18-month master’s program
Master's Degree in Fashion & Costume Design
Where tailoring tradition, fashion, and digital innovation come together.
The Full Production Master’s Program in Fashion & Costume Design trains professionals to design, develop, and create garments and costumes for the worlds of fashion, film, theater, and contemporary entertainment.
Through a program that combines traditional tailoring, digital design, and stylistic research, students learn the entire creative process: from conceptualization to the creation of the garment, in both physical and digital forms.
The Rookies Certified School • #2 in the World in Digital Fashion (2025)
Course identity
Fashion Design & Costume Design Course: What You’ll Learn:
Fashion and costume share the same origin: telling a story through the design, materials, and construction of a garment.
For this reason, the program combines artistic, design, and technical skills, allowing students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary fashion industry.
During the program, students study fabrics, materials, patternmaking, garment construction, and tailoring, combining these skills with the use of professional software for digital design and prototyping.
Special attention is also given to costume design for film, theater, and the performing arts, with an analysis of the production processes used in major film and opera productions.
Key Competencies
The goal of the course is to provide the student with a comprehensive preparation that integrates:
- Italian craft and tailoring culture;
- contemporary aesthetic and stylistic research;
- digital skills and 3D simulation techniques;
- The ability to interpret and design for real and digital markets.
The program has a strong hands-on focus: students create physical and digital collections that are presented at events, fashion shows, and professional productions in collaboration with fashion companies, film production companies, and theater companies.
Luca Rossetti
COURSE DIRECTOR
With more than two decades of experience in the fashion industry, Luca Rossetti is a Textile & Fashion Design Specialist recognized for his creativity, professionalism, technical expertise and contemporary vision.
He has been instrumental in the success of our students in the international rankings of The Rookies, leading to the qualification of numerous finalists and the winning of a prestigious award, with a winner in the 2025 edition. An achievement that testifies to the quality of the educational pathway and the excellence achieved by our young talents.
He has collaborated with numerous internationally renowned brands, contributing to the development of textile and style collections that stand out for their innovation, quality and aesthetic consistency.
His sensitivity in picking up emerging trends and adapting them elegantly makes him a valued and reliable professional in the fashion scene.
Course docednts:
Sergio Borin
Creative Director and Product Manager
WOOLRICH, Givenchy, Lamborghini, CORNELIANI, LUBIAM
Barbara Corradini
Fashion Designer and Art Director
Fendi Jeans, Superga, Laura Biagiotti, Diesel, Roman Theater Verona
Catalina Paladi
Fashion Designer and Textile Engineer
Silver Award of the A’ Design Award and Competition 2021 in Fashion Design.
Owner of Catalina Paladi’s Maison couture atelier.
Training Objectives.
- Fashion Design and Stylistic Research
- Costume Design for Film and Theater
- Fashion Design and Sketches
- Pattern Making and Tailoring
- Study of fabrics, materials, and manufacturing processes
- Accessory Design
- Digital Fashion and 3D Prototyping
- Fashion Illustration and Garment Visualization
- AI Applied to Creative Research
- Professional Portfolio Production
Laboratories and technologies
- Fashion Tech Lab & Digital Tailoring – equipped with industrial sewing machines, tailoring mannequins, cutting tables and professional materials.
- AI Creative Lab – for the generation of visual concepts and moodboards based on artificial intelligence.
- 3D Printing & Fabric Simulation Lab – for the development of prototypes, digital fabrics and accessories.
Professional events and opportunities
Students in the Fashion & Costume Design course have the opportunity to present their creations at some of the most important international events dedicated to fashion, costume and visual arts.
The Rookies - Digital Fashion
Only Italian academy with 2 finalists in Hugo Boss category, 5 overall finalists and Jury Prize in Digital Fashion. Real projects, international visibility.
The Night of the Golden Dragons
Exclusive event for our students on the occasion of the Venice Film Festival (sixth edition in 2026). Dress and costume presentations, live fashion shows and digital showcases open to the public and press.
Milan Fashion Week
Participation and collaboration with digital fashion and CGI projects. Students experiment with fashion shows and immersive experiences, integrating fashion language and audiovisual production.
Side Academy is also 2nd in the world in the Fashion Design category according to the world ranking The Rookies 2025 e the only Italian academy to have had two finalists in the category “Hugo Boss”.
A recognition that confirms the quality of the training course and its international value.
The Rookie Awards 2025 - Digital Fashion - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Francesco Messina was honored for his Fashion Design work inspired by the acclaimed Netflix series “Love Death & Robots.”
Course Structure
FORM
STUDY AREA.
OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
Foundations
Fundamentals of design, tailoring and costume design
The first phase of the program is dedicated to building the fundamental skills of Fashion & Costume Design. Students learn the principles of fashion drawing, stylistic research, and garment design, developing a solid understanding of fashion history, materials, and tailoring techniques. Through hands-on activities in the workshop, they learn to use professional sewing machines, create paper patterns, and transform a creative idea into an initial physical prototype. At the same time, they are introduced to the digital tools used in the contemporary industry, beginning to explore three-dimensional design and the digital visualization of garments.
Advanced
Digital Fashion, 3D Concept, Collection, and Final Project
The second part of the Master’s program focuses on specialization and professional production. Students delve deeper into the design of haute couture collections, accessories, and costumes for film, theater, and the performing arts, engaging in comprehensive workflows that integrate research, concept development, technical development, and final presentation. The program combines traditional tailoring with digital prototyping using software such as Clo3D and Marvelous Designer, enabling students to design and simulate garments, fabrics, and accessories to professional standards. During this phase, students develop complex projects and personal portfolios, with the opportunity to interact with industry professionals and access internship opportunities at ateliers, fashion studios, and production companies associated with the “Made in Italy” brand.
Software & tools
- Clo3D / Marvelous Designer
- Blender / Maya
- Substance 3D (Painter/Designer)
- Adobe Suite
- Unreal Engine
Career Opportunities:
Thanks to the involvement of professionals working in the field and a well-established network of partnerships, students have the opportunity to participate in internships at:
- haute couture atelier
- fashion design programs
- tailoring workshops
- theater and opera productions
- costumes for the movies
- companies in the fashion and luxury sectors
Particular attention is given to opportunities within Italy, featuring companies that represent the international excellence of “Made in Italy.”
Career opportunities:
- Fashion Designer / Digital Fashion Designer
- Costume designer for film/TV/theater/videogame
- 3D Apparel Designer / Virtual Stylist
- Accessory & Textile Designer
- Pattern Maker / Technical Developer
- Fashion communicator / art direction
Student Gallery
FAQ:
Absolutely, all courses start from the basics, so no artistic or programming skills are required. We want to train new artists regardless of their educational background.
With the HYBRID mode, we allow those who need it to take the course ON-LINE, but to have the opportunity to attend certain labs, workshops or in-person events.
We recommend having a PC or Mac at home that can run professional software, so that students can continue working on their projects from home. For those taking the online course, you’ll also need: an internet connection, a graphics tablet, a microphone to communicate with instructors, and headphones. The webcam, on the other hand, is optional.