of the next generation of accessories designers.