ACM and the Festival dei Due Mondi: Costume Design Students Bring Spoleto’s Artistic Heritage to Life

A collaboration between Accademia Costume & Moda and the Festival dei Due Mondi celebrates Italian craftsmanship, costume design and contemporary creativity.

Rome, Italy – Accademia Costume & Moda continues to strengthen its role as one of Italy’s leading institutions for Fashion and Costume Design through a new collaboration with the prestigious Festival dei Due Mondi di Spoleto, one of Europe’s most renowned performing arts festivals.

As part of the Festival’s Concerts at Noon Masterclasses, students from the Costume Design Department were invited to design and produce a series of bespoke costumes inspired by the Festival’s extraordinary visual history.

The project brought together education, craftsmanship, music and performance, offering students the opportunity to work within a professional cultural institution while engaging directly with artists, performers and creative mentors.

Reinterpreting the Festival's Visual Archive

Rather than replicating the Festival’s iconic posters, students explored their visual language through material experimentation.

Historic graphics became contemporary textiles. Painted surfaces, distressed finishes, layered pigments and handcrafted treatments transformed each costume into a living archive capable of connecting the Festival’s past with its present.

Every garment was developed through extensive research and manual craftsmanship, demonstrating how costume design can become a powerful medium for storytelling.

A Hands-on Learning Experience in Costume Design

The project involved Flavia Di Leonardo, Matteo Longari, Carmela Moliterni, Greta Rizzo and Bianca Venturi, under the supervision of Andrea Viotti.

Working alongside musicians and production teams, students experienced every phase of the creative process:

• archival research
• concept development
• textile experimentation
• costume construction
• fittings
• backstage assistance
• live performance support

This immersive approach reflects the educational philosophy of Accademia Costume & Moda, where academic research meets professional practice through collaborations with leading institutions across the fashion, costume and entertainment industries.

Fashion Education Meets Performing Arts

Costume design exists at the intersection of fashion, theatre, cinema and visual culture.

Collaborations such as the Festival dei Due Mondi allow students to experience how garments evolve beyond the atelier, becoming an essential part of live performance and artistic expression.

The dialogue between musicians, costume designers and craftspeople highlights the importance of interdisciplinary education within today’s creative industries.

About Accademia Costume & Moda

Founded in Rome, Accademia Costume & Moda is internationally recognised for its programmes in Fashion Design, Costume Design, Fashion Communication & Management, Fashion Styling, Creative Knitwear Design and Accessories Design.

Through collaborations with leading fashion houses, theatres, film productions and cultural institutions, ACM provides students with real-world experiences that bridge education and industry, preparing the next generation of creative professionals.