The Master in Fabrics Innovation Design is designed for graduates and professionals looking to specialise in Textile Design through a programme that brings together culture, creativity, research and innovation.
At its heart is the textile, one of the most complex and strategic elements of the fashion system: a field where materials, technology, aesthetic sensitivity and design expertise come together.
The programme begins with an understanding of fashion history and textile culture and progresses towards the research and development of fabrics and materials for contemporary production.
Fibres, yarns, production techniques, prints, manipulations, finishing processes and new technologies become tools for transforming a creative intuition into a concrete project that can be realistically developed for production.
Innovation, with a particular focus on sustainability, runs throughout the Master. Alongside theoretical training, an intensive programme of workshops and project-based activities gives students the opportunity to experiment directly with materials, techniques and processes while engaging with the real requirements of the textile supply chain.
A distinctive feature of the programme is its direct connection with the excellence of the Italian textile and manufacturing industries. The Master gives students the opportunity to engage with a system of expertise, research, innovation and craftsmanship that represents one of the defining strengths of Made in Italy and of ACM’s own identity.
Through Industry Projects, visits, seminars and hands-on activities, creative research is tested against the materials, processes, technologies and real production constraints of the industry.
In recent editions, Industry Projects have involved, among others, Ratti, Clerici Tessuto, Lanificio di Sordevolo and ISA Seta, giving students the opportunity to work directly with representative companies from the Italian textile supply chain.
The Master therefore becomes a laboratory where research and design meet: an intensive programme combining textile culture, material experimentation, technical development and creative vision, preparing professionals who can contribute to collection development and the evolution of fashion products.
At the end of the Master, students can work as Textile Designers and Materials Designers, specialise in textile and material research and development, or support creative direction in the design and development of collections.
Knowledge of materials, processes and the supply chain, combined with research and design skills, opens up opportunities across different stages of fashion collection development. The Master prepares professionals who can work closely with designers, creative directors, textile companies and manufacturing businesses, transforming material research into tangible solutions.
The skills developed can be applied within fashion brands, textile companies, spinning mills, fabric and material manufacturers, laboratories, creative studios and businesses across the manufacturing supply chain, as well as in consultancy and independent research.
Key career paths include:
The skills developed can also lead to further roles across textile product management, consultancy, research, material preservation and quality control, including: Textile Product Manager, Creative Textile Consultant, Material Librarian, Fabric Curator, Quality Control Specialist, Company Creative Consultant.
The Master is designed for candidates interested in pursuing a career in Textile Design, material research and textile innovation.
Applicants may hold a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor’s Degree or another qualification obtained in Italy or abroad and recognised as suitable under current legislation.
Candidates with qualifications relevant to the Master may apply. Where a candidate’s academic background is not directly aligned with the field of study, admission is subject to an assessment of the suitability of their application by the Course Council.
Professionals with proven experience in the field may also be considered, as well as candidates holding relevant specialist qualifications or non-university or non-academic qualifications, subject to assessment by the Course Council. In these cases, students will receive a certificate of participation only.
Discover what you’ll be studying.
Bachelor Degree meeting the entry requirements of the course, or another qualification obtained abroad and recognised as suitable by Accademia Costume & Moda, in accordance with current legislation and international agreements;
Minimum B2 level of language proficiency.
The Orientation Office can help you find out about entry requirements, deadlines, scholarships and the admissions process.
Deferred payments: the tuition fee can be paid in 2, 5 or 8 instalments without a loan, or in a greater number of instalments with an interest-free loan.
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The Master in Fabrics Innovation Design at Accademia Costume & Moda is a one-year programme dedicated to the design, research and innovation of fabrics and materials for fashion. It combines culture, creativity, technology, sustainability and an understanding of production processes.
The Master is based in Rome at Accademia Costume & Moda and offers full-time training with a strong connection to companies and the Italian textile supply chain.
The Master is a one-year, full-time programme comprising 1,500 hours and leading to the award of 60 CFA – Academic Credits.
The Master includes teaching activities in both Italian and English.
The Master is designed for graduates and holders of a Bachelor of Arts who wish to specialise in Textile Design, material research and textile innovation. Candidates from other academic backgrounds and professionals with experience in the field may also be considered.
Professionals with proven experience in the field, as well as candidates holding relevant specialist qualifications or non-university or non-academic qualifications, may also be considered, subject to assessment by the Course Council. In these cases, students will receive a certificate of participation only.
The Master has limited places. The selection process involves the assessment of your CV, motivation letter and portfolio, followed by an admissions interview with the Academic Board.
The programme covers fashion history with a particular focus on textiles, materials and weaving, computer graphics, Textile Design, textile culture, finishing processes, embellishment, marketing and macro-trend analysis. Training combines lectures, workshops, research, experimentation and design.
Students learn how to research and select materials, design fabrics and surfaces, develop prints and manipulations, use digital tools, understand treatments and finishing processes, and transform a creative concept into a product that responds to the requirements of fashion and production.
Innovation and sustainability are central to the programme. Students explore new materials, techniques and processes, developing solutions that combine creative experimentation, production feasibility and an awareness of the textile industry’s sustainable evolution.
Yes. Industry Projects are a central part of the Master, allowing students to develop projects based on real briefs alongside companies from the textile supply chain. Recent collaborations have included Ratti, Clerici Tessuto, Lanificio di Sordevolo and ISA Seta.
Students work on briefs developed with companies and industry professionals, combining conceptual research, material experimentation, technical skills and product development. Working directly with a company allows students to test their creative ideas against real production requirements and processes.
Yes. The relationship with Italian manufacturing and the textile supply chain is one of the defining features of the programme. Industry Projects, workshops, visits and talks allow students to understand artisanal and industrial processes and engage directly with manufacturing organisations.
Yes. The programme includes visits to trade fairs, museums, archives and organisations connected to textile production, giving students direct exposure to the materials, technologies, trends and innovations shaping the industry.
Yes. The Master includes a curricular internship with companies in the sector. Alternatively, students may undertake work experience developed in collaboration with a company, further integrating academic training with professional experience.
The Master prepares students for roles including Textile Designer, Materials Designer, Textile Innovation Designer, Textile Product Manager and Embroidery Designer, as well as creative consultancy roles for brands and companies. Graduates can also specialise in supporting creative direction and collection development.
The Final Project consists of developing an individual collection of fabrics and materials. Students bring together research, experimentation, creative identity, aesthetic and technological innovation and sustainability, developing the project from the initial brief through to the final proposal.
Yes. Through Industry Projects, experimentation, individual projects and the Final Project, each student develops a Textile Design portfolio that documents their research, creative process, technical skills and product development capabilities.
