FIT and Polimoda in Florence, Italy, are celebrating 40 years of collaboration with a renewal of an agreement that will continue one of FIT’s hallmark international study abroad programs.
The FIT/Polimoda partnership, which was established in 1986, has helped Polimoda grow into one of the world’s leading fashion schools. The three-year agreement renewal ensures the continuation of FIT in Florence, which allows Fashion Design and Fashion Business Management students study at Polimoda while earning FIT credit.
“FIT in Florence stands as the flagship of FIT’s global programs,” said Vanessa Nichol-Peters, dean for International Education. “Today, this collaboration brings FIT’s unique fashion design and business management curriculum right to the heart of Italy.”
Students take courses at Polimoda’s Villa Favard and Manifattura campuses, where they have access to garment-making workshops, textile and leather research facilities, design studios, and an international learning environment. Additionally, the program connects the classroom to the realities of the European fashion industry via curated industry visits, cultural excursions, and museum tours.
“The fashion industry is global,” Nichol-Peters said. “This international experience provides FIT students with technical skills, combined with vital cross-cultural understanding, greater international awareness, and an appreciation for cultural diversity.”
FIT President Jason Schupbach traveled to Florence in June for the signing of the renewed agreement. During his stay, Schupbach attended the Polimoda Graduate Show as an honored guest, visited the Pitti Uomo menswear trade show, and hosted a dinner with faculty, staff, alumni, and students to celebrate the partnership’s enduring impact.
The renewed agreement between FIT and Polimoda builds on four decades of academic collaboration, reiterating the shared goal of both institutions to prepare students for their future careers in the global fashion industry.