Master of Arts in Textile Design - IED Firenze

Language

English

Start date

October 2026

Frequency

Full time

Fruition

On campus

Duration

2 Years

Credits

120 CFA / ECTS

Course Coordination

Claudia Sanna

How can textile design contribute to eco-social renewal?

As awareness grows of how the fashion system is impacting the environment and society, people working in the industry will need to be combining technical skills with cultural knowledge and cutting-edge critical thinking.

The Master of Arts in Textile Design. Eco-Threads: Materials and Circularity looks at how deeply the fashion and textile ecosystem has evolved, with people increasingly focused on using sustainable resources and selecting innovative production systems to generate positive changes in society and the environment. This approach fits into the vision of DesignXCommons, where design is regarded to integrate the commons and regenerate the planet.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, this programme delves into the environmental and ethical impact of textile design along with the implications of new production and communication technologies, as a basis for building strategic projects and making a positive contribution to broader environmental and social ecosystems where fashion is situated. Experimenting with advanced technologies such as 3D printing and artificial intelligence, along with use of sustainable materials, manufacturing process optimisation and low-impact product innovation provides an opportunity to bring together circularity and innovation into textile design applications for fashion styling, interior design, product development and also furniture design. With a view to proactively contributing to technological social, and cultural development in the textile industry, this course will provide students with the opportunity to co-design with professionals, companies, institutions and leading industrial districts as a way to gain hands-on experience with ethical and inclusive design practices, while also learning how to bring in and raise awareness on complex issues of special importance.

Career roles that can be pursued with the degree programme in Textile Design. Eco-Threads: Materials and Circularity will be able to bring technical and critical-design skills towards eco-social renewal as they take on such roles as Sustainable Textile Designer, Sustainable Fashion Designer, Project Specialist in Sustainability and also Sustainable Fashion Communication Manager, developing marketing and communication strategies to promote eco-design practices. Yet more, they will be able to work as Innovation Specialists for research and development of innovative sustainable industrial solutions, or as Ethical Compliance Managers for the fashion industry. Continuing in Ph.D. trajectories at Italian and foreign universities will also be an option.

 

Faculty

Course Coordinator

Claudia Sanna

Textile Specialist

Francesco Toselli

Product Designer

Cristiana Arangino

Fashion Designer

Giulia Perin

Textile Designer

Matteo Bardi

co-Owner Mattori Studio

Giovanni Gazzillo

Visual Designer

Valeria La Salvia

Lecturer    

Evelina Marconi

Professor

What people say

Textile Design. Eco-Threads: Materials and Circularity

Umberto Sannino describes the goal, the methodology and the professional opportunities of the Master of Arts in Textile Design.

Umberto Sannino

DesignXCommons

Krista Yankova

Krista, student from Bulgaria, talks about her experience during the Master of Arts in Florence

Krista Yankova

Alumna IED

Ruby Michel, student from Oklahoma, talks about her experience during the Master of Arts in Florence.

Ruby Michel Barryman

Alumna IED

Josè, student from Portugal, talks about his experience during the Master of Arts in Florence

Josè Miguel

Alumnus IED

News

Professional fashion catwalk with models parading

17 September 2026

IED fashion takes centre stage at 080 Barcelona Fashion

Acceptance Letter (by IED Barcelona lecturer Jeakyong Sim), Compte Spain and L’AMAR (brands founded respectively by IED Madrid alumni Santi Mozas and Nacho Lamar) will take to the catwalk at Spain’s most international fashion event in October.

Crowded stalls of an auditorium

15 September 2026

More than 200 students from 52 nationalities open the 2026-2027 academic year of the IED Barcelona

On 14 September, the Welcome Event welcomed a new generation of creatives and designers joining the undergraduate programmes.

14 September 2026

Chimera – Hybrid Artifacts: Design Connects Turin and São Paulo

Seven bags, two cities and one shared project. A collaboration between Italy and Brazil has evolved into an international design journey, bringing together different cultures, materials and design languages.

11 September 2026

Issue 4: Material World - Plural Intelligences

What happens when we recognize the intelligence of materials and learn to work with it responsibly, collectively, and collaboratively?

11 September 2026

IED Kunsthal Bilbao temporarily transforms Doña Casilda Park with ‘Sareak’

A cross-disciplinary project bringing together nearly 200 members of the community to reflect on contemporary communication through design.

11 September 2026

Peio Santisteban’s “Flores para un monstruo” Wins the IED Madrid Fashion Talent Award 2026

Twelve students from the Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree at Istituto Europeo di Design Madrid presented their collections for the second consecutive year as part of the OModa Madrid Es Moda programme.

07 September 2026

Fashion show and festival: the IED Public Programme is back

In September, IED's Public Program returns with a calendar of events across its campuses in Italy and Spain, offering opportunities for dialogue, exchange and discovery open to the community and the wider public.

07 September 2026

From Turin to Tokyo: IED and Pioneer Denim bring new visions of denim to the international runway

Projects by students on IED Torino’s Undergraduate Programme in Fashion Design, developed using materials supplied by the company, are heading to Tranoï Tokyo and Denim Première Vision as part of the collaboration with Pioneer Denim, bringing together research, experimentation and product culture.

07 September 2026

Exploring Human-Robot Collaboration in China

New forms of collaboration between humans and robots through AR

Don't miss it

14 September 2026 - 18 September 2026

Barcelona

IED Barcelona 2026 Undergraduate Welcome Week

The welcome event for undergraduate students, teachers and staff to mark the official opening of the new academic year will take place on Monday 14 September.

Exhibitions and Festival

02 October 2026 - 08 October 2026

Madrid

Sepiia’s 10th Anniversary Exhibition

IED Madrid alumni and designer Federico Sáinz de Robles celebrates the 10th anniversary of his brand, Sepiia, with an exhibition.

An open notebook showing two pencil sketches, one of a lamp and the other of designer handbags
Exhibitions and Festival

17 October 2026 - 17 October 2026

Barcelona

Barcelona Dibuixa 2026: “The Power of Hand Drawing”

IED Barcelona is offering this workshop, where participants will discover, guided by architect and lecturer Gianfranco La Cognata – Laco 2, how design takes shape through illustration.