Luxury Business. Evolution of the Fashion Ecosystem

The Master prepares professionals to enter the high-end sector with both a strategic and operational perspective, enabling them to work within structured corporate environments as well as to pursue independent entrepreneurial paths.

Main career opportunities include:

• Brand Manager
• Luxury Product ManagerProduct Manager
• Retail & Buying Manager
• Merchandising Manager
• Marketing & Communication Specialist
• Luxury Communication Specialist
• Customer Experience Designer
• Trend Forecaster
• Business Developer
• Entrepreneur in the fashion and luxury sector.

Graduates may find opportunities within fashion maisons, manufacturing companies, international groups, retail platforms, independent businesses, and start-ups.

The Master in Luxury Business, is addressed to graduates holding a Bachelor Degree or other equivalent study title recognized according to the current regulations related to the course and who would like to begin a study path and a career in Alta Moda.

To be eligible for the course, students must have:

• Bachelor Degree or Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, Communication, Architecture, Design, Economics, or related fields;
• Bachelor Degree or Bachelor of Arts different from the above mentioned and not related to the study path of the Master, upon evaluation of the Academic Directorship on the eligibility of the application
• Professionals with proven experience in the field and students holding a specialization or non-academic study titles related to the study path, upon evaluation of the Academic Directorship on the eligibility of the application
• professionals already working in the fields of fashion, design, communication, retail, hospitality, or related sectors.

In order to maintain the high quality of the learning experience, the Master in Luxury Business observes a limited-enrolment policy. Admission is subject to a selection process based on the evaluation of the applicant’s CV, motivation letter, academic background, and, where required, an admissions interview.

The Master in Luxury Business is a one-year programme worth 60 CFA credits (1,500 hours), designed as a progressive pathway that guides students from a critical understanding of the high-end sector to the ability to operate within it independently and with full awareness. Its academic structure is designed to develop, in an integrated way, cultural knowledge, analytical ability, project-based skills, and strategic vision, avoiding any rigid separation between theory and practice. The programme is organised into four progressive levels, corresponding to different degrees of depth and project responsibility.

1. Cultural Foundations and the Luxury System
The first phase is devoted to building a strong cultural and critical foundation, essential to understanding how the high-end sector operates.
Students explore:

• history and culture of luxury
• the evolution of the languages of fashion and the applied arts
• sociology of cultural processes and the construction of imagery
• analysis of Made in Italy as both a production system and a symbolic framework

The aim is to develop a deep awareness of the cultural value underpinning luxury products, going beyond a purely aesthetic or commercial reading.

2. Product System, Supply Chain, and Business Models
The second phase introduces students to the industrial and managerial dimension of the system.
Key areas of study include:

• product development and production cycles
• supply chain organisation and relationships among stakeholders
• business models in the high-end sector
• merchandising and distribution logic
• retail dynamics and sales strategies

This phase enables students to understand how value is created throughout the entire process, from design to commercialisation.

3. Brand, Communication, and Experience
The third phase focuses on brand building and experience design.
Students work on:

• brand identity and positioning
• communication strategies and storytelling
• image construction and visual languages
• customer experience across retail, digital, and hospitality contexts
• consumer behaviour and new relationship models

The objective is to develop the ability to build coherent systems of meaning in which product, communication, and experience are fully aligned.

4. Areas of Specialisation
Alongside these cross-disciplinary phases, the programme develops through four key areas of the high-end sector:

• Fashion & Accessories
• Design & Lifestyle
• Jewellery
• Beauty & Fragrances

Each area represents a specific point of entry into the system, allowing students to explore product, supply-chain, and market dynamics while maintaining an integrated perspective.

Teaching Methodology
The Master adopts an approach that constantly integrates theory and practice.
Learning activities include:

• lectures
• project-based workshops
• guided exercises
• case-study analysis
• development of project work

The aim is to build real operational capability, enabling students to translate concepts and models into concrete projects.

Final Project
The programme concludes with an individual final project.
Students are required to develop either:

• a brand

or

• a strategic initiative

integrating:

• cultural dimension
• product development
• communication
• business model

The Final Project represents the synthesis of the educational journey and the tangible demonstration of the competencies acquired.

Portfolio Development
Throughout the Master, each student develops a structured professional portfolio collecting the projects completed during the programme. The portfolio is a fundamental tool for entering the professional world, highlighting design capability, method, and vision.

Industry Projects are one of the core elements of the programme. Students work on real briefs developed in collaboration with companies, engaging directly with concrete constraints, timelines, and objectives.

These experiences enable students to:

• apply the competencies acquired
• develop problem-solving skills
• gain a practical understanding of how the system operates

The internship gives students the opportunity to engage directly with real professional environments. Through Accademia Costume & Moda’s network of partner companies, students can gain first-hand experience in the high-end sector, strengthening both their competencies and their professional direction.