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For students serious about breaking into the fashion design industry, two of the most obvious places to study, aside from possibly France, are Italy or the UK. This, according to Richard Young at Domus Academy in Milan, is because of these countries’ formidable reputations within the field.
“Italy, and sometimes the UK, have companies that complete the whole fashion chain from the textile producers to the couture boutiques that display the final creations,” he says. “[Italy] is where the headquarters of the most important fashion companies are, such as Gucci and Prada, and where the production systems have always existed. Studying at Domus Academy puts students in direct contact with the fashion and design system in Italy.”
Meanwhile, in the UK, Stephen Roberts from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in London says that as well as the UK being “at the cutting edge of fashion design and fashion trends”, the country has many attractions for potential fashion design students. “Students like to come here for inspiration,” he says. “They not only look at what is going on around them, but they have access to well known galleries and museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum.”
Courses on offer for international students range from foundation courses, for those just starting out in the industry, to postgraduate diplomas for those with more experience. The Istituto di Moda Burgo in Milan offers a whole range of fashion design courses, including short courses involving 50 hours of tuition. Stefania Gulina from the school says that all their courses are popular with international students, who make up at least half of the total school population. “We have students from all over the world: Korea, USA, South America, Europe, India, Israel and Turkey,” she says, adding, “Italy is the only country where you can sit in a café and enjoy stylish people passing by every hour of the day.”
Keeping courses up-to-date as well as creating new courses better designed to meet the needs of students and the fashion design industry is a priority for many colleges in this sector. Domus Academy has recently teamed up with Central St Martins College in London to offer students a truly unique opportunity. The colleges are to offer a series of short four-week courses starting in the summer of 2006 that will enable students to begin their courses in London and then complete them in Milan. “Both these schools have iconic world class reputations and would like to offer students the chance to discover the two fashion systems of the UK and Italy in two inspirational design capitals,” says Young. “World class museums, galleries, design centres and fashion houses provide the perfect creative setting.”
An important draw for international students wanting to enter the world of fashion and design for career purposes is the work experience opportunities offered at many colleges in both countries. To this end, contacts within the industry are an important component of courses themselves, as Roberts in the UK attests. “Ravensbourne is very proud of its links with the fashion industry and students have the opportunity to work and learn at some of the many internationally recognised [fashion] companies in London,” he says.
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