Our History

In the early 2000s, as the global fashion industry began to evolve at an unprecedented pace, industry professionals started to realize that traditional models of education were no longer sufficient to meet the sector’s growing demands. Companies were calling for a new generation of managers capable of understanding both the fashion product and the processes behind it, including the emerging digital landscape. It was clear that a new approach to fashion education was needed—one that went beyond design and focused on management and the knowledge of the fashion product, creative processes, and the latest innovations shaping the industry.

The idea of IIFM – Italian Institute of Fashion Management was born from this vision, a response to the industry's demand for an interdisciplinary approach to fashion education. The Institute was established in 2025 thanks to the vision of Prof. Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis, Professor Emeritus and former Dean of the Design School at Politecnico of Milan. He was the pioneer behind the “Città della Moda” project, conceived 25 years ago as an integrated system aimed at supporting the development of the fashion industry and the creation of a robust educational infrastructure. Prof. Dell’Acqua Bellavitis was the first to scientifically design fashion education as a multidisciplinary system, one that responded directly to the needs of the fashion and luxury sectors—an approach never before seen in traditional, mono-disciplinary university systems.

Fashion education was viewed not only as design but as a full ecosystem that includes business, management, innovation, digital transformation, and sustainability. The interdisciplinary approach, which connected the worlds of academia and industry, became the foundation for IIFM’s unique educational model. In 2025, after over 15 years of experimentation and collaboration with leading fashion industry figures and institutions, the Italian Institute of Fashion Management -IIFM- officially opened its doors. 

Italy had the first independent institution specializing in fashion management,  dedicated to the fashion, luxury, and lifestyle sectors with a strong focus on innovation. The Institute’s programs were designed with a clear understanding of the real-world demands of the industry, making it a trailblazer in the educational landscape. Also in 2025, IIFM launched its first Master's programs, setting a new benchmark for fashion education. These programs were designed in close collaboration with top-tier Educators with consolidated experience in different disciplines.

IIFM created an inedited inclusive system of education in new disciplines like HR Management, together with Italian and international universities, ensuring that students had access to cutting-edge knowledge, global perspectives, and strong connections to industry leaders. By combining rigorous academic training with hands-on experience, internships, and career development. In February 2025, the Institute’s focus goes beyond just academic excellence. IIFM formalized its mission  expanding its focus to fostering international mobility and accessibility, promoting the Italian model of education abroad, contributing to the development of knowledge and cooperation between countries, universities, and institutions.
 

IIFM embraced the concept of a benefit institution inside fashion management. In March 2025, Nicola Guerini was appointed as Dean and General Director of the Institute. A highly respected educator and academic leader, Guerini brings over 20 years of experience in higher education. He is credited with pioneering interdisciplinary education in fashion law and management, creating innovative programs that blend legal, business, and creative elements essential to the fashion industry.  During his inauguration speech, Guerini presented the three strategic pillars for the Institute's development: strengthening global partnerships and expanding international mobility, advancing interdisciplinary programs that integrate fashion, business, and technology, and fostering relevance through highly qualified placement for Students within the industry.
 

In 2025, IIFM solidified its global presence by establishing its first international partnerships with leading universities in the United States. During the same year, the Institute launched its short courses and executie programs divisions. On January 2026, the first Master's programs would commence.

Today, IIFM is recognized as a leader in fashion management education, providing a global perspective through interdisciplinary curriculum of studies. Through its forward-thinking approach, IIFM prepares students not only to succeed in the industry but to redefine it for the future.
 

As IIFM continues to grow and evolve, its goal remains clear: to always aim for the next milestone, the one that no one has reached yet.