Master of Arts in Responsible Fashion Design - IED Milano

Language

English, Italian

Start date

October 2026
October 2027

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

2 Years

Credits

120 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Marina Spadafora

How to develop sustainable garments and responsible fashion collections?

With the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles introduced by the European Parliament, the fashion industry will be required to take bold steps towards sustainable design, production, distribution and communication processes.

The Master of Arts in Fashion Design. Circular Practices for the Fashion System provides insight into the whole fashion system, from resources involved in production to the ways products are shared and used by communities, with a view to restricting overproduction and overconsumption patterns. This approach fits into the vision of DesignXCommons, where design is regarded to integrate the commons and regenerate the planet.

With the aim to promote responsible and sustainable fashion, this course explores project design skills involved in the creation of fashion collections, based on a critical approach to the concepts of design, production, distribution, communication and disposal methods. Special attention will also be given to understanding such factors as circularity, ecodesign, product longevity, with inclusion and innovation being a key part of all projects. Building on the study of the new EU regulations around the circular textile strategy, this course provides an interdisciplinary approach to develop sustainable projects that can address such regulations by creating zero-waste models and experimenting with new materials. All this will contribute to the transformation of the fashion industry towards new project practices based on full awareness of ethical and social implications.

Career roles that can be pursued with the course in Fashion Design. Circular Practices for the Fashion System will have the opportunity to contribute to sustainable fashion development for a variety of companies in the fashion industry - but also to get involved in developing their own brands - taking on such roles as eco textile experts and consultants, CSR* consultants (*Corporate Social Responsibility), heads of innovation, and sustainability managers. Continuing in Ph.D. trajectories at Italian and foreign universities will also be an option.

 

Faculty

Course Leader

Marina Spadafora

Sustainability and style consultant

Francesco Ballestrazzi

Milliner

Nuala Goodman

Artist and Textile Designer

Fulvio Alvisi

Textile Designer

Renato Stasi

Designer

Cora Bellotto

Fashion Designer

Laura Lisi

Translator and Interpreter

Lika Kubaneishvili

Fashion designer

Marco Bagalini

Pattern Maker and Tailor

What people say

Fashion Design. Circular Practices for the Fashion System

Course Coordinator describes the goal, the methodology and the professional opportunities of the Master of Arts in Fashion Design.

Marina Spadafora

DesignXCommons

The world could be otherwise: making by making strange

"The world has become so flattened by routine that we no longer fully see the objects around us; we merely recognize them."

The workshop took place at Rifugio Amprimo (Val di Susa- Italy) and has been inspired by the statement of Russian theorist Viktor Shklovsky.

News

Art and design exhibition featuring two central rocks sewn with printed fabrics

23 October 2026

“Valor Ancestral: Latam Creative Talent 2026” makes a stop at IED Barcelona

Following its presentation at IED Madrid and ahead of its move to IED Kunsthal Bilbao, the latest edition of the international exhibition, an initiative promoted by IED since 2022, was on display to coincide with the Barcelona campus’s activities as part of Barcelona Design Week.

Carousel of models on the catwalk of a fashion show

23 October 2026

Acceptance Letter, the label founded by IED Barcelona lecturer Jeakyong Sim, wins the 080 Barcelona Fashion / Rec.0 competition

The label has been recognised as the best emerging local fashion proposal in the 15th edition of the initiative, which has previously awarded IED alumni such as Guillermo Justicia and Elna Solans.

22 October 2026

One student and four alumni from IED Kunsthal Bilbao, alongside two alumni from IED Madrid, awarded scholarships to study at Central Saint Martins

The selected designers have taken part in an intensive two-week programme in London, linked to the Cristóbal Balenciaga Museum's Transmissions project.

Female model posing on a rock wearing a white wool wide-sleeved sweater

22 October 2026

IED Barcelona alumna Andrea Trescolí showcases two looks that put sustainability into practice in fashion at Rec.0

From 4 to 7 November, she will showcase her creations entered in a competition for emerging designers who use materials and processes aimed at reducing waste, as part of the festival’s Fashion Design Schools Exhibition at the Igualada Leather Museum (Barcelona).

06 October 2026

150 students begin the 2026–2027 Academic Year on IED Barcelona’s Master’s, Postgraduate and Foundation Courses

The Welcome Event for Master’s and Postgraduate students took place on 1 and 2 October, featuring a new edition of the “Designing for the Many” workshop and the opening lecture. Foundation students received their welcome on 5 October.

06 October 2026

Public Program IED.60, October 2026

This month, IED’s Public Program continues to take design beyond the classroom, creating opportunities for dialogue with audiences, cultural institutions, businesses and professional communities.

02 October 2026

AQU Catalunya grants favourable accreditation to IED Barcelona’s Bachelor of Arts in Design

Once again, IED Barcelona has received a favourable report from the Catalan University Quality Assurance Agency (AQU Catalunya), certifying the quality of the Bachelor of Arts in Design (Título de Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores de Diseño) delivered by the centre.

02 October 2026

IED Lands in Mexico with Federico Antelo

From 10 to 22 October, the IED Madrid Fashion Director brings talks and workshops to Mexico's top design events.

Fashion sketch with four male silhouettes

02 October 2026

IED Barcelona Alumni Albert Porta named finalist in Sangue Novo

ModaLisboa’s platform and competition for emerging young designers has selected him to present his collection “Branco” on 9 October at Pátio da Galé in Lisbon.

Don't miss it

Two reusable bottles, one green and one yellow respectively.
Exhibitions and Festival

06 October 2026 - 01 September 2027

Barcelona

“The Beetle Bottle” and “Mis queridos Ascos” at “Matter Matters. Designing with the World”

The projects created by IED Barcelona alumni Abdelaziz Moustafa (Product Design) and Violeta Mata (Fashion Design) have been selected to be part of this exhibition at the Museu del Disseny-DHub.

Exhibitions and Festival

08 October 2026 - 31 October 2026

Turin

IED Torino x Torino Design City

From October 8 to 31, 2026, IED Torino will take part with three student projects exploring ecological and environmental transition, as part of a programme of exhibitions, talks and workshops focused on design and innovation.