Polimoda in Florence and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York are marking 40 years of collaboration and have renewed their agreement for another three years.
The agreement was signed during the Polimoda Graduate Show 2026 in Florence, where FIT president Jason S. Schupbach attended as a special guest. The event represented the first meeting between Schupbach and Polimoda president Niccolò Ricci, chief executive officer of international luxury group Stefano Riccio SpA. Both took office this year at their respective institutions.
“This milestone carries deep meaning, not only for the institution, but on a personal level as well. I was born, raised and built my entire personal and professional life in Florence. Being called today to represent Polimoda, an institution that for 40 years has carried the prestige and name of our city onto the international stage, is a source of profound pride and responsibility. In 1986, the Fashion Institute of Technology played a decisive role in bringing an ambitious vision to life: establishing in Florence a school that could bridge Italian craftsmanship and manufacturing expertise with global perspective. That vision has grown stronger over time, giving rise to one of the most respected academic institutions in fashion worldwide, and cementing a strategic bond between Florence and New York,” Ricci said.
Schupbach said, “FIT joins Polimoda in celebrating 40 years of shaping fashion education globally. FIT’s partnership with Polimoda is one of our most significant and longstanding. The programs we have developed throughout our collaboration have contributed to the excellence of both institutions, and our joint history has led to the enhancement of the creative industries in Florence and in New York City. With this renewed agreement, I am looking forward to building so much more together.”
In 1986, as Italy’s fashion industry recognized the need for a training system equal to its own manufacturing excellence, FIT stepped in to help build it. It was founded through a collaboration between the city of Florence and FIT in New York, on the initiative of the municipalities of Florence and Prato and the province of Florence, together with Fondazione CR Firenze, Centro de Firenze per la Moda Italiana, the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Confindustria Firenze and local business associations.
FIT contributed faculty and expertise to build the new school’s curriculum, sending professor Alan Fishman, a 20-year FIT administrator and educator, to Florence to launch the program. The school opened in October 1986 at Villa Strozzi, a property made available by the city of Florence.
The renewed agreement ensures the continuity of FIT in Florence, FIT’s Florence-based division, a program that brings American students studying fashion design and fashion business management to Polimoda’s campuses each year.
“Under the leadership of both institutions, our goal is to expand opportunities for collaboration among students, faculty and industry. We intend to advance new initiatives that further strengthen the dialogue between Florence and New York, two cities that continue to embody, on a global scale the values of creativity, innovation and culture,” Ricci added.
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