The ACM (Accademia Costume & Moda), one of the world’s leading fashion schools, presented an Industry Project in collaboration with Maison Valentino as part of its Master’s program in Haute Couture and Fashion Design.
Eighteen students from the academy’s Rome campus had the opportunity to work with Alessandro Michele, creative director and former ACM student, and Yvan Mispelaere, Valentino’s Haute Couture design director. The two experts personally oversaw every stage of the process—from the launch of the brief to the final presentation of the collections—guiding the students through moments of dialogue, discussion, and in-depth analysis.
The project’s theme was the relationship between two opposing yet complementary principles—the Apollonian and the Dionysian—which run through the history of art and aesthetic thought, allowing students to develop a reflection on contemporary couture.
In this project, the precision, rigor of construction, and discipline of form were contrasted with instinct, metamorphosis, and expressive freedom.
Through this creative tension, the students explored the design language of the Roman fashion house, developing collections that successfully blend personal exploration with design sensibility.
Throughout the project, the students learned how a couture collection is created. Through the study of volumes, proportions, and silhouettes, each design took shape during an intensive workshop process that utilized techniques such as embroidery, fabric manipulation, and various artisanal methods. In this context, the students were able to engage directly with the complexity and language of contemporary haute couture.
The project was particularly noteworthy for the involvement of Valentino’s creative director, not in a symbolic or occasional participation, but through a substantial and prolonged dialogue.
The collaboration between Accademia Costume & Moda, Alessandro Michele, Yvan Mispelaere, and the entire Valentino team allowed students to spend months engaged in research, discussion, and design development in close contact with the House, offering an experience of extraordinary value.
Accademia Costume & Moda (ACM) is one of the most highly regarded fashion schools in the world. It was founded in Rome in 1964 by Rosana Pistolese, a costume and fashion historian and Italian costume designer.
The Academy offersdiffernt levels of ascademic programs accredited by the Ministry of University and Research (MUR) in
collaboration with over 150 companies in the fashion and entertainment sectors.
The institute has approximately 500 students studying at its campuses in Rome and Milan, and upon graduation, they find employment with job placement rates consistently exceeding 85% across all programs, with some Master’s programs reaching as high as 100%.
ACM alumni include creative directors, senior designers, Oscar and David di Donatello Award winners, and other leading professionals in the fashion and entertainment industries.
Notable ACM alumni include: Alessandro Michele, Frida Giannini, Isabella Rossellini, Francesca Sartori, Gianluca Falaschi, Marco Mastroianni, Maria Sabato, Albino D’Amato, Maurizio Galante, and Stefano Canulli.