Award Winner for Volume 17
Fashion Design Education: A Study of Fashion Design Educational Systems of Italy and China
Fashion as a universal phenomenon is considered a crucial aspect of our culture and society. Entering such an unparalleled moment of globalization, the influence and potential of fashion accelerate. The fashion industry has not only become more global in our time but also more knowledge-based. The new realities and shifts in the job market have fundamentally impacted our higher education system. In this paper, the researcher examines the current state of the discipline of fashion design, emphasizing the state of fashion design education in contemporary Italy and China. The former is one of the world’s leading fashion markets and is essential in fashion history. The latter is considered an emerging force, playing a decisive role in today’s global fashion business, occupying the most significant number of students studying abroad. Furthermore, the researcher demonstrates differentiated approaches adopted in prominent Italian and Chinese fashion design schools, providing the groundwork for future research practice.
The discipline of fashion design plays a very significant role in academia and industry, impacting and enhancing our culture and values. Sculpted in the desire for individual expression and the quest for newness, fashion could be seen as an instrument through which we understand human society.
Education of fashion design, an educational field expanding on a global scale, encounters varying challenges every year, undergoing continual changes in the pluralistic environment. Western markets are currently more competitive, especially in the United States and Europe. As a counterforce, the Asian-Pacific market grows, and the need to reevaluate traditional educational philosophies emerges.
In Italy, known worldwide for its fashion prowess, Politecnico di Milano has been leading the way in interdisciplinary approaches, which combine creativity and practical skills required by the fashion industry today. However, in China, where institutions like the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology are rapidly transforming to show the increasing impact of the country on the world stage, fashion design is also undergoing a metamorphosis.
The educational approaches may vary, but understanding and overcoming differences can create collaborative partnerships and intercultural enrichment opportunities. Recognizing and tactfully taking advantage of different teaching methods in institutions prepares students for a complex and dynamic reality. Along with mutual efforts and exchanges, we can develop the leading edge of fashion design education and thus shape a more inclusive and innovative future for the industry.
—Xiaozhu Lin