three-year course
Fashion & Costume Design
Italian sartorial tradition and digital innovation for fashion, film and video games.
Course identity
The three-year course in Fashion & Costume Design blends traditional Italian tailoring with digital experimentation and the latest 3D technologies. A path that combines creativity, technique and innovation to train designers to move competently between the worlds of fashion, costume for film and theater, and digital fashion.
Students learn to create physical and virtual clothing, complete collections, and a wide range of accessories-from handbags to footwear, eyewear to jewelry, and even the most contemporary fashion accessories-developing skills ranging from stylistic and pattern design to 3D modeling, digital fabric simulation, and prototyping via 3D printing.
During the course, the main areas of the field are addressed:
– Fashion Design & Collection (from concept to runway)
– Accessory Design (handbags, shoes, eyewear, jewelry and fashion accessories)
– Costume Design for film, television, theater and video games
– Digital Fashion & Virtual Couture for virtual platforms and creative metaverse
– Sustainable Fashion, innovative materials and eco-friendly processes
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 training is highly laboratory-based: students create physical and digital collections presented at events, fashion shows and professional productions in collaboration with fashion companies, film production companies and video game studios.
Book a 1:1 Call with an Admissions Advisor
Book a 1:1 Call with an Admissions Advisor
Book a 1:1 call with an Admissions Advisor to discuss your goals, your current level, and the best program for you.
We’ll answer all your questions and guide you through the next steps.
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 training and excellence achieved by our talented young people.
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.
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 training is highly laboratory-based: students create physical and digital collections presented at events, fashion shows and professional productions in collaboration with fashion companies, film production companies and video game studios.
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.
- Virtual Production Studio – for the presentation of clothes and costumes within immersive virtual environments.
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
YEAR
STUDY AREA.
OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
First year
Fundamentals of design, tailoring and costume design
Garment design, pattern making, tailoring, color theory, fashion and costume history.
Second year
Digital Fashion and CGI
3D simulations, rendering, fashion visualization, virtual costumes for film and video games.
Third year
Collection and final project
Physical and digital collection, presentation fashion show, professional portfolio for fashion and audiovisual production.
Software & tools
- Clo3D / Marvelous Designer
- Blender / Maya
- Substance 3D (Painter/Designer)
- Adobe Suite
- Unreal Engine
Professional outlets
- 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 computer at home that can support professional software, so the student can continue projects from home. Those taking the course online also need: an Internet connection, a graphics tablet, micophone for communicating with lecturers and headphones. Optional, however, is a webcam.