Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

THE relocation to Chegongmiao in Futian District, will provide the Istituto Marangoni Shenzhen campus more opportunities to organize international events, amplifying Shenzhen’s global presence in the fashion domain, Robin Fang, head of Istituto Marangoni in Shenzhen, told Shenzhen Daily.

After eight years of operation in OCT in Nanshan District, the school is gearing up to inaugurate its new training center, with the first batch of students set to start classes in September.

The institution’s leadership shared insights with Shenzhen Daily regarding their plans and Shenzhen’s burgeoning role in the fashion industry.

“Shenzhen houses over 80% of top Chinese women’s clothing companies, such as Ellasay and EEKA,” Fang said. Many other fashion-related companies have settled in Futian, turning it into a fashion industrial cluster that boasts a complete supply chain encompassing design, production, sales, education, branding, and incubation. Fang also said that this vibrant industrial ecosystem would provide students with a better environment for studying, entrepreneurship, and employment.

“Shenzhen is a very dynamic city, developing at a rapid pace,” Emanuele Colombo, teaching director of Istituto Marangoni in Shenzhen, said. “Shenzhen has a lot of local brands and local companies that are eager to become big names in the market,” he said, underscoring the role of events like Shenzhen Fashion Week in providing exposure for brands and designers, ultimately contributing to the city’s global fashion footprint.

Established in Milan, Italy in 1935, Istituto Marangoni is globally recognized and ranks among the top 100 fashion institutions, as per the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject. Currently, the institute offers a diverse range of courses in fashion, art, and design across international locations such as Milan, Florence, Paris, London, Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

“The Shenzhen campus has a mix of international and local tutors who impart not only knowledge, but also the spirit of adventure, offering the right guidance for students to become proficient designers,” Colombo said.

According to Fang, Istituto Marangoni in Shenzhen has an ambition to act as a bridge connecting Shenzhen with the world, particularly in fashion.

“We would like to take our advantage in fashion education with the experiences of nearly 90 years, bringing a better international educational system, knowledge, and elements to Shenzhen, and introduce brilliant Shenzhen designers to the global stage,” Fang said. “Our goal is to invigorate the market and industry in Shenzhen, and provide global fashion designers with a comprehensive and multidimensional view of Shenzhen.”

Shenzhen, designated as a UNESCO City of Design in 2008, has witnessed significant growth in various creative sectors. Over the years, the city has successfully organized notable events such as Shenzhen Design Week and Shenzhen Fashion Week, drawing industry insiders and elevating its global presence. Students from Istituto Marangoni in Shenzhen are poised to showcase their designs at Shenzhen Fashion Week.

“I think the fashion week and other fashion events in Shenzhen are great, because they expose new designers to new ideas,” Colombo said, adding that the presence of these fashion events allows him to discern that some of Shenzhen’s designers are actively drawing inspiration from cultural heritage, crafting compelling narratives with an international appeal.