Studying Fashion Merchandising in Italy

What better way to learn about fashion merchandising and design, than from the masters in Italy.  This past summer,  Parsons School of Fashion and Design & Management students enrolled in James Mendolia’s “Fashion Merchandising: Italy” course, and spent two weeks learning through online and onsite lectures, experience and hands-on activities.

Through organized excursions throughout Florence, Rome and Milan, students learn about Italy’s rich design history and their contributions to global fashion. The course included notable guest lecturers, as well as visits to fashion companies, museums, leather craftsman, and of course, the Ferragamo museum.  They also visited textile mills, where they learned about woven and knitted textiles, as well as the world’s finest printed silks, supplying Italy and the world with the highest quality of printed luxurious fabrics.

Students explore Italy’s history and culture as they search city markets for raw materials, treasures, trends and inspiration. And, the class was able to visit the legendary Pitti Filati, the main international event for knitwear designers and merchandisers in Florence, Italy.

The course will be taking a whole new section of students this summer, in July 2013, and we look forward to hearing about their adventures and knowledge gained when they return.