Following the phase dedicated to men’s tailoring, the course now expands with a significant new chapter: the participating students are currently based at La Santissima – Community HUB, where they are undertaking modules in pattern-making, design, cutting and women’s garment construction. A creative and collaborative environment that fosters exchange, experimentation and growth, guiding the students as they delve deeper into the fundamental techniques for constructing women’s garments, from the initial design to the final creation.

The course thus continues to offer an immersive and comprehensive experience, capable of imparting not only technical skills but also a genuine culture of craftsmanship, characterised by attention to detail, an understanding of materials and a constant dialogue between sartorial tradition and contemporary theatrical languages.

The project presentation

The “Bottega Artigiana – Sartoria e Taglio Costume” project was presented on 4 November 2025 at the Salesian house in Naples, in the presence of various representatives from the city and the institutions involved.

“That morning highlighted the value and scope of a project funded by the Ministry of Culture with funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, designed to involve twenty young artisans from the performing arts sector in a free advanced formation programme, capable of combining the great Neapolitan tailoring tradition with the contemporary needs of cinema, theatre and the audiovisual sector, in full harmony with the Salesian charism, which has always seen manual work as a privileged means of educating the mind and heart, as Don Bosco taught us when he said that ‘young people have intelligence in their hands’,” said Fr Fabio Bellino, Rector of the Don Bosco Institute in Naples.

The programme and structure of the course

The course, part of the “LuceLabCinecittà” programme, comprises a total of 300 hours of formation, 90 of which are dedicated to historical, cultural and theoretical study, with the remainder focused on practical workshops in cutting, sewing and garment construction, which have enabled the students to gradually get to grips with the craft, discovering not only tailoring techniques but also the complex workings of a film set, with its departments, roles, dynamics and that invisible web of skills that makes it possible for a character to come to life through their costume.

In January 2026, the course entered an even more advanced phase with the start of formation sessions at the Isaia Foundation, dedicated to men’s tailoring: a crucial step that enabled the students to engage with the rigorous structure of the male pattern, the study of measurements, the interpretation of the design, the transformation of the basic pattern, the analysis of fabrics and the entire process leading from cutting to assembly and the finishing of the garment, in an immersive experience that instils precision, patience, attention to detail and an awareness of the value of time in craftsmanship.

In February, the course continued to evolve, opening a new chapter at La Santissima – Community HUB, where the students are currently engaged in pattern-making, design, cutting and women’s tailoring, within a creative and collaborative environment that fosters exchange, cooperation and experimentation, enabling them to tackle women’s clothing in all its complexity and expressive richness, from the initial design to the final creation, whilst constantly maintaining a dialogue between sartorial tradition and contemporary languages of performance.

On this journey, an authoritative and deeply committed voice is that of trainer Andrea Iacomino, who has guided the students with expertise and passion, always bearing in mind that the main objective of the course is to transform film students into informed professionals within the movie industry, building a real bridge between formation and the world of work, offering them what is often lacking for those stepping onto a set for the first time: an understanding of the dynamics, roles and responsibilities, the chance to learn without the pressure of the film industry’s tight deadlines, and to arrive prepared and aware when faced with the professional reality.

“Andrea also reminded us how urgent it is, today more than ever, to recover and pass on artisanal knowledge in an era marked by massive and unsustainable production, emphasising how teaching sewing means preserving a historical memory of craftsmanship and restoring dignity and visibility to trades that risk disappearing, especially in a city like Naples, recognised worldwide for its sartorial tradition,” Fr Bellino added.

The deeper meaning of the project

“Looking at this journey as a whole,” Fr Bellino says, “I feel I can say that the “Bottega Artigiana – Tailoring and Costume Design” is not merely a training programme, but a genuine educational experience that restores dignity to craftsmanship, forges links between institutions and the local community, and offers young people a tangible space in which to nurture talents, skills and dreams, in the firm belief that educating in beauty, in doing things well and in working together remains, even today, one of the most authentic ways to build the future”.

Source: Don Bosco Naples