Placements at Accademia di Costume e di Moda for Indian Students

Graduate Employability at ACM

Placement outcomes at Accademia di Costume e di Moda (ACM) are primarily portfolio-driven and network-driven. Unlike traditional mass campus recruitment in some sectors, fashion and creative hiring usually depends on: - Portfolio quality - Internship performance - Professional referrals - Role-specific skills and presentation

For Indian students, this means employability success comes from proactive preparation throughout the course.

Placement Support Services

ACM's placement support is typically centered around creative industry readiness.

Common support areas

• Career orientation for fashion and costume sectors
• Portfolio development and review guidance
• Interview/presentation preparation
• Networking opportunities through projects and events
• Internship direction in relevant creative domains

Why this support matters

Indian students entering a new creative market benefit from structured guidance on local expectations, role positioning, and portfolio communication.

Placement Process in Creative Fields

Stage 1: Skill and project foundation

Students build technical and conceptual strength through studio projects and practical assignments.

Stage 2: Portfolio development

A strong portfolio should show: - Design thinking process - Quality execution - Role-specific project relevance - Originality and consistency

Stage 3: Internship and exposure

Many students use internships and project experiences to build references and industry credibility.

Stage 4: Applications and networking

Creative hiring often happens through: - Direct studio applications - Agency and brand outreach - Professional recommendations - Event-based networking

Stage 5: Selection and onboarding

Interviews in fashion sectors usually evaluate: - Portfolio quality - Technical skill readiness - Communication and collaboration ability - Aesthetic fit and role alignment

Salary Insights (Ranges Only)

Starting compensation in fashion and creative sectors varies by role, city, brand scale, and portfolio strength.

Indicative early-career annual ranges in Italy/Europe-facing contexts: - Junior fashion design roles: about EUR22,000-EUR34,000 - Styling and visual roles: about EUR20,000-EUR32,000 - Costume and production-assistant roles: about EUR20,000-EUR30,000 - Fashion communication support roles: about EUR22,000-EUR35,000

Important notes: - Initial salaries can be modest in creative sectors. - Portfolio quality and internship quality strongly affect growth speed. - Freelance and project-based pathways may supplement income in early stages.

Top Recruiter Categories

ACM graduates usually enter broad recruiter categories rather than a fixed mass recruiter list.

Common hiring categories

• Fashion design studios
• Luxury and contemporary fashion brands
• Styling and image consulting agencies
• Costume departments in media/theatre productions
• Fashion communication and branding teams
• Visual merchandising and retail concept teams

This structure allows Indian students to pursue multiple entry pathways depending on specialization.

Alumni Success Patterns

Typical graduate progression patterns include:

1. Design studio pathway

Students start as assistant designers and progress to independent design responsibilities.

2. Styling pathway

Graduates begin with supporting roles and move into lead styling or image direction with experience.

3. Costume pathway

Students join production support teams and develop toward specialized costume roles.

4. Communication pathway

Graduates enter fashion content/brand roles and evolve into broader creative strategy profiles.

How Placements Benefit Indian Students Specifically

Practical ROI clarity

Placement success in creative industries is visible through portfolio outcomes and role conversions.

International creative credibility

Training in Italy can strengthen professional positioning for fashion markets globally.

Skill-based confidence

Students gain practical confidence in concept creation, execution, and presentation.

Better long-term mobility

A strong international creative profile can support opportunities in India, Europe, and global fashion hubs.

Placement Strategy for Indian Students

Early phase

• Finalize specialization focus
• Build a disciplined portfolio structure
• Start networking from the first term

Mid phase

• Gain at least one internship or live project exposure
• Refine technical quality and storytelling in work
• Improve presentation and interview communication

Final phase

• Tailor portfolio for each target role
• Apply consistently across brands/studios/agencies
• Use mentors and networks for referrals
• Track applications and follow up professionally

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Treating placement as automatic without portfolio effort
• Ignoring internships until course end
• Sending generic portfolios to all roles
• Not practicing portfolio presentation
• Underestimating networking in creative industries

Final Takeaway

Placements at ACM are driven by portfolio strength, industry exposure, and proactive strategy. Indian students who start early, build high-quality creative work, and engage consistently with internships and networking can achieve strong career outcomes.