Arsutoria School, a renowned design school in Milan, is globally recognized for its unique and comprehensive training in footwear and bag design. Its product-oriented approach offers students hands-on experiences, preparing them to enter the industry with confidence. From October 28 to 31, 2024, the school is hosting the Materials Week, a series of events designed to connect students with professionals from companies within the shoe and leather goods supply chain.
What Does It Mean to Be an Industry-Driven School?
Arsutoria School’s programmes are structured to provide participants with skills that can be directly applied in industry. The contribution of companies starts with the course design, which is updated annually to meet the specific needs of the industry. In addition, Arsutoria’s team of professionals brings the latest trends into the classroom, both in fashion suggestions and technology. Company visits also allow students to understand the key processes of the industry, enabling them to make informed design decisions and successfully navigate the complexities of the fashion sector.
Now, let us share how the students of fall 2024 experienced these insightful days:
Day 1: Luxury Bag and Footwear Production
The week began with a morning session dedicated to the students of the Bag Design and Pattern Making course. Paolo Amato, CEO of luxury bag brand Leu Locati, famous for crafting bags for the British royal family, delivered an engaging presentation on leather goods craftsmanship. In the afternoon, students visited the Leu Locati factory to observe the behind-the-scenes processes of high-end bag production, enhancing their understanding of the details that define luxury design.








Simultaneously, students of the Shoe Design and Pattern Making course delved into the world of footwear lasts during a session led by the school’s Technical Director, Paolo Marenghi. Later, the students heard from the owners of Tacchificio Villa Cortese (TVC), a leading Italian company manufacturing heels for major luxury brands. Together with TVC, participants explored the technical aspects of heel creation, from the designer’s initial concept to the countless finishing possibilities.




Day 2: Materials and Innovation at Spazio Lineapelle and Limonta
The second day began with a visit to Spazio Lineapelle, Milan’s extraordinary showroom linked to the world’s leading trade show for leather, fabrics, and components for the footwear and leather goods industry. Guided by Arsutoria instructors, students engaged with professionals managing training programs for top brands.

In the afternoon, the school welcomed professionals from Limonta, a company that supplies technical fabrics and materials to the most prestigious luxury brands. Limonta shared their expertise on sustainability, innovation and advanced material applications, giving the students a privileged perspective. In particular, they presented ALTERA, a new line of textiles with a natural look and feel achieved through techniques typical of the tanning industry.




Day 3: The leather guru, Salvatore Nobis
Salvatore Nobis, a lifetime in the leather industry during which he has developed items for leading fashion brands. Salvatore brought his testimony through a lectio magistralis on the magic of leather and a practical workshop during which the students had the opportunity to discuss their design projects and reflect together on which articles to look for when making samples.





Day 4: Prototyping and Design Insights
On the fourth day, the Pattern Making and Shoe Design students visited FAE Project SRL, a leading manufacturer of soles and moulds since 1976. The company designs and manufactures soles for the biggest fashion and luxury brands. During the visit, the students were accompanied by Sonia Benazzato, a collaborator of the school who has worked as a shoe product manager for leading made-in-Italy brands



At the same time, the students of the Pattern Making and Bag Design courses participated in a session dedicated to material processing with Chiara Rivituso, a school collaborator and expert bag product manager in design studios and companies in the fashion and luxury sector. Chiara shared her experience on processes such as embroideries, prints, laser patterns and complex details for bag design.




Join Arsutoria School: The Future for Designers
Whether you dream of pattern maker and technical courses or designing shoes or bags, Arsutoria School offers a wide range of courses designed to nurture creative talent. From comprehensive programmes to become a footwear, handbag or accessory designer, our educational offer guarantees students the skills and knowledge they need for a successful career in the world of fashion. Our shoe training and focus on factory processes allow you to turn your concepts into reality.
Are you ready to shape your future in fashion? Explore our programmes and start your journey today!