Accademia Costume & Moda Students Design the Costumes for I Giganti della Montagna – Ultimo Atto

From classroom to stage: third-year BA Costume & Fashion Design students bring Pirandello's final masterpiece to life

At Accademia Costume & Moda, education extends beyond the classroom. Through collaborations with theatres, cultural institutions and industry professionals, students have the opportunity to apply their skills to real productions while experiencing the creative process behind contemporary costume design.

This approach recently took centre stage in I Giganti della Montagna – Ultimo Atto, the final chapter of Morire di Poesia, a theatrical project celebrating the enduring legacy of Luigi Pirandello ninety years after his passing.

For the production, the costumes were conceived and created by third-year students from the BA in Costume & Fashion Design, transforming months of research, design and craftsmanship into costumes made for live performance.

Learning through professional productions

Directed by Matteo Tarasco, I Giganti della Montagna – Ultimo Atto offers a contemporary interpretation of Pirandello’s unfinished masterpiece, bringing together artistic research, theatre and a new generation of performers.

Working on a live production allowed students to experience every stage of the costume design process—from script analysis and historical research to concept development, costume illustration, pattern cutting, garment construction, fittings and final stage preparation.

Projects such as this reflect Accademia Costume & Moda’s educational philosophy: learning by doing through professional collaborations that mirror the realities of today’s creative industries.

From first sketch to final fitting

Under the guidance of Andrea Viotti, Head of the Costume Department at Accademia Costume & Moda, and in close collaboration with director Matteo Tarasco, students developed costumes that became an essential part of the production’s visual storytelling.

Each garment emerged from extensive historical and artistic research, balancing narrative, character development and technical craftsmanship to meet the demands of live theatre.

From the first sketch to the final fitting, students experienced the pace, responsibility and collaborative nature of professional costume production while refining the creative and technical skills required by the industry.

Costume as visual storytelling

In theatre, costume is never simply clothing. It shapes identity, supports character development and strengthens the relationship between performers, narrative and stage design.

Seeing their work worn by professional actors gave students the opportunity to understand how costume design contributes to the overall theatrical experience, demonstrating the importance of research, craftsmanship and creative thinking within a live production.

It is through experiences like these that academic learning becomes professional practice.

Study Costume Design at Accademia Costume & Moda

The BA in Costume & Fashion at Accademia Costume & Moda prepares future costume designers for careers across theatre, film, television, opera and live performance.

Throughout the programme, students develop a strong foundation in costume design, historical research, drawing, tailoring, pattern cutting and garment construction while participating in industry projects developed with leading professionals, cultural organisations and production companies.

Working on productions such as I Giganti della Montagna – Ultimo Atto is part of an educational journey that combines creativity, technical expertise and direct industry experience, enabling students to graduate with a portfolio of real-world projects alongside the skills demanded by today’s entertainment and fashion industries.

If you are looking to study Costume Design in Italy, Accademia Costume & Moda offers an internationally recognised learning environment where tradition, innovation and professional practice come together to prepare the next generation of costume designers.