- About
- Programmes
- campus
- Admissions
- Careers & Placement
- Experience
- Contact
The new Industry Project, developed in collaboration with Diesel, has officially been launched and is dedicated to our third-year BA in Costume & Fashion students.
The briefing, held at our new campus in Rome’s Esquilino district, marked the beginning of a creative journey that will accompany our students from October to March, under the guidance of Project Leaders Santo Costanzo, Coordinator of the Fashion and Costume Design Area, and Luigi Mulas Debois, Head of Accessories, with the support of Roberto Carlologgi, Paolo Rinaldi and Alessia Scasseddu.
Under the evocative title “Diesel: Behind the Denim”, the project invites students to explore the brand’s most authentic essence — what lies beyond the fabric, behind the rough surface of denim — to uncover its expressive strength, its story, and its vision of freedom that has defined Diesel for over forty years.
Founded in 1978 by Renzo Rosso, Diesel has become a symbol of Italian creativity and non-conformity, revolutionising the very concept of jeans. Under the creative direction of Glenn Martens, the brand continues to redefine contemporary luxury through a vision that blends craftsmanship, innovation and material experimentation — while remaining true to its rebellious spirit.
The Industry Project with Diesel is not simply an academic exercise, but a full human and professional experience. Students are asked to develop a Menswear/Womenswear and Accessories collection that reinterprets Diesel’s codes through a personal and contemporary lens. Denim — the brand’s iconic material — thus becomes a space for exploration and expressive freedom, where every stitch tells a story and every treatment becomes a language.
From the very start, during the launch of the brief, students experienced the energy of a project that demands courage, curiosity and authenticity. The collaboration between the Accademia Costume & Moda and Diesel aims to nurture a dialogue between heritage and the future — between the roots of Italian craftsmanship and the innovative technologies of contemporary materials.
To experiment, to dare, but above all, to develop a conscious design mindset: this is the heart of the project, which will unfold through several stages of revision and discussion, leading up to the Final Presentation in March 2026 at Diesel’s headquarters.
Over the coming months, students will engage in visual and conceptual research — building moodboards, selecting materials and designing silhouettes. Each project will become a story: a visual narrative capable of reflecting the complexity and creative power of Diesel’s design language.
The aim is not only to create a collection, but to learn how to think like designers — capable of interpreting an industry brief with sensitivity, coherence and vision.
The project also offers the opportunity to deepen their understanding of denim-making techniques, exploring finishes, treatments and material combinations from a sustainable perspective — a theme increasingly central to both Diesel’s culture and the Academy’s educational approach.
“Diesel: Behind the Denim”represents a moment of shared growth — where passion for fashion meets professional awareness. In this space for dialogue between education and industry, each student is invited to embrace their creative identity, finding their voice within a broader vision of teamwork, design and responsibility.
As with all our Industry Projects, what truly remains is not only the final outcome, but the human journey itself— the exchange of ideas, the mistakes, the insights, the moments of discovery and the joy of creating together. Because behind every garment, just like behind every designer, there is always a story to tell — and this project, as Diesel teaches us, exists precisely to give that story form.
A heartfelt thank you to Rina Tollio, Creative Talent Acquisition & EB Manager for OTB, and to the Diesel team, for making this experience possible!
The Mountain Giants
Discover more
