A chat with Massimiliano Giornetti, Director of Polimoda

What’s Polimoda’s role in the international fashion scene today?

Polimoda plays a crucial role. It blends creativity with anthropology, sociology, marketing and communication, looking at fashion in all its meanings in the belief that fashion is not simply clothes but a profound expression of the self. We also offer event management, art direction and costume design, giving newprospects for professional growth.

How do you reconcile Polimoda’s international vocation with the cultural and artisanal roots of Florence?

The idea 40 years ago to create an international fashion polytechnic in Florence stemmed from the city’s medieval roots. Important craft communities – such as those of tanners, weavers and dyers – allowed Florence to emerge as the capital of the Renaissance. It is this culture of know-how, which has been handed down over the centuries, that is the strength of Made in Italy. The combination of traditional craftsmanship and industrial innovation is inseparable. No other production centre in the world has the breadth and depth of Florence and its province. Exploring everything from fabrics, façon, accessories and tanning to metals and leather goods has made it possible to create a unique production hub with which the school is inextricably linked.

What are the most in-demand skills in the fashion world today, and how do you prepare a student to become a well-rounded professional?

Precise, specialized skills are highly sought after. On the one hand are digital skills, and by contrast, artisanal. The future will be increasingly hybrid, with the acute awareness that technology will support and improve the quality of craftsmanship, but that no machine, in fashion, can ever replace the ability to creatively problem solve.

Fashion and sustainability: how real is the transformation of the sector in this direction today? And how does Polimoda face this challenge?

It’s a fundamental transformation. It’s very necessary that we face it. Gen Z was born with a culture and work ethic that means they are action-oriented and make fashion more transparent and inclusive. All these values represent our educational drive towards the future; to make the fashion sector less oriented towards the concept of status symbols and more as a personal and cultural expression.

Is there a recent project, collaboration or initiative that you are particularly proud of and that showcases the spirit of Polimoda?

Every Applied Project – educational projects developed in collaboration with businesses – has its own strength and value not only in terms of design, but above all in terms of education. It’s the principle behind research: free experimentation that leads to innovation. The triangle between the industry, school and students allows us to go beyond the boundaries of comfort zones and to seek, even through error, what is not yet known. Fashion has a frenetic pace that tends to impoverish research applied to materials, consumer habits, digital innovation and new forms of distribution. Working in synergy with the university thus becomes necessary, both for the industry and for students, who are as yet free from the grip that the world of work inevitably mandates. Among the most interesting projects of recent months was the collaboration with Silhouette for the definition of the concept store House of Silhouette and the docufilm Le Mani della Moda in collaboration with Gruppo Florence. Being able to concretize vital values for the fashion industry such as craftsmanship and tradition, while emphasizing the natural drive towards innovation, remains a priority for Polimoda.

How important is it for a school like Polimoda to be based in Florence? How does the city – with its cultural heritage, craft vocation and international appeal – affect the educational experience of students?

Globalization has led to an excessive dispersion of know-how. Today, students are more fascinated by the idea of being mobile, not settled in a single location, than in the past. However, an excess of internationalization can generate fragility in planning and in the intent to preserve that cultural heritage and tradition that characterize the genius loci. I consider cultural heritage to be an important heritage for Florence. Polimoda is committed to preserving the culture of know-how, because it guarantees our uniqueness.