Organization:Istituto Marangoni Miami

Short description: Italian fashion and design school

Istituto Marangoni Miami

Former name	The Miami School of Fashion and Design
Type	Private fashion school
Established	2018 (2018)
Academic affiliations	NASAD
Address	3704 NE 2nd Avenue , Miami , Florida , United States
Campus	Urban
Website	www.istitutomarangonimiami.edu

Istituto Marangoni Miami, also known as The Miami School of Fashion and Design, is a private, for-profit higher education institution specializing in fashion and design, located at 3704 NE 2nd Avenue in the Miami Design District, Miami, Florida. The school opened in January 2018 as the first United States campus of the Istituto Marangoni network, an Italian fashion and design institution founded in Milan in 1935.

History

Istituto Marangoni Miami (IMM) was established in January 2018 in Miami, Florida. The institution was developed to provide specialized higher education in fashion, design, and related creative disciplines within the United States, with a focus on industry engagement and career-oriented learning.

Located in the Miami Design District, IMM was strategically positioned to serve as a bridge between U.S., Latin American, and international fashion markets. Since its founding, the institution has attracted a diverse student population, with a strong international presence, particularly from Latin America and other global regions.

IMM operates as an independently incorporated institution under the laws of the State of Florida, with its own governance structure, administration, and financial operations. Istituto Marangoni Miami maintains full operational independence and responsibility for its regulatory compliance, academic delivery, and institutional effectiveness within the United States.

The institution has expanded its academic offerings since opening to include associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs, as well as pre-college and vocational training initiatives. Istituto Marangoni Miami is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD), is approved by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll M-1 nonimmigrant students, and is approved to offer education benefits under the GI Bill®.

Through its location, academic programming, and industry partnerships, IMM has developed a distinct identity as a boutique, career-focused institution within the U.S. higher education landscape.

Istituto Marangoni — Global Brand History

Istituto Marangoni was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1935 by Giulio Marangoni as a school dedicated to garment construction and pattern making. Over time, the institution expanded its curriculum to include fashion design, product development, and business-oriented disciplines connected to the fashion and luxury industries.

Beginning in the early 2000s, Istituto Marangoni expanded internationally, establishing campuses in major global cities including London, Paris, Shanghai, Florence, Shenzhen, and Mumbai. This growth reflected the institution's broader mission to provide education aligned with the evolving needs of the global fashion and design sectors.

Today, the Marangoni network is recognized for its emphasis on creative education combined with industry relevance. Each campus operates within its respective regulatory framework while contributing to a shared academic identity rooted in fashion, design, and applied creative disciplines.

Campus

The campus is located at 3704 NE 2nd Avenue in the Miami Design District, a neighborhood known for design, art, and luxury retail. The school occupies a seven-story, 21,900-square-foot building with classrooms, studios, computer labs, atelier spaces, and photography studios.

Academics

Istituto Marangoni Miami offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in areas including fashion design, fashion styling, fashion business, interior design, and related disciplines. The institution also offers online master's programs in fashion and luxury brand management.

Pre-college programs

The school offers pre-college programs for high school students, including a Fashion Summer Camp aimed at students aged 14 to 18. The two-week program covers fashion photography, illustration, branding, and garment construction.

Accreditation and regulation

Istituto Marangoni Miami is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education and has held state authorization since 2017. The institution is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). It is also approved by the Florida Bureau of State Approving Agencies to provide educational benefits for veterans. It is authorized by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to enroll international students under the M-1 visa category.

Industry partnerships and events

The school has established collaborations with several fashion and luxury brands. In 2023, Istituto Marangoni Miami partnered with Vogue Mexico and Latin America to launch a scholarship program administered by the Miami Fashion Foundation, with winners selected by a jury comprising representatives from both institutions. A separate scholarship program was established in partnership with Vogue Brazil. The institution has also hosted speakers and collaborated with leading fashion and luxury companies, including Tory Burch, giving students direct access to industry professionals and creative directors.

The institution has presented programming in connection with Art Basel Miami Beach, including panels, student competitions, and industry events. Annual student fashion shows have been held since 2019, with the graduating class presenting final collections to industry professionals.

Notable alumni

• Sebastian Grey (born Jhoan Grey) — Colombian-born fashion designer and winner of Project Runway Season 17 (2019). Grey received a scholarship to study at Istituto Marangoni Miami, where he completed a master's degree in fashion and luxury brand management. His winning collection, Reminiscence, drew on Colombia's traditional crafts.
• Sofía Agostini — fashion journalist and academic who was part of the first cohort of master's graduates at Istituto Marangoni Miami. She has contributed entries to the fashion encyclopedia Raíces de la Moda, published by Vogue México and has written for Vanity Fair Spain and other publications. Her dissertation Where Have All the Tailors Gone? was published in the 2021 issue of the Fashion Studies Journal.
• Clark Rosen — founder of SAMMY Menswear, a menswear brand that has secured placements in venues including Soho House and The Standard. Rosen developed his business concept during his studies at the institution.