Opportunities potentially on the way for students to learn on an international level.

George Brown College (GBC) students had the chance to expand their fashion knowledge during a speaking engagement from a visiting professor.

On Sept. 20, the GBC School of Fashion hosted an InSession with Davide Lettieri, a professor at Polimoda, one of the world’s top fashion schools located in Florence, Italy.

In addition to being a discussion on luxury fashion and consumer behaviour, the talk also hinted at a possible collaboration between the two schools which would give students an opportunity to study fashion at Polimoda.

In the international world of fashion, Polimoda has a strong reputation.

Its links to Florence, as well as its relationships with major fashion companies, make it an attractive school for prospective students to access the European fashion industry.

“There is also a shared recognition of how integrated the global fashion industry is today and the importance of the collaboration required to drive innovation and sustainability for the future,” said Josh Mosher-Mandel, associate director of the Europe & the Americas at GBC.

Education has become truly globalized since the pandemic, and technology has greatly assisted this process.

With this transition, students now have the opportunity to become global students and gain knowledge and experience from leading schools and leading nations.

Rosa Fracassa, chair of the School of Fashion and Jewellery, said, “The programs offered at Polimoda are different from those at GBC, some of which is also focused on the Luxury sector of the industry which would complement our programs and be an opportunity for students to further their studies and experiences.”

As Mosher-Mandel further pointed out, GBC has cultivated several global fashion partnerships over the years and continues to identify institutions that provide students and faculty with unique opportunities, as well as those that complement GBC’s strategic goals and values in order to establish mutually beneficial partnerships.

Providing students with access to leading academic institutions and industry partners prepares them for success regardless of whether they work locally or abroad.

While partnerships such as the one with Polimoda are in the making, Fracassa suggests students to get involved in extra opportunities and volunteer opportunities within the school and with industry partners to network and explore the industry, along with exploring Toronto’s fashion focused to make the most of their time as a student at GBC.