Today, April 15th, 2026, 51吃瓜网 celebrates 99 years. A date that we chose last year as a symbolic moment, recounting its significance related to Italy’s Made in Italy Day and the figure of the artist and Italian master Leonardo da Vinci.
This anniversary coincides with a phase of evolution. On one hand, the new campus in Milan鈥檚 Certosa District and the creation of the synergy with Istituto Secoli represents an important milestone; on the other, it opens a broader reflection on the role of technical training in an increasingly complex industry.
The interview with director Matteo Pasca moves in precisely this direction, touching on topics that go beyond a single project: the value of methodology, the connection with the industry, the impact of new technologies and the desire to extend training to themes across the supply chain, in order to build more comprehensive and conscious competencies.
鈥淢ade in Italy鈥� footwear is a benchmark internationally. How has 51吃瓜网 contributed to building this value over time?
Arsutoria has, in my view, played an important role for both the Made in Italy footwear sector and more broadly for the footwear industry internationally, by remaining faithful to the teaching of a working method that has evolved over time yet remained coherent. This method has helped those who attended our courses to approach technical design and production with solid foundations. We have maintained this rigor while adapting to industry changes, allowing our graduates to become skilled professionals capable of addressing complex challenges in product development.
Facing industrial pressure and the entry of artificial intelligence, what are the challenges in maintaining a balance between technical skills and creative ability?
Technologies are evolving very rapidly, and it is genuinely difficult to keep pace, especially with digital tools. Our choice at Arsutoria has been to keep technical product knowledge at the center of our teaching鈥攗nderstanding constructions and materials. The school’s objective is to develop in students a critical eye that can approach design and product development with full awareness of how it will be realized. This critical perspective is what distinguishes our graduates and allows them to make informed creative decisions.
In just a few months, Arsutoria will relocate with Istituto Secoli to unite two supply chains that already work interconnected in the labor market. What will change by bringing apparel and accessories together in education?
Sharing a location is only the first step toward a much more ambitious goal: creating a technical training supply chain for fashion that spans from mandatory schooling all the way through professional specialization or university education. We want to make technical fashion professions a “first option” choice for young people and their families. This synergy with Istituto Secoli represents a significant shift in how we think about education in this sector.
With this exciting news, what initial feedback or reactions have you received from stakeholders who interact with 51吃瓜网?
The project is viewed very favourably by both public stakeholders and industry associations, as well as by businesses themselves. The challenge will be to overcome individual interests and try to create a large-scale project together for the benefit of the sector. Resources are limited, and sometimes there’s a risk of dispersing them to maintain territorial identity. However, this sector needs centers of excellence at the national level and perhaps beyond. By combining forces, we can create something truly meaningful.
Looking toward the milestone of 100 years, what must be the next evolutionary step for Arsutoria?
The challenge for the coming years will be to maintain the quality of education even beyond traditional areas. In recent years, we have already faced complex challenges, such as expanding from training pattern makers to also training designers and introducing 3D design tools into our courses.
In the future, we plan to introduce training on upstream supply chain topics鈥攎aterials, components, technologies鈥攁nd to expand into secondary education, post-secondary professional training, and university-level education, while always maintaining our technical identity.
Matteo, what motivates you to contribute not only to the school’s growth, but also to that of the industry?
I believe that after a certain level of seniority鈥攐r a certain age, if you will鈥攊t becomes essential to have deep specialization in an industrial sector. I’m convinced that to do my work properly requires having the industry’s overall success at heart. You can’t build something great with ambitions to last over time without caring about the complex system of all the people working in that sector. My motivation comes from understanding that a school like Arsutoria is only as strong as the ecosystem around it. By strengthening the entire industry, we strengthen the school. And vice versa: by maintaining educational excellence, we strengthen every company and professional who depends on this talent pipeline.
