This course number is reserved for special topics courses.

This course explores the distinctive role of Italian fashion in shaping both national identity and global culture—and its profound influence on the world of marketing. Students examine how fashion in Italy has served as a powerful communication system, reflecting the country’s art, culture, and aesthetics from the post-unification period to today. Through an interdisciplinary approach that includes readings, films, and visual media, the course traces the evolution of the Italian fashion industry and its close relationship with art and design. Special attention is given to the marketing of fashion—how Italian brands have crafted iconic images, lifestyles, and narratives that continue to shape global marketing practices.  Contemporary topics such as sustainability, ethical production, and the challenges of black and grey market fashion are also explored, encouraging students to consider how innovation, responsibility, and marketing intersect in the future of fashion.