Raffles Milan - International design institute
Three year course in Fashion Design
Milan, Italy
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English, Italian
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The Three Year Course in Fashion Design provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry, covering design techniques, textile knowledge, and fashion history.
You'll gain hands-on experience and develop a portfolio that showcases your creativity and technical skills.
The program encourages innovative thinking and collaboration, preparing you for various roles within the fashion sector.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can explore numerous career paths, including fashion designer, textile developer, or fashion buyer.
Opportunities for employment exist in retail, apparel production, and marketing.
This program also lays a strong foundation for those interested in starting their own fashion brand or pursuing further studies in related fields.
The Fashion Area at Raffles Milan
At Raffles Milan, the Fashion Area unites multiple disciplines — Fashion Design, Jewelry and Accessories Design, and Fashion Communication and Marketing — into one dynamic ecosystem.
All students begin with a shared foundation in core fashion studies, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of design, craftsmanship, and creative direction.
Each student can then specialize by staying in the Fashion Design path or choosing from two complementary pathways:
·Jewelry and Accessories Design – focusing on the creation of wearable objects that merge art, innovation, and craftsmanship.
·Fashion Communication and Marketing – exploring storytelling, media, branding, and visual culture within the fashion industry.
This cross-disciplinary approach mirrors today’s professional world, where success depends on versatility, collaboration, and hybrid creative skills.
Graduates of this program earn a First-Level Academic Diploma (D.M. n.1216, Aug. 31, 2023), officially recognized within Italy’s AFAM (High Artistic, Musical, and Coreutic Education) system and accredited by the European Accreditation Board of Higher Education Schools (EABHES) in Fashion Design.
Students can also request an eCertificate issued by Raffles University.
Fashion Design course
Success in fashion requires more than talent; it demands hard work, curiosity, and a willingness to engage with diverse cultures and perspectives — from haute couture to streetwear, pop culture to artisanal traditions. Students learn to develop a refined, trained eye capable of noticing the smallest detail — one that respects tailoring traditions yet embraces daring elegance and contemporary innovation.
“Learning by doing” is the founding principle of Raffles Milan’s three-year programs — an educational experience designed to shape the mind, strengthen technical skills, and ignite creativity.
The Fashion Design course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the fashion system — a vast, dynamic, and ever-changing world where classic craftsmanship meets bold experimentation.
Course Leader: Monica Ciabattini
Monica Ciabattini, Co-Founder of the luxury footwear brand Le Silla, leads the Fashion Design program with both creative passion and strategic vision.
Born and educated in Milan, where she studied Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Monica combines artistic sensibility with strong managerial expertise.
As Creative Director, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Chief Communication Officer (CCO) at Le Silla, she oversees all brand, marketing, and communication strategies, ensuring a cohesive and impactful global image for the maison.
Her commitment extends beyond design excellence: as an Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) Manager, she promotes sustainability, gender equality, and ethical labor practices, emphasizing fashion’s role as both an art form and a social responsibility.
Professional Opportunities
Upon completing the three-year program, graduates will be prepared to enter the fashion world as:
Fashion Designers, Accessories Designers, Fashion Stylists, Pattern Makers, and Fashion Illustrators.
Thanks to Raffles Milan’s interdisciplinary training, students will also be equipped for emerging roles in sustainable fashion, marketing, trend forecasting, art direction, visual merchandising, and fashion communication.
Career paths include positions such as Trend Forecaster, Art Director, Image Consultant, Fashion Blogger, Buyer, or Press Officer, as well as opportunities to start independent creative ventures.
This course welcomes students with a high school diploma or equivalent and those coming from Italian or international universities who have a genuine passion for fashion, style, and creativity.
Ideal candidates are individuals eager to channel their personal expression into the design and communication of fashion, combining aesthetic intuition with technical skills.
Throughout the program, students learn to interpret social and cultural trends, cultivating an ability to see beyond the obvious and to translate ideas into meaningful creative projects.
This mindset prepares them to thrive in both professional and artistic contexts, where imagination and insight are key.
The fashion industry is evolving rapidly, blurring the boundaries between traditional roles and emerging creative professions.
Graduates can pursue careers with established fashion brands, working alongside designers as Assistant Designers, Pattern Makers, Production Assistants, or Fashion Stylists, or build careers as freelance professionals in global fashion markets.
Cross-disciplinary opportunities are expanding across production, distribution, branding, and creative direction.
In such competitive contexts, the comprehensive, hands-on training received at Raffles Milan gives graduates a distinct advantage — combining design skill, strategic thinking, and global perspective.
The program follows a progressive, experiential learning path:
·First Year:
Students explore the fundamentals of fashion design — including shape, materials, culture, and social context — while engaging in intensive workshops that emphasize hands-on creativity and design thinking.
·Second Year:
Focus shifts to deepening technical expertise and creative individuality. Students develop original design approaches, refine their personal aesthetics, and tackle real-world design challenges through specialized workshops.
·Third Year:
Students gain managerial and marketing knowledge, culminating in the creation of a professional portfolio and final dissertation project. The program concludes with participation in a fashion show, where students showcase their collections to industry professionals and the public.
Throughout the course, students analyze forms, silhouettes, materials, production processes, and cultural trends, building a foundation for creative independence and professional readiness.
The learning environment encourages experimentation, individuality, and the courage to explore new creative territories.
Topics Covered
·Trend Anticipation and Forecasting
·The Fashion System
·Art and Costume History
·Pattern Making and Tailoring
·Fabric and Raw Material Studies
·Clothing Design and Construction
·Product Development
·Fashion Drawing and Illustration
·Collection Development and Collage Techniques
·Fashion Marketing and Research
Certify your English proficiency with PTE. The faster, fairer, simpler English test, accepted by thousands of universities around the world. PTE, Do it worry-free!