MILANO MODA GRADUATE 2026 | GLI STUDENTI ACM ALLA MILANO FASHION WEEK

Bringing students’ talent beyond the classroom and into the contexts where the future of fashion is shaped. This is the approach through which Accademia Costume & Moda continues to create opportunities for direct exchange between education, creativity and industry, enabling students to connect their academic journey with the professional fashion system.

At Milano Moda Graduate 2026, two students from the BA in Costume & Fashion represented ACM at one of Milan Fashion Week’s key platforms dedicated to emerging talent: Cecilia Marchesini, selected as a finalist in the Fashion Design category, and Lucia Dattilo, chosen to take part in the competition promoted by YKK.

Two different creative journeys, united by the opportunity to bring their work beyond the Academy, engage with professionals, companies, media and industry stakeholders, and gain first-hand experience of an event within the international fashion calendar.

Taking part in Milano Moda Graduate gives young designers the opportunity to present their work within one of the most relevant platforms for emerging talent, in front of professionals, companies, media and representatives of the fashion industry.

It is an experience that turns academic learning into a tangible opportunity for visibility, networking and direct engagement with the world of work, helping students build connections that can support their future professional development.

Cecilia Marchesini finalist in the Fashion Design category

Among the protagonists of the 2026 edition, Cecilia Marchesini was selected as a finalist in the Fashion Design category with “Riflessi di Memorie”, a Capsule Collection previously presented as part of ACM Fashion Show Talents 2026 and subsequently reinterpreted for the Milano Moda Graduate runway.

The project originates from the photographic archive of her ancestor, Eugenio Cardini, transforming family portraits and landscapes into a new visual language through prints, jacquards, layered transparencies and Edwardian-inspired silhouettes.

Lucia Dattilo selected for the YKK competition

Also representing ACM was Lucia Dattilo, selected for the competition promoted by YKK London Showroom and YKK Europe.

For the occasion, the designer developed a new look from her Capsule Collection “Soliloquio”, previously selected for ACM Talents, created entirely using zips from the YKK Group.

“Soliloquio” transforms a family story connected to wartime captivity into an intimate menswear narrative, where military discipline and Algerian influences come together in a reflection on memory, isolation and silent endurance.

Education and industry: an ongoing dialogue

Supporting the students throughout the journey was Santo Costanzo, Head of the Fashion and Costume Design Area at ACM.

Experiences such as Milano Moda Graduate are a key part of Accademia Costume & Moda’s educational model, giving students the opportunity to present their work, connect with professionals and companies, and gain a closer understanding of the dynamics of the fashion industry.

It is a tangible way of bringing education and the professional world closer together, enabling students to begin building, while still studying, the relationships, skills and opportunities that can support their future careers in fashion.