The MA in Textile Design trains professional figures to manage creative processes in the fields of textile and knitwear design. Thanks to the collaboration with companies of the Italian system - starting with the one with the prestigious historic textile company Mantero Seta, active by the A.Y. 2021/22 - the course offers innovative and sustainable workshops as well as cultural contents that provide thorough knowledge of the subject, and of its expressions in the fashion and art fields. Our lecturers, all industry professionals, guide the students in the search for their own vision that will be expressed in a very personal portfolio.
Over the MA, students will have the opportunity to:
- Analyse textiles and knitwear as distinct visual languages, interpreting and translating ideas into projects with an innovative, responsible and sustainable spirit
- Employ proper methodologies to the design process and its representation and communication, manifesting a professional mastery of knowledge and applications
- Learn an integrated approach to the textile world, exploring the values and needs of a new, global humanity with consciousness and responsibility
The Master of Arts enables students to deepen their knowledge through specialised studies and to acquire the instruments necessary to realise textile design and knitwear design projects, in a practical workshop approach.
Through the analysis of the fundamental elements of textile design and knitwear, as well as thanks to interdisciplinary activities and field experiences, students have the opportunity to define their personal and professional identity and to confront the professional context, experiencing new creative and operational models which will support the start of their professional career in the Italian and international fashion system.
FIRST YEAR
Introduces students to the textile categories and provide instruments for a sound understanding of textiles and of their best use, through studies in traditional and digital textile design, knitwear design, draping, history of art and costume, phenomenology of styles, and with in-depth analysis of textile industry, Italian know-how, innovative and sustainable design thinking.
The contamination of elements from the fields of culture, art, fashion enriches the young designers' vision and inspiration.
Through project-based and theoretical lectures, students have the opportunity to design a personal textile and knitwear collection, to acquire a sound understanding of materials and to define their identity in terms of ideas, storytelling, shapes, manufacture, choice of materials and technical drawing.
SECOND YEAR
Through a strongly project-based approach, students continue their advanced studies in textile and knitwear design, completing all production phases of their textile and knitwear clothing collection project, as well as in project methodology of visual communication, multimedia languages, and material culture, learning how to independently project a professional portfolio and how to use new digital techniques and instruments in the fashion professionals.
Through the research and narration of original, experimental, and contemporary languages, the programme reinforces students creative and analytical skills which will be necessary to deal with the post-contemporary social dynamics and enter the processes of professional fashion system.
Department: Design and Applied Arts
Area: Fashion Design
Title Awarded: Second Level Academic Degree in Fashion and Textile Design
Credits: 120 CFA
Starting: October 2025
Duration: 2 years
Languages: Italian and English
Campus: Milan
Mentorship Project in collaboration with: Mantero
Our faculty
Design and Applied Arts Department Head
Luca Poncellini is an architect and a designer with a PhD in the History of Architecture and City Planning. As a partner in the architecture office Cliostraat until 2009, he has curated projects and has lectured in Italy and in several countries throughout the world. His works have been exhibited at the Venice Biennale, at the Van Alen Institute in New York, at ETH in Zürich, at MAGA in Gallarate and at Triennale Milano. In 2008 he co-curated the retrospective exhibition Laszlo Hudec, in collaboration with the Hungarian Consulate in Shanghai. Since 2013 he has been the Course Leader of the MA in Interior Design. Between 2015 and 2019 directed the research lab and the project C-Park. Since 2019 he has been Design and Applied Arts Department Head.
After a number of collaborations with many top fashion designers, including Nanni Strada, Colomba Leddi joined Frammenti in 1992, a group experimenting with artisanal techniques to be applied to the clothing sector. In 1996, she opened her own atelier of tailor-made, unique pieces, and her label can be found in some of the best Italian and foreign boutiques, including Biffi in Milan, Philippe Model Maison in Paris, HP Deco in Japan, Thimbloom in Korea and Bird Boutique in New Zealand. She has participated in several fashion fairs and group exhibitions in Italy and abroad, including Passeggiata evanescente, with Melina Mulas, at Galleria Le 5 Venice, in Venice (2010), W. Women in Italian Design at Triennale Milano (2016-2017), Documenta 2020 – Windows in pandemic, Tsinghua University Art Museum Beijing (2020). She also works as a theatre and cinema costume designer and has taught at many different universities and academies.
His way of teaching takes account of various aspects of the Fashion field: from project management to visual communication, passing through illustration, styling and exhibition setting.
These skills are the result of his educational background and of the collaboration with some of the most influential artists, designers and writers of the Italian scene such as Benedetta Barzini, Mariuccia Casadio, Eleonora Fiorani, Matteo Guarnaccia, Alessandro Guerriero, Nancy Martin, Angela Missoni, Cinzia Ruggeri, Shingo Sato and Alberto Zanoletti. For years, he has been in charge of the contests and special projects with companies, web communication and events of the NABA Fashion Area. Among his recognitions: publications on Glamour IT, Vogue Talents, exhibitions at Palazzo Giureconsulti (Milano) and Vicenza Oro Evolving Jewelry fair (Vicenza), and finalist at Fashion Up Ronca Style Award (Verona). INSTAGRAM @casabelotti
Member of the Superior Council for the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, her professional activity spreads across fashion, art and design, through industrial and handcrafted knitwear collections, international fashion and design exhibitions, books publishing and collaboration with magazines, as well as the creation of textile artworks. Several projects started from her work in NABA: Do-knit-yourself, with the exhibitions Do-it-jibun-de at Muji Atelier in Tokyo, and Dritto-Rovescio at Triennale Milano, where the project Family Dress, a collective knitting artwork, was first presented, becoming a reference point for the new knitting world; Milano-Cina, a design experience, a project involving the Milan Chinatown community. She has held lectures and keynote speeches in Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Sweden, South Africa.
NABA provides students with the opportunity to study abroad as part of their academic experience.
NABA Academic Coordination Office, in charge for the management of the exchange programmes, supports students in taking advantage of the international study opportunities through exchange programmes and promoting educational experiences thanks to a network including numerous prestigious international partner universities.
NABA counts more than 70 cooperation agreements with academies and universities through the Erasmus+ Programme in Europe and others international cooperation agreements with several universities outside Europe.
NABA has developed strong relationships with leading companies which that provide internships for NABA students, including Chanel, Gabs, Staff International, Hugo Boss, Valentino Fashion Group, Ratti, Bembercell, Missoni, Tirelli Costumi, Guccio Gucci, Luisa Beccaria, Gianni Versace, Carrera's, E. C. (Costume National), Corneliani, Lorenzo Riva, Trussardi, Moschino, Federico Sangalli, Jil Sander Italia, Kenzo, ETRO, Gentucca Bini & Father, Gruppo Miroglio, Furla, Ermenegildo Zegna, Mantero, AEFFE, Ports1961.
COMPANIES
The Fashion Design Area cooperates or has cooperated with: Benny & Javier House of Ninja, Cosmopolitan magazine, Diane Pernet, Filoscozia, Herbal Essences, Lane Cardate, Angela Missoni, Palazzo Morando, Pandora, Woolmark, Rosato, Iceberg, Via Farini, Fabbrica del Vapore, Galleria Arte Passante, Arena, Salon du Chocolat, Francesca Versace, Elio Fiorucci, La Triennale di Milano, Stefanel, Gabs, Franco Gabrielli, Tosca Blu, Pitti Immagine, Camera della Moda, Vogue Talent, Triumph, Alcantara, Linea Pelle, La Rinascente, Assab One, Officine Creative Ansaldo, Gabel.
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