Study Abroad Experience

Learning Fashion and Renaissance Art Through Cultural Immersion in Florence

Gondola Ride in Venice

During the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence for one month at Santa Reparata International School of Art. While there, I studied Fashion Forecasting and Italian Renaissance Art History. Being able to explore both fashion and art in one of the most culturally significant cities in the world created a learning experience that went far beyond the classroom. Studying these subjects in Florence allowed me to see how history, culture, and creativity intersect. Florence provided the perfect environment to witness that connection firsthand.

One of the most engaging aspects of my experience was my Italian Renaissance Art History class. Out of the four weeks we spent in Florence, only two classes were held in a traditional classroom setting. Instead, most of our learning took place through exploring the city itself. We visited several important historical and artistic sites including Palazzo Pitti, Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Vecchio, Piazzale Michelangelo, and Basilica of Santo Spirito. Experiencing these works in person made history feel alive. Rather than studying art from a textbook, we were able to analyze architecture, paintings, and sculptures in the spaces they were originally created for.This immersive approach made the course incredibly engaging and helped me develop a deeper appreciation for how Renaissance art continues to influence modern creative industries.

Pitti Immagine Filati Forecasting Showcase

My fashion forecasting course provided insight into how trends develop and spread across the fashion industry. Florence is not only a historical city but also a significant destination in the global fashion world. One highlight of the class was attending Pitti Immagine Filati, an international trade event focused on innovative yarns and textile development. There, we were able to observe how designers and manufacturers forecast future trends through materials, colors, and textures. We also visited a fashion bookstore filled with professional forecasting publications and trend analysis guides. These resources showed how the fashion industry relies on research, cultural observation, and historical influence to predict future styles. For our final project, we developed our own trend forecast for Spring 2026, combining what we learned about emerging colors, textiles, and cultural influences.

Traveling to another country for an extended period can feel intimidating at first, and studying abroad was definitely nerve-wracking before I arrived. However, once I landed in Italy, that nervousness quickly turned into excitement. Of course, there were challenges along the way, learning how to navigate local grocery stores, figuring out how our apartment keys worked, and adapting to cultural differences. These small obstacles became valuable learning experiences that helped me grow more independent and adaptable.Living abroad also helped me develop a stronger global perspective. Experiencing everyday life in another culture made me more aware of how people live, work, and communicate differently around the world.

Although Florence was our home base, weekends allowed us to explore other parts of Italy. My friends and I traveled to several beautiful destinations including Arezzo, Cinque Terre, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. Each region offered a unique culture, pace of life, and local cuisine. Exploring these different areas helped me understand how diverse Italy is culturally and geographically.

Sharing these experiences with my best friends made the journey even more meaningful. Between the long walks, incredible food, and unforgettable views, we built memories that strengthened our friendship and made the experience truly unforgettable.