Master in Shoes Design

The annual Shoe Design program aims to train young professionals who can produce any type of footwear, developing various bases for the perfect realization.

A shoes designer learns how to design and create any type of footwear in relation to trends, knowing in depth the materials to be used and their components, being able to work as a creator of an original line, as a collaborator of a stylist, or in the field of business as a creative consultant or directly in the laboratory prototypes.

The direct relationship that IFDA has with leading quality companies in the sector (from style offices to large brands, from laboratories to companies supplying materials and components), guarantees a concrete and tangible preparation.

Participation in seminars and the most important world trade fair in the sector "Lineapelle", supports and helps students to have a direct relationship with this specific professional sector.

These are the three skills and professional figures that will be formed through the program of studies:

• Fashion designer for footwear
• Cool-hunter
• Understanding modeling and prototyping

Some of the fashion professionals involved:

• Armando Pollini (Pollini Design)
• Angelo Mella (Guru and legendary prototypist C. Louboutin, M. Blahnik, Chanel, etc.)
• Emidio Summonte (Fashion designer Versace accessories)
• Alice Lissoni (Senior designer Luciano Soprani, Allegri)
• Carlo Dal Monte (Industrial, owner of a shoe factory, where the shoes of Manolo Blahnik, etc.)

Course Program

• Hints at the History of Footwear Study of the history of costume and fashion with particular attention to accessories often used as objects of embellishment or enhancement of the dress worn.
• Design Project and concept of starting a collection from various sources (magazines, books, photos, news, nature, etc.)
• Technical Design Technical drawing to drawing attention to the geometry with the use of tools such as squares, protractors, scales. We will review all those basic bases of classic geometry (angles, points, etc ..) useful to draw in a technical way the elaborate sketches of the shoes.
• Fashion Design These are extremely important lessons in fashion design, where the notion of design and the history of the accessory will be recalled.
• Drawing and Copying from Life Here, too, the aptitude for drawing is developing more and more, with the immediacy and ease necessary to copy from life an accessory placed in front of it.
• Various Drawing Techniques Customization of the design based on the character evolution of one's ability as a young designer.
• Creative and Ideational Skills, Cool Hunting The ability of the "problem solving", of creative immediacy and freshness of the collection project implemented.
• Illustration and Sketch Illustrate and present in the best or most creative way possible a "mood" of the collection with the setting of the same (posters). The sketch will be the fastest form of drawing to assemble in a short time the collection project to be illustrated.
• Graphic Design Work processing by computer with a vector program.
• Decoration Closely linked to the signage or setting of the collection (mood).
• Technical Data Sheet of the Shoe Sheets where to insert all the three-dimensional sections of the drawn product, with relative descriptions of all those details suitable to personalize the studied product (zip, colors, materials, accessories, seams and/or welds, etc.)
• Collection Creation of collections of accessories aimed at the target audience.
• Portfolio A book useful to insert the best projects or best project developed in the course of studies.
• Materials (new technology) Study of the materials used for the realization of the product "shoe" (leather, fabrics, plastics, etc.)

Visits are planned at fashion studios, showrooms or companies, to support training and understand the sector's buying system.

Certificate: IFDA is certified ISO 9001 for the educational system of quality, sector EA 37 Nr. SQ164098, and releases certificates recognized at international level.

The incubator of young talents.

IFDA is one of the few fashion academies historically recognized by the Institutions.

IFDA Italian Fashion & Design Academy is a post-diploma and post-degree college and offers certificated Fashion, Design and Beauty courses and masters.

From 2001 in the very center of Milan, IFDA has a single goal: to create an Avantgarde Academy preserving tradition and educating in a very concrete and professional way its students, because they will be the future of the fashion system.

Today IFDA is an incubator of new talents involved in real fashion project.

The brand Italian Fashion and Design Academy (IFDA) was founded in 2001 by Daniele C. M. Fittole, a renowned industrial designer from 1989 who has worked with the likes of Katharine Hamnet, J.P. Gaultier, G. Venturi, L. Soprani plus many more. His vision was to create a finishing Avant-garde Academy, which would preserve the strong identity of true Italian fashion.

Mission

Through its qualified industry staff, IFDA offers their expert knowledge to a select number of dedicated students. The Academy is an incubator between tradition and the avant-garde.

Why IFDA is Special?

The IFDA is special because it offers training programs in line with the needs of the fashion system. There are numerous collaborations with national and international brands and fashion professionals, developing real fashion capsules. All students are directly involved in inter-company internships.

Location

Milan - Fashion City

Located the prestigious headquarters in Via Tortona 35 , IFDA offers access to the latest fashion technologies and professionals in the heart of Milan's Fashion and Design District , home to some of the most famous Italian fashion houses, including Armani, Zegna, Fendi, Diesel, Stone Island, Moncler to name a few.

Every year, IFDA offers a practical learning experience to train students to become the best in a field of incredible professionals and prepare them to reach the highest industrial level.

Method

IFDA Italian Fashion & Design Academy has a unique approach to developing and nurturing the creativity of our students with the use of teaching materials and expert knowledge. Our lectures are designed to encompass seminars, workshops, meetings and external trips to the largest trade fairs and renowned fashion studios across Europe.

No two days are the same at IFDA- every day is different!

Stage and Workshop

During each academic year, IFDA offers internship and workshop opportunities with our partner companies , to learn and work directly with the professionals. Here at IFDA, we strongly believe hands-on experience is one of the best ways to fully understand the needs of a real working, fast paced fashion environment. Through the workshops, our exclusive guest speakers are available to speak with students, offering their own personal experiences and advice on a one-to-one basis.

IFDA Alumni who work in Fashion System: Elisa L. da Herno, Valentina S., Lara V. Greta S. da Armani, Lisa B. da Estee Lauder, Nathalie G. da Gucci, Daniela C. da Jil Sander, Veronica P. da Guess.

IFDA offers to our students: Competition, Seminars, Workshops, Fairs.

Fashion shows and Presentations: Milano Moda Donna (Fashion Week Milano), Milano Moda Uomo (Giorgio Armani, etc.), IFDA Fashion Show, Tortona Press Day, SI Sposaitalia.

Fairs: TheOne Milano, White, Lineapelle, The MICAM, Mipel, MilanoUnica, SuperPitti.

Exhibition: Triennale, Mudec, Armani Silos, Fondazione Prada, Palazzo Reale, Palazzo della Ragione, Palazzo Morando.

Competition: Onward Kashiyama, Who is On next, Moda Italia CNA.

Official Partners

• Ente Fiera Milano
• Confcommercio
• Federmoda Italia
• The One Milano
• Parah
• MyPlant & Garden
• Camera Italiana Buyer Moda
• Confartigianato Biella

Some of our professional teacher

• Armando Pollini (Pollini Design)
• Emiliano Rinaldi (Art director La Perla)
• Simona Polli (Director WHITE magazine)
• Flaminio Soncini (Founder of “Buyer Association”)
• Elena Salvaneschi (General Manager of TheOne Milano, owner of IAFIL Spa)
• Luca Zacco (Fashion coordinator Versace)
• Giovanni Cavagna (Fashion designer Max Mara, Les Copains, Loro Piana, YEdition)
• Stefano Anselmo (Founder of the Academy Stefano Anselmo)
• Maurizio Cinà (co-Founder of “Buyer Association”, ex A.D. of Frankie Morello)
• Lino Spina (Senior Pattern maker Prada, Genny, Celine)
• Emidio Summonte (Fashion designer Versace accessories)
• Eugenio Gallavotti (Deputy-director of ELLE)
• Alice Lissoni (Senior designer Luciano Soprani, Allegri)
• Ornella Rigoletti (Senior Pattern maker Valentino, Armani, Ungaro, Richmond, Montana)
• and many others.