Istituto Marangoni Firenze is proud to announce an extraordinary collaboration with Hugo Boss and Adobe for the DIGITAL FASHION CHALLENGE, an innovative project designed to redefine the boundaries of digital fashion design. This partnership represents a significant milestone for the Florence school, merging the creativity of its students with Hugo Boss's industry expertise and Adobe's cutting-edge digital tools, opening new frontiers in fashion education. This project also marks Adobe's first school initiative in Italy promoting the use of Substance 3D, reinforcing its commitment to digital innovation.

The collaboration offers students the opportunity to showcase their projects in a highly professional environment, concluding with a final presentation at the Hugo Boss headquarters in Mendrisio, Switzerland. The best student will be awarded a six-month internship with Hugo Boss's 3D design team.

Hugo Boss, one of the most influential brands in the fashion industry, has significantly invested in digital innovation in recent years and serves as the industry partner for this project. Adobe, the global leader in creative software, contributed its Substance 3D suite—innovative tools enabling designers to create hyper-realistic patterns and textures. Substance 3D has quickly become an industry benchmark, and this project marks its first use in an educational setting in Italy.

Third-year Fashion Design & Accessories students, along with Master's students in Fashion Design, were tasked with creating two menswear total looks for Hugo Boss's first fully digital collection, using CLO3D and Adobe's Substance 3D tools. This project is not only a learning opportunity but also a bridge to the professional world, offering practical experience and exposure to key industry players.

The project unfolded in several phases, each with specific objectives aimed at providing students with an immersive educational experience. It began with a two-day intensive workshop at Istituto Marangoni's Florence campus. During the workshop, students were introduced to Substance 3D and other digital tools by leading professionals. Among the experts were Cristina Souto Caviglia, 3D Design Team Leader at Hugo Boss and Alumna of Istituto Marangoni Firenze, and Emily Bisset, 3D Technical Artist at Adobe, who provided advanced training.

In the following phase, students worked on their projects while receiving ongoing support from Adobe professionals and Istituto Marangoni Firenze faculty during weekly review sessions.

The project concluded with the final presentation at the Hugo Boss headquarters in Mendrisio, Switzerland, where students showcased their work to a panel of Hugo Boss and Adobe professionals.

Fashion Design & Accessories Master student Mayla El Mouallem Rodrigues was selected as the top student, earning a six-month internship with Cristina Souto Caviglia's Hugo Boss 3D design team, starting in October 2024.

The DIGITAL FASHION CHALLENGE was a transformative experience for all participants, highlighting the importance of digital innovation in the future of fashion. This collaboration with Hugo Boss and Adobe reaffirms Istituto Marangoni's commitment to preparing its students for the challenges of the modern design industry by equipping them with the tools, skills, and connections necessary for success in their careers.

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A special project with Adobe and Hugo Boss