Istituto Secoli
Istituto Secoli, founded in 1934 in Milan, is Italy's first fashion school, offering Bachelor's, Master's, and intensive courses in pattern making, prototyping, and garment construction at its Milan and Novara campuses, serving students, working professionals, and luxury fashion brands.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersMilano, Italy
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Istituto Secoli does
Istituto Secoli (legal entity: Istituto Carlo Secoli S.r.l.) is a private Italian fashion education institution founded in Milan in 1934 by Carlo Secoli, recognized as Italy's first fashion school. It offers a tiered academic portfolio spanning three-year Bachelor's Degrees (Lauree Triennali), Master's and Executive Master programs, intensive and part-time courses in pattern making (modellistica) and prototyping (prototipia), Saturday/evening professional courses, online courses, and summer courses. Its pedagogical foundation is the proprietary "Secoli Method," which integrates theoretical instruction with hands-on practice in pattern making, prototyping, garment construction, moulage, industrialization, and quality control, supplemented by CAD-based pattern design and 2D/3D digital tools. Programs are delivered at two campuses — the Milan headquarters in the Porta Venezia fashion district and a Novara campus opened in 2022 focused on prototyping — with a third Certosa District hub in development.
The institution generates revenue primarily through academic tuition, structured via ISEE-based contribution brackets for Italian residents and merit-based scholarships up to EUR 2,000, with DSU (Right to Study) scholarships available for AFAM-accredited programs. Diversified revenue streams include customized corporate training programs for fashion companies and organizational/strategic consulting (including the Cell Design methodology) delivered to luxury brands and SMEs; a Placement Service connects graduates with industry employers free of charge. The customer base is hybrid: consumer-facing students (high school graduates, working professionals, and international students) for tuition, and enterprise-facing fashion houses (Canali, Gucci, Herno, Loro Piana, Versace, Zamasport, Zegna) for corporate services and strategic partnerships. Distribution is direct, physical-first, with blended online options and an annual flagship Secoli Fashion Show (43rd edition in 2026) and Designer to Watch program serving as recruitment and brand-building events.
Istituto Secoli firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Istituto Secoli
- Legal name
- Istituto Carlo Secoli S.r.l.
- Website
- https://secoli.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Istituto Secoli, founded in 1934 in Milan, is Italy's first fashion school, offering Bachelor's, Master's, and intensive courses in pattern making, prototyping, and garment construction at its Milan and Novara campuses, serving students, working professionals, and luxury fashion brands.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Istituto Secoli industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fashion Education and Training
- NAICS
- Technical and Trade Schools (6115), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education & Training Providers (EDABALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industry-Specific Technical & Certification Prep (e.g., Construction, Manufacturing, Energy) (EDAGANAN), Project, Process & Quality Certification Prep (PMP, PRINCE2, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) (EDANAIAE)
Keywords
Where Istituto Secoli is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milano
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Istituto Secoli business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Academic Tuition Fees: Revenue from undergraduate (Bachelor's Degrees), graduate (Master's), Executive Master, and intensive/vocational fashion courses. The institution offers contribution brackets based on ISEE for Italian residents and merit-based scholarships up to EUR 2,000.
- Corporate Training Services: Customized training programs designed for fashion companies covering style, product, pattern design, processing planning, time and methods, defect correction, prototyping, industrialization, production, quality control, and production organization.
- Organizational Consulting: Since 1990, the institution provides organizational and strategic consulting services to luxury brands and SMEs, including Cell Design methodology, organizational analysis, audit, monitoring, and due diligence activities.
- Placement Services: Free placement service for companies connecting graduates with fashion employers in operational areas of fashion design, product development, pattern making, garment construction, and manufacturing processes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Merit-based scholarships for deserving students |
| Subscription | Annual | DSU Scholarships based on ISEE |
| Subscription | Annual | Contribution brackets with 5 reduced tiers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Istituto Secoli product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Istituto Secoli is a private fashion education institution offering academic and professional programs in fashion design, pattern making, garment construction, and prototyping at undergraduate (Bachelor's Degrees), graduate (Master's), Executive, and intensive/vocational levels. Beyond individual students, it provides customized corporate training and organizational consulting services to fashion companies, supported by a free placement service that connects graduates with industry employers.
Product overview
Istituto Secoli is a fashion education institution founded in 1934, offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs including Bachelor\'s Degrees, Master\'s Programs, Executive Master, Intensive and Part-Time Patternmaking Courses, Fashion Product Prototyping, Saturday/Evening Courses, Online Courses, and Summer Courses. The institution operates two campuses in Milan and Novara, Italy. Supporting services include the Secoli Placement Service for graduate employment, Organizational and Strategic Consulting, and Corporate Training programs for fashion companies. Annual events include the Secoli Fashion Show and Designer to Watch showcase. The educational methodology combines theoretical knowledge with practical workshops, CAD laboratories, and industry projects with luxury brand partners.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Talent Garden: A structured approach aimed at stimulating and encouraging territorial vocations and creating training paths customized to company needs, part of the institute's corporate talent services.
- Secoli Placement
Products and services
- Bachelor's Degrees (Lauree Triennali) Three-year undergraduate academic programs that transform passion for fashion into profession, covering fashion design, pattern making, and garment construction.
- Master's Programs Post-graduate master's programs offering excellence in formative education that concretizes creative ideas for career advancement in fashion design and pattern making.
- Executive Master Executive-level programs for professionals seeking advanced training in specific fashion disciplines such as time and methods analysis.
- Intensive and Part-Time Patternmaking Courses Annual professionalizing courses for acquiring immediately applicable skills in pattern making, offered in intensive and part-time formats.
- Fashion Product Prototyping Course Intensive prototyping course offered in partnership with luxury brands including Canali, Gucci, Herno, Loro Piana, Versace, Zamasport and Zegna, covering model study, raw materials, cutting techniques, industrial and artisanal sewing, moulage, and industrialization methodology.
- Saturday and Evening Courses Advanced training courses for updating fashion industry professionals on weekends and evenings, allowing employed individuals to upskill without leaving their jobs.
- Online Courses Short online courses for professionals seeking new fashion skills remotely.
- Summer Courses Intensive courses offered during summer months for concentrated learning experiences in fashion design and pattern making.
- Secoli Placement Service Free placement service connecting graduates with fashion companies for employment opportunities in pattern making, garment construction, and product development roles.
- Organizational and Strategic Consulting Business consulting services including Cell Design methodology, organizational analysis, audit, monitoring, and due diligence activities for fashion companies and luxury brands.
- Corporate Training Customized training programs for fashion companies covering style, product, pattern design, processing planning, time and methods, defect correction, prototyping, industrialization, production, and quality control.
Quantifiable outcome
- High placement rate through dedicated Placement Service connecting graduates with fashion industry employers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Istituto Secoli
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Istituto Secoli technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
Istituto Secoli partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CanalicoreStrategic collaboration for preserving Made in Italy know-how. Students in Prototyping (Novara) and Bachelor's Degree winners collaborate annually with the brand to create iconic garments. Industry project provides hands-on experience in high-end menswear development.
- GuccicoreOngoing commitment to cultivate future fashion talents. Students have the opportunity to collaborate directly with the maison at the Novara campus, gaining insight into Ready-to-Wear Industrial Operations and advanced construction techniques.
- HernocorePartnership promoted by Claudio Marenzi, president of the brand and former Secoli student. Represents concrete connection between high education, industry, and innovation in the fashion system, with focus on outerwear and down garments.
- Loro PianacoreAnnual support to Secoli students with training path dedicated to prototyping and working with the most noble fibers, aiming to preserve quality, tradition, craftsmanship, and innovation.
- VersacecoreCollaboration providing students access to the world of luxury and haute couture, deepening prêt-à-porter and garment construction techniques that define the iconic heritage of the Versace brand.
- ZamasportcoreStudents in Prototyping and Bachelor's Degree winners gain access to technical prototyping and product development, confronting directly with processes and standards of the sportswear and activewear sector.
- ZegnacoreAt Novara campus, students confront the high professionalism of Zegna prototypists, a brand synonymous with quality and artisanal mastery in contemporary menswear. Includes 'From Sheep to Shop' manufacturing excellence program.
- Albini GroupminorPremium textile partner providing fabrics for student collections at Secoli Fashion Show 2026, supporting material research and experimentation.
- Asahi Kasei Fibers Italia (Bemberg)minorAdvanced fiber technology partner providing innovative materials for student fashion projects and sustainable textile innovation.
- CandianiminorLeading sustainable denim manufacturer providing high-quality fabrics for student collections, promoting eco-conscious fashion education.
- Camera Nazionale della Moda ItalianacoreInstitutional partner granting patronage to Secoli Fashion Show, confirming the event's value as a meeting point for education, young talent, and the Italian fashion system.
- Regione LombardiacoreRegional government institution providing patronage and support for fashion education initiatives and Secoli Fashion Show events.
- Comune di MilanocoreMunicipal government providing patronage and support for fashion education and cultural events in Milan.
- IACDE (International Association of Clothing Designers and Executives)minorInternational professional association providing industry expertise and network connections for fashion education programs.
- Piattaforma Sistema Formativo Moda ETSminorFashion education system platform supporting coordination and development of fashion training initiatives across Italy.
- ANTIA ETSminorNational Association of Professional Technicians providing institutional support and professional network connections for fashion education.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Istituto Secoli competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Istituto Marangoni: Milan-headquartered private fashion and design school offering undergraduate, master's, and short courses in fashion design, pattern making, and styling — directly comparable to Secoli's portfolio but with a much larger international footprint across Milan, Florence, Paris, London, Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Miami.
- IED (Istituto Europeo di Design): Private Italian design and fashion school with campuses across Italy (Milan, Rome, Florence, Turin) and internationally, offering Bachelor's and Master's degrees in fashion design and pattern making — directly comparable curriculum with a substantially larger multi-city footprint.
- Domus Academy: Milan-based private postgraduate fashion, design, and experience school offering Master's programs in Fashion Design, Fashion Styling, and Product Design — competes for the same Italian and international postgraduate cohort as Secoli's Master's programs.
- Polimoda: Florence-based fashion school recognized internationally for fashion design and leather goods education; offers Bachelor's, Master's, and short courses with strong Made-in-Italy industry ties — competes for the same high-school-graduate and postgraduate fashion student pool.
- ESMOD: French-founded international fashion school network with campuses across Europe and Asia, specializing in fashion design and pattern making — closely comparable to Secoli's technical pattern-making curriculum with a broader international footprint.
- Accademia di Costume e di Moda: Rome-based private fashion school offering Bachelor's and Master's programs in fashion design, costume design, and pattern making — a direct peer targeting Italian and international students with similar degree-based fashion education.
Broad incumbents
- Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London): Part of the University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins is a globally leading fashion and design school whose BA Fashion and MA Fashion programs compete for top international fashion talent — a broader incumbent with significantly larger scale and brand recognition.
- Parsons School of Design (The New School): New York-based leading design school offering renowned fashion design programs at undergraduate and graduate levels — competes for international fashion students and has substantially broader scope than Secoli's pattern-making focus.
- Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT): SUNY-affiliated public college in New York with extensive fashion design, pattern making, and textile programs — a broad incumbent with public-institution scale, contrasting with Secoli's private, luxury-focused positioning.
Regional players
- Accademia del Lusso: Milan-based private school focused specifically on luxury fashion brand management and fashion design — an emerging Italian competitor with narrower luxury-brand positioning but overlapping student demographics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Istituto Secoli social profiles
Digital presenceIstituto Secoli compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Istituto Secoli financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Istituto Secoli leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Istituto Secoli funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Istituto Secoli M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Istituto Secoli
What does Istituto Secoli do?
Istituto Secoli is a private fashion education institution offering academic and professional programs in fashion design, pattern making, garment construction, and prototyping at undergraduate (Bachelor's Degrees), graduate (Master's), Executive, and intensive/vocational levels. Beyond individual students, it provides customized corporate training and organizational consulting services to fashion companies, supported by a free placement service that connects graduates with industry employers.
Is Istituto Secoli a public or private company?
Istituto Secoli is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Istituto Secoli founded?
Istituto Secoli was founded in 1934. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Istituto Secoli based?
Istituto Secoli is headquartered in Milano, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Istituto Secoli make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Academic Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are corporate Training Services, organizational Consulting and placement Services.
Who are Istituto Secoli's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Istituto Marangoni, IED (Istituto Europeo di Design), Domus Academy, Polimoda, ESMOD and Accademia di Costume e di Moda. Broad incumbents are Central Saint Martins (University of the Arts London), Parsons School of Design (The New School) and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Accademia del Lusso is listed as a regional player.
Does Istituto Secoli have an API?
No public API is recorded for Istituto Secoli.
What industry is Istituto Secoli in?
Istituto Secoli's product category is Fashion Education and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABALAI, Education & Training Providers, with a secondary code of EDAGANAN, Industry-Specific Technical & Certification Prep (e.g., Construction, Manufacturing, Energy). Its NAICS code is 6115 and its SIC code is 8200.