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19 dec. 2025 /

International experts and Italian luxury brands strengthen collaboration with Kolding School of Design

In December Kolding School of Design welcomed Italian fashion and costume designer Silvano Arnoldo and American theater director and researcher Brad Carlton Sisk. Together with the school’s third-year bachelor students in accessory, fashion, and textile design, they explored how historical narratives and materials can inspire modern design.
Af Cecilie Winding

This is not the first time a fruitful collaboration between students, international experts, and Italian luxury brands has taken place at Kolding School of Design. For the students, it means access to world-class materials, insight into the international fashion industry, and a unique opportunity to have their work exhibited at the Lineapelle fair in Milan and Venice Fashion Week.

Throughout the course, the students developed modern and sustainable interpretations of Baroque theater costumes and accessories. Their design solutions combine tradition, innovation, and sustainability. Brad Carlton Sisk emphasizes that the work is not only about design but also about giving students a deeper understanding of the entire value chain in their design production:

“The students gain insight into the entire supply chain from start to finish, and that is a key competence for any designer. At the same time, we communicate the importance of materials and sustainability during the process. For us in the industry, it’s a gift to work with young designers and also an opportunity to identify the next generation of talent,” says Brad Carlton Sisk.

World-Class Materials

Italian luxury brands Lineapelle and Orsoni Venezia 1888 have sponsored materials for the course, giving students the chance to work with high-end leather and luxury materials normally reserved for professional designers. For Silvano Arnoldo, working with materials is crucial for developing an intelligent and responsible approach to design. That is precisely why the industry needs this type of collaboration with young designers:

“The industry needs to collaborate with universities like Kolding School of Design because a designer should know the entire production chain. Only by understanding all the steps that characterize the production process can a designer have an intelligent approach to design,” explains Silvano Arnoldo.

The Next Generation of Talent

In Silvano Arnoldo’s teaching, materials are not just a mean to create form but a part of the narrative and design process. Young designers must understand the properties, origins, and potential of materials, which requires an open and experimental mindset - exactly what Kolding School of Design offers:

“Our collaboration with Design School Kolding is particularly interesting because the school has an interdisciplinary approach to design. The students and the school are simply equipped to bring together different disciplines: jewelry, textiles, fashion, and interior design - and that makes them an ideal partner for us,” says Silvano Arnoldo and adding:

“I am very impressed by the students’ approach to this new creative method. They have proven to be highly receptive, curious, and quick to absorb an enormous amount of information.”

The course culminates in an exhibition that like last year aims to be showcased at the Lineapelle fair in Milan and during Venice Fashion Week. This gives students not only the chance to present their work but also to network with potential collaborators and future employers.