Fashion Business
Alessandro has 24 years of expertise in developing brand equity and pioneering digital marketing across different cultures, nations, and businesses. As the Chief Marketing Officer at Under Armour, De Pestel led all the marketing aspects of the brand. He served previously as Executive Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Consumer Insights for Tommy Hilfiger Global/PVH Europe, executing global alignment, planning, and strategies to support the company’s product directives and initiatives. De Pestel also worked as International Communications Director for Christian Dior Parfums in France and Vice President of Global Marketing for Omega Watches in Switzerland.
Teaching Areas: International Customer Behavior, Fashion Entrepreneurs, Creating Communicating & Delivery Luxury and Omni-Channel Distribution
Born and raised in the German countryside, Annette Felder lived in Amsterdam and traveled through Europe and India before studying at London’s Central St. Martins College of Art and Design. After graduating from St. Martins in 2006, Annette co-founded the fashion brand Felder Felder together with her twin sister Daniela Felder, which won them an on-schedule slot at London Fashion Week, New Gen awards for three consecutive seasons and a nomination for the prestigious British Fashion Awards. In 2014, Annette and Daniela dedicated their brand to showcasing positive solutions for a more responsible business model within the fashion industry. Steering away from seasonal collections and wholesale, they shifted their focus to vegan, responsible textile innovations and bespoke production, avoiding overproduction and wastage. Furthermore, Felder Felder has been creating future fashion concepts for clients such as BMWi, Deutsche Bahn, Formula E, and Dr. Hauschka, merging innovation, design, and education through exhibitions, panel discussions, and workshops as part of their continued commitment to purposeful business and communication.
Teaching Areas: Green Marketing
Bradley teaches students how brands diversify their systems, increase accessibility, and define new audiences. He is an enthusiastic strategist for content interpretation, process integration, and solution implementation, focused on conversions with demand-generated growth. He is a full-stack web developer passionate about inclusive design and scalable web development that meets industry best practices and provides rich, engaging experiences for our students.
Teaching Areas: Digital and Graphic and Web Design, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce
Cece Feinberg brings over 21 years of experience, from running her full-service boutique PR agency to the Marangoni Miami classroom. With a Bachelor of Science in Business from Cornell University, she specializes in national consumer media placement, brand building, and event management for clients in the fashion, art, and consumer goods industries.
As the founder of Cece Feinberg PR, she excels in brand and product positioning, global media strategies, fashion show and event media management, editorial trafficking, new product launches, and re-launches of established brands. Her diverse clientele includes fashion brands (swimwear, lingerie, denim, etc.), accessories (shoes, bags, watches, jewelry), toy brands, trade shows, artists, galleries, museums, and retailers.
Teaching Areas: Communication Strategies, Fashion Communication, Social Media Management, and History of Dress and Costume
Daniel Carles is a Marketing and Communications professional with 25 years of experience in Media, Banking, Healthcare, Pharma, Sports, and Higher Education, with a deep passion for marketing trends and consumer behavior. At the Marangoni Institute, he shares practical insights from their career, which includes leading digital marketing projects, utilizing AI for personalized content, and driving engagement for global brands.
Throughout their career, Professor Carles has led marketing teams, leveraging AI tools for dynamic content creation and boosting the presence of well-known brands in the Latin American market. In their Digital Marketing and E-commerce course, he brings these rich experiences to students, teaching them the latest strategies and tools to excel in the digital marketing landscape.
Students gain hands-on knowledge and real-world experience from Professor Carles’ diverse background in both traditional and digital marketing. He encourages individuals to join this course, offering the opportunity to learn from real-world examples, engage with cutting-edge marketing tools, and prepare for a successful career in digital marketing. Professor Carles invites all to embark on this journey together to transform their marketing skills for the digital age.
Inés Sabalza brings over two decades of multifaceted experience in the fashion industry, predominantly from NYC, focusing on sales, distribution, and business operations. She has collaborated with various entrepreneurs throughout her prominent career, effortlessly navigating startup terrains and structured corporate landscapes. A foundation in technology from her educational pursuits has always underpinned Inés’s work, offering her unique perspectives in an industry constantly reshaped by digital advancements. In 2019, Inés transitioned to Miami, channeling her industry insights to educate emerging fashion enthusiasts at Istituto Marangoni. As an esteemed Professor, she leads courses in business and marketing tailored for the ever-evolving world of fashion, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between fashion and technology. Her curriculum underscores real-world interactions, ensuring students grasp theoretical concepts and their tangible applications in today’s tech-driven fashion landscape. Recognizing that technology will continue to reshape the fashion world at an even more rapid pace, Inés consistently advocates for the fusion of fashion with the latest tech trends, striving to shape the next generation of industry leaders who are both fashion-forward and tech-savvy.
Teaching Areas: Introduction to Fashion, Fashion Marketing and Fashion Branding
Marta Meyerhans is an art and fashion historian, curator and collector. An experienced professor of fashion and art, Marta has taught a wide range of courses including fashion history, trend forecasting, art history, and contemporary fashion. She advises collections and private collectors on acquisitions and curates independent fashion exhibitions. She is also the founder of Muse Archives, a platform that delivers exclusive talks, signature courses, curated interactive experiences on fashion and art. She holds a B.A. in art history, an MBA from the London Business School and a Master’s Degree in Fashion Brand Management from Istituto Marangoni.
Michelle, originally hailing from Buenos Aires but nurtured by the vibrant culture of Miami, embarked on her illustrious career after graduating from Miami International University of Art and Design, armed with a coveted Fashion Design Bachelor’s Degree.
With eight years of invaluable experience as a freelance fashion designer and consultant under her belt, Michelle ascended to the esteemed role of Art Director at Traci Lynn Fashion Jewelry. Among her multifaceted responsibilities, she expertly directed and stylized the entirety of the company’s campaigns, leaving an indelible mark on the fashion industry.
Transitioning seamlessly into her role as a Fashion & Personal Stylist, Michelle is known for her ability to craft imaginative solutions that seamlessly align with her unique visual aesthetics. Her impressive portfolio boasts collaborations with prominent names like Nike, Perry Ellis, Aston Martin Residences, MTV, Nickelodeon, HGTV, Starz, and a host of others.
Currently, Michelle stands at the forefront of the fashion world as a Digital Fashion Stylist and Art Director for a leading NFT digital company. Here, she consistently delivers authentic and high-end looks, setting new standards of excellence in the digital fashion realm.
Roxana Frontini teaches our students how to excel at managing marketing projects and teams, integrating strategies, and implementing complex initiatives for success. She incorporates her robust problem-solving abilities and entrepreneurial mindset into all her teaching and projects. Roxana is a proactive leader with extensive experience in fostering the growth of global companies in the media, fashion, music, and creative sectors. Possessing Master’s Degrees in Technology and Business Management and a double major in Law and Business, Roxana holds expertise in utilizing data-driven and highly creative marketing through technology and innovation to drive purposeful profitability and business expansion.
Teaching Areas: Ethics, Branding, Marketing & Communications
Silvia Velloso Pimienta is a senior executive professional with a proven track record of success in the global consumer goods industry. She has extensive experience serving leading DTC brands and possesses a deep understanding of the luxury retail and sporting goods sectors. Silvia has driven successful market expansions across Brazil, Mexico, and the US, holding positions such as Country Manager and other C-level roles for Assos of Switzerland, Anne Fonteine, and Juicy Couture.
Her most recent venture involved co-founding a fashion tech startup at the intersection of retail, technology, and fashion. This SaaS startup aims to revolutionize the e-commerce space by leveraging computational geometry AI and other advanced technologies, creating immersive shopping experiences that bridge the gap between physical and digital environments.
Silvia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and an MBA in Marketing from PUC-RJ. She is also actively participating in research on Scope 3 Carbon Emission calculation, with a specific focus on supply chain optimization.
Fashion Design
Amy Berkowitz obtained her BFA from the California Institute of the Arts in 1978. Subsequently, she ventured into the Film & Television Industry, contributing to the special effects for the inaugural Star Wars movie. She established Artgear, a renowned fashion label favored by global celebrities. In 1994, she achieved a Master of Art in Teaching and imparted her art and design knowledge for over 25 years. Amy’s proficiency encompasses drawing, painting, textile design, and fashion. She presently serves as Fashion Program Leader for Events & Competitions in Fashion Design at Marangoni Istituto Miami.
Teaching Areas: Fashion Illustration Fundamentals, Fashion Drawing I and Collection Sketching
Eyan is a seasoned fashion Creative Director, boasting extensive expertise and a stellar track record in men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. He has helmed large creative teams worldwide as Creative Director/SVP of Design for Hugo Boss men’s and womenswear, Nike women’s, and Puma international. With over 25 years of experience, Eyan gives students a global perspective on visionary trends and contemporary fashion, offering guidance to channel and focus on their creative aspirations. He holds a Master of Art in Fashion Menswear from the Royal College of Art in London and a Bachelor of Art in Fashion and Textiles from the University of Central Lancashire, UK.
Teaching Areas: Creative Direction, Fashion Design, Luxury Innovation Fashion and Product Development
Mario Braghieri has been involved in fashion production for over thirty years. At a young age, his parents owned a manufacturing company that created high-quality samples and prototypes for countless well-known brands in Italy.
He attended Istituto Marangoni Milan with the desire to leave his mark in the fashion market as a pattern maker. Upon graduating, he developed samples and worked in fashion production for the Nadini Group, an Italian designer label manufacturer based in Modena-Italy, including designer houses such as Gianfranco Ferrè and Fendi. Subsequently, he worked as a fashion production consultant and started his career at Marangoni as an assistant teacher.
Mario has always pursued his career with determination, focusing on deepening his knowledge and skills in garment construction and pattern making. He has worked for renowned fashion names such as Emporio Armani, Maska, Cerruti, Mariella Burani, and Karl Lagerfeld. For the past 27 years, Mario has been a major player in guiding Istituto Marangoni through its international growth, bringing his technical knowledge, industry expertise, and garment-making finesse to the School.
Teaching Areas: Construction Resale & Development, Digital Pattern Cutting II, Pattern Cutting Fundamentals III, Atelier & Studio Time and Final Collection
Michelle Rofe was born in Mexico but moved to Israel at a very early age. She was Israel national champion in gymnastics and participated and won several international competitions. Being a gymnast allowed her to travel the world and learn about different cultures. She always loved fashion and started her formal fashion education in San Antonio-Texas, graduating cum laude from the fashion management and design program. After her graduation, she worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years first for a catalog business and later for a fashion ready to wear company. In the last 12 years, she has been working as a professor teaching undergraduate and graduate students in the fashion and graphic design programs. Michelle Rofe has her master’s degree in graphic design from MIU. She believes that these two art disciplines complement each other in many ways. She also works as a co-producer and editor for a media production company. The concept of beauty and aesthetics are themes that she is passionate about and loves to share her ideas and experience and knowledge with others. “Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.” Oscar de la Renta
Nestor Camacho is a Creative Senior Designer & Consultant with over a decade of experience shaping the North American fashion industry, from luxury to mass-market brands. Born and raised in Italy, he brings a global perspective and a deep passion for innovative design across Womenswear Ready-To-Wear, Accessories, and Footwear. His industry excellence has been recognized with prestigious accolades, including a nomination for Parsons’ Designer of the Year and the CFDA+ Award.
With a keen ability to transform creative visions into tangible collections, Nestor has guided both startups and established labels in defining their unique brand identity. His expertise spans Adobe Creative Suite, trend forecasting, and product development, making him a sought-after industry professional. In addition to his design work, he is a dedicated instructor, mentoring aspiring fashion professionals in crafting designs and portfolios that align with the industry’s evolving demands.
Throughout his career, Nestor has collaborated with renowned brands such as Donna Karan Collection, Ralph Lauren Collection, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lane Bryant, Puma, Swarovski, Dior Beauty, and more, leaving a lasting impact on the fashion landscape.
Sapia Simone, an alumna of Istituto Marangoni Milan, brings over a decade of comprehensive expertise in brand development, from design conceptualization to manufacturing. Her distinguished career spans international markets including Dubai, Europe, and the United States. As the Creative Director and Founder of her resort-wear label, Sapia Simone, she has successfully established a global presence with distribution in more than 35 stores worldwide. Building on this success, she now leads a Miami-based consultancy firm specializing in fashion startup development and strategy. Currently serving as a Professor of Product Development at Istituto Marangoni Miami, Sapia guides emerging designers in building sustainable brands with ethical practices, bridging academic excellence with real-world industry experience.
Fashion Styling
Bradley teaches students how brands diversify their systems, increase accessibility, and define new audiences. He is an enthusiastic strategist for content interpretation, process integration, and solution implementation, focused on conversions with demand-generated growth. He is a full-stack web developer passionate about inclusive design and scalable web development that meets industry best practices and provides rich, engaging experiences for our students.
Teaching Areas: Digital and Graphic and Web Design, Digital Marketing and E-Commerce
Cece Feinberg brings over 21 years of experience, from running her full-service boutique PR agency to the Marangoni Miami classroom. With a Bachelor of Science in Business from Cornell University, she specializes in national consumer media placement, brand building, and event management for clients in the fashion, art, and consumer goods industries.
As the founder of Cece Feinberg PR, she excels in brand and product positioning, global media strategies, fashion show and event media management, editorial trafficking, new product launches, and re-launches of established brands. Her diverse clientele includes fashion brands (swimwear, lingerie, denim, etc.), accessories (shoes, bags, watches, jewelry), toy brands, trade shows, artists, galleries, museums, and retailers.
Teaching Areas: Communication Strategies, Fashion Communication, Social Media Management, and History of Dress and Costume
Edson Smitter is a photographer and cinematographer with 15 years of experience in the field. His passion for visual storytelling and an unwavering commitment to excellence have made him a sought-after talent in the industry. With more than ten years dedicated to advertising photography and videography, Edson has become a master at capturing compelling images for various brands. His expertise spans multiple genres, including product photography, fashion photography, and advertising. A significant turning point in his career occurred when he relocated to Miami eight years ago. This move marked a transformative period where Edson’s skills flourished, and began collaborating with renowned artists and major brands. His Miami journey propelled his career to new heights, expanding his portfolio to encompass photography and videography.
Teaching Areas: Fashion Photography, Videography, Advertising
Ilaria Bochicchio, also known as Ilaz, is an artist born and raised in Italy. Her artistic journey began in 2015 when she was selected among one hundred artists for the Young Artist Biennale, with European participation. In 2016, she had the opportunity to accompany her painting research with the exponent of American Abstract Expressionism, Natvar Bhavsar (class 1934), during the collective exhibition “Form and No. Form” at the Salomon Arts Gallery in New York. She has exhibited in several solo and group shows in Italy, Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Miami, Los Angeles, and New York, and has participated in various international art fairs represented by Hysteria Art Gallery Milan, Karin Reisova Turin, Molin Corvo Gallery Paris, and DePlume Los Angeles.
Additionally, Ilaria has worked as a Personal Assistant at Architect Roberto Brambilla’s Office in New York since 2017. She was an Assistant Designer at TiD (The Interior Design) showroom in Milan, Italy. She has experience as an Art Teacher at IED, Raffles, and MostraMi with City Hall of Milan.
She was the artistic director for Dream Art Festival in South of Italy as part of the Matera Capitale della Cultura celebration. The festival featured artists from China, Mexico, New York, and local talents, fostering cultural exchange and collaboration on a global scale. As a journalist at Hestetika in Milan, she had the privilege of writing and editing articles, reviews, and features on various art and cultural events. Her work was received in both print and online publications.
Jorge Andres Castillo is a photographer, curator, and editor originally from Caracas, Venezuela. He has been teaching Fashion Photography at Istituto Marangoni Miami since 2018. Jorge has worked as a photo editor and curator for companies such as Fundación Empresas Polar Caracas, Doral Contemporary Art Museum (DORCAM), and Arts Connections Foundation in Miami. His experience includes his Master’s degree in Communication Design from the University of Essen, Germany, and 20 years of experience with photography. He is now the owner and director of Jacvisual LLC, where he helps brands create their visual communication.
Teaching Areas: Photography- Editing and Retouching and Lifestyle Photography
Juanita Crary is an experienced fashion stylist and journalist skilled in photography production, advertising, writing, and PR graduated from Universidad de Los Andes. Her Colombian background provides international experience to students, adding to her importance at Istituto Marangoni Miami. As an influential and accomplished arts and creative professional, Juanita has had a history of working in the entertainment industry with top names such as Rolling Stones Magazine, Avessa Magazine, Anthropologie, Caracol TV, and with artists like Maluma and others.
Teaching Areas: Fashion Styling I, Visual Research, Trend Forecasting and Editorial Creative Direction
Karla was born in Mexico City, where she lived until she was ten. Later, she moved to Milan, Italy, with her mother, an opera singer at the time. In Milan, particularly while gazing at the shop windows along Via Monte Napoleone, her love for fashion began to blossom. Later, her mother transitioned into acting, and they relocated to Los Angeles, where Karla discovered the allure of Hollywood. Drawing from these formative experiences, Karla merged her passion for fashion and celebrity culture, becoming a highly skilled celebrity stylist.
Karla’s educational journey in fashion began at Istituto Degli Abiti in Mexico City, followed by advanced studies at Central Saint Martins in London, where she specialized in Fashion Styling, Fashion Design, and Art Direction. She also attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
Concurrently, Karla began experimenting with styling by revamping the wardrobes of her musician friends, a practice that soon solidified her career path. Over the next 25 years, Karla established herself as one of the most successful celebrity stylists in Mexico and beyond. She has styled renowned figures such as Thalia, Paulina Rubio, and even the former First Lady of Mexico. Now residing in Miami with her husband and two daughters, Karla shares her expertise as a professor of Fashion Styling at Istituto Marangoni Miami.
Teaching Areas: Business of Styling and Fashion Styling 4
Michelle Rofe was born in Mexico but moved to Israel at a very early age. She was Israel national champion in gymnastics and participated and won several international competitions. Being a gymnast allowed her to travel the world and learn about different cultures. She always loved fashion and started her formal fashion education in San Antonio-Texas, graduating cum laude from the fashion management and design program. After her graduation, she worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years first for a catalog business and later for a fashion ready to wear company. In the last 12 years, she has been working as a professor teaching undergraduate and graduate students in the fashion and graphic design programs. Michelle Rofe has her master’s degree in graphic design from MIU. She believes that these two art disciplines complement each other in many ways. She also works as a co-producer and editor for a media production company. The concept of beauty and aesthetics are themes that she is passionate about and loves to share her ideas and experience and knowledge with others. “Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.” Oscar de la Renta
Sarah Watson-Baik, a dynamic creative and educator from California, holds Fine Art and Commercial Photography degrees. She’s an art, design, fashion, Korean culture, wellness, and sustainability expert. With a background in journalism, she covered the Britpop era and Japanese Harajuku fashion. She continued her education in London at Central St. Martins College and Goldsmiths College. With over a decade in Seoul, South Korea, she’s a respected teacher, fashion stylist, professor, and social media influencer. Now based in Miami, she’s a Professor of Fashion Styling at Istituto Marangoni Miami, passionately advocating for Korean and Southeast Asian fashion and culture.
Teaching Areas: Fashion Campaign & Photography, Fashion Styling 2 and 3
Sofía Agostini is an independent fashion journalist and an adjunct faculty professor at the Istituto Marangoni of Miami. She teaches Research Methods at the Master’s level and Fashion Criticism & Digital Writing in the Introduction to Styling progressive course. She was part of the first cohort of Master’s students to graduate from the school and is an active member of the Marangoni Miami community.
Her dissertation, Where Have All the Tailors Gone?, was published in the fall 2021 issue of Fashion Studies Journal.
Particularly interested in the history and growth of Latin American Fashion, Agostini has contributed several entries to the encyclopedia ‘Raíces de la Moda’ of Vogue México and written profiles on upcoming regional designers. She also collaborates for publications like Vanity Fair Spain and DNA Magazine.
Teaching Areas: Fashion Writing and Research Methods
Interior Design
Andrea is an architect and project manager with over fourteen years of experience in interior design and furnishings, especially in the kitchen and bath area. She works as a training specialist for one of the world’s largest kitchen manufacturers. Andrea received her Bachelor of Architecture from Universidad Rafael Urdaneta in Venezuela. She teaches AutoCAD for the Intensive Interior Design Program.
Teaching Areas: Interior Design Fundamentals
Dr. Lazo-Flores has been in the creative industry and higher education for over thirty years. She has been a design educator in both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels of interior architecture, landscape architecture, furniture design, product and interface design, industrial design, and studio art programs in the US, Singapore, Japan, and the Philippines. She has professionally practiced for over ten years, covering luxury residential design, commercial offices, hospitality spaces, trade shows, and military buildings in various parts of the world. She received her Ph.D. in Design Science and Planning from Chiba University, Japan, with a Japanese Ministry of Education scholarship.
Teaching Areas: Research & Concept Development, Design for Sustainability and Interior Graphic Standards
With degrees in Architecture & Historic Preservation from Tulane University in New Orleans, Elizabeth Glenn has worked as an industry professional in South Florida since 1999, specializing in high-end residential and luxury hospitality projects and mixed-use, commercial, and medical facilities. Since 2008, she began teaching at the collegiate level in several local schools. Elizabeth has over 60 different courses developed and taught within the creative fields of interior design, architecture, and industrial design. Ms. Glenn is a Steven L. Cohen and Associates Project Manager in Boca Raton. My other major interests include design history, furniture design, and origami.
Teaching Areas: Interior Graphic Standards and Applications and Sensory and Experience Design
A professional lighting designer with a broad design practice in Chicago with dbHMS, New York with G2J Design, and Miami with ISP Design, all with multiple interior spaces. At ISP Design, he was on the team designing various Apple flagship store designs for national and international branches. Currently, he is a design consultant and teaches lighting courses at multiple institutions in Miami. Gustavo holds an MA in Lighting Design from Parsons New School of Design and a BFA in Interior Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
Teaching Areas: Lighting Design
Isabel Infante is a textile artist and designer with a strong foundation in weaving, dyeing, and surface design. With several years of experience in the home décor industry, she has honed her skills in concept development, design, color management, and collaboration with overseas factories. After earning her MA in Sustainable Textiles from the University of the Arts London, she founded her own textile studio. Isabel focuses on exploring natural fibers and traditional dyes, aiming to create textiles that promote a thoughtful and sustainable future. Her work has been featured in renowned publications such as Cover Magazine, Architectural Digest, and Selvedge Magazine. She has exhibited her work in cities including London, Madrid, Mexico City, Miami, and Santiago de Chile.
A meticulous interior designer focused on developing interiors within the hospitality design industry. He is also an electronica enthusiast, a passionate educator, and a lover of all things design. He earned his BFA in Interior Architectural Design at California State University—Long Beach. He teaches Design Studio and AutoCAD for the Intensive Interior Design Program.
Teaching Areas: Design Project I
Ms. Mariam Elias is an educator, designer, and writer. In the last five years, she has served in various academic institutions locally and internationally, such as Florida International University, Istituto Marangoni Miami, Miami International University of Art and Design in Miami, and Coventry University in Cairo, Egypt. She has taught in graduate programs such as the MA in Design & Media Management and MFA in Visual Arts. She has also covered courses in disciplines such as Advertising, Graphic Design, and Interior Design.
Teaching Areas: History of Art, Design and Visual Culture
Michelle is a dedicated and results-oriented professional with over 11 years of broad-based experience in higher education – excelling in various teaching methods to encourage creativity and higher-order thinking among students. On top of her expertise in increasing student performance, syllabus development, and course planning, she has diverse and extensive experience in fashion education, branding, graphic design, and business. She has served in senior design management positions in the fashion and beauty industries. Her lesson planning and class organization expertise extends to her teaching of Business in Interior Design and Business of Luxury. She holds an MBA from Florida International University and a BA in Marketing from Barry University.
Teaching Areas: Business of Interior Design
After graduating from Texas A&M University with an architecture degree, Mr. Sukphisit held positions such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) / CAD manager, project manager, on-site BIM trainer, and college-level Revit and AutoCAD software instructor. Mr. Sukphisit is a Revit Certified Professional. His interests have been in new skills development (including BIM implementations, COBie deliverables, and laser scanning) and bringing those skills to his current position as Project Manager for Broward County and Adjunct Faculty at Istituto Marangoni Miami. Over his 20 years of architecture, engineering, and construction experience, Mr. Sukphisit has prepared many contract deliverables, which he strongly shares with students in his coursework.
Teaching Areas: Sensory and Experience Design
Ricardo Garcia is a talented graphic designer with an MA in Design and Media Management from Miami International University of Art and Design. His design expertise is multidisciplinary, and he excellently provides layout and design direction in diverse projects. He has worked on end-to-end brand creative, brand systems, social-digital experiences, brand campaigns, launches, and events for high-tech and digital brands.
Teaching Areas: Introduction to Digital Design and Intermediate Digital Design
Graduate Programs
Alessandro has 24 years of expertise in developing brand equity and pioneering digital marketing across different cultures, nations, and businesses. As the Chief Marketing Officer at Under Armour, De Pestel led all the marketing aspects of the brand. He served previously as Executive Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Consumer Insights for Tommy Hilfiger Global/PVH Europe, executing global alignment, planning, and strategies to support the company’s product directives and initiatives. De Pestel also worked as International Communications Director for Christian Dior Parfums in France and Vice President of Global Marketing for Omega Watches in Switzerland.
Teaching Areas: International Customer Behavior, Fashion Entrepreneurs, Creating Communicating & Delivery Luxury and Omni-Channel Distribution
Eyan is a seasoned fashion Creative Director, boasting extensive expertise and a stellar track record in men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. He has helmed large creative teams worldwide as Creative Director/SVP of Design for Hugo Boss men’s and womenswear, Nike women’s, and Puma international. With over 25 years of experience, Eyan gives students a global perspective on visionary trends and contemporary fashion, offering guidance to channel and focus on their creative aspirations. He holds a Master of Art in Fashion Menswear from the Royal College of Art in London and a Bachelor of Art in Fashion and Textiles from the University of Central Lancashire, UK.
Teaching Areas: Creative Direction, Fashion Design, Luxury Innovation Fashion and Product Development
Mario Braghieri has been involved in fashion production for over thirty years. At a young age, his parents owned a manufacturing company that created high-quality samples and prototypes for countless well-known brands in Italy.
He attended Istituto Marangoni Milan with the desire to leave his mark in the fashion market as a pattern maker. Upon graduating, he developed samples and worked in fashion production for the Nadini Group, an Italian designer label manufacturer based in Modena-Italy, including designer houses such as Gianfranco Ferrè and Fendi. Subsequently, he worked as a fashion production consultant and started his career at Marangoni as an assistant teacher.
Mario has always pursued his career with determination, focusing on deepening his knowledge and skills in garment construction and pattern making. He has worked for renowned fashion names such as Emporio Armani, Maska, Cerruti, Mariella Burani, and Karl Lagerfeld. For the past 27 years, Mario has been a major player in guiding Istituto Marangoni through its international growth, bringing his technical knowledge, industry expertise, and garment-making finesse to the School.
Teaching Areas: Construction Resale & Development, Digital Pattern Cutting II, Pattern Cutting Fundamentals III, Atelier & Studio Time and Final Collection
Matthew has become a well-known and successful investor and creative director for his understanding of design-conscious products, brands, and services for the luxury and lifestyle markets. Through his brand consultancy, Thermal Brands, Matthew consults with dozens of clients within the Fashion, Beauty/Wellness, Food, and Home/Hospitality categories. He has designed exclusive products and consumer experiences (installations, presentations, charity events, concerts, and Pop-ups) for such events, including the NBA Draft, Art Basel, CES, ComplexCon, KidzCon, Paris Fashion Week, NY Fashion Week, and Formula One.
Michelle Rofe was born in Mexico but moved to Israel at a very early age. She was Israel national champion in gymnastics and participated and won several international competitions. Being a gymnast allowed her to travel the world and learn about different cultures. She always loved fashion and started her formal fashion education in San Antonio-Texas, graduating cum laude from the fashion management and design program. After her graduation, she worked in the fashion industry for over 20 years first for a catalog business and later for a fashion ready to wear company. In the last 12 years, she has been working as a professor teaching undergraduate and graduate students in the fashion and graphic design programs. Michelle Rofe has her master’s degree in graphic design from MIU. She believes that these two art disciplines complement each other in many ways. She also works as a co-producer and editor for a media production company. The concept of beauty and aesthetics are themes that she is passionate about and loves to share her ideas and experience and knowledge with others. “Fashion is about dressing according to what’s fashionable. Style is more about being yourself.” Oscar de la Renta
Nathalie Tessier’s journey in the fashion world began with studying fashion design in Paris, where she initially found her passion. However, as she delved deeper into the industry, she realized her true calling lay in the business side of fashion. She embarked on a remarkable career path upon graduation, joining the esteemed brand Celio.
At Celio, Nathalie assumed the director role, overseeing various crucial aspects such as designing and managing international market collections, product distribution, and spearheading marketing campaigns. Her responsibilities included pioneering new store concept prototypes and demonstrating her multifaceted expertise in shaping the brand’s identity and market presence.
Nathalie’s tenure in Paris enriched her professional journey as she collaborated with renowned brands like Celio Sport, Dooble, and Sud Express, further deepening her understanding of the intricacies of the fashion business world. Today, Nathalie brings her wealth of experience and insights to her role as the program leader for the Fashion Business program at IMM, where she guides and inspires aspiring professionals to navigate and excel in the dynamic realm of fashion business.
Teaching Areas: Trend Forecasting, Fashion Marketing: Principles and Practices, Production 360 and Fashion Entrepreneurship-Thesis
Roxana Frontini teaches our students how to excel at managing marketing projects and teams, integrating strategies, and implementing complex initiatives for success. She incorporates her robust problem-solving abilities and entrepreneurial mindset into all her teaching and projects. Roxana is a proactive leader with extensive experience in fostering the growth of global companies in the media, fashion, music, and creative sectors. Possessing Master’s Degrees in Technology and Business Management and a double major in Law and Business, Roxana holds expertise in utilizing data-driven and highly creative marketing through technology and innovation to drive purposeful profitability and business expansion.
Teaching Areas: Ethics, Branding, Marketing & Communications
Sofía Agostini is an independent fashion journalist and an adjunct faculty professor at the Istituto Marangoni of Miami. She teaches Research Methods at the Master’s level and Fashion Criticism & Digital Writing in the Introduction to Styling progressive course. She was part of the first cohort of Master’s students to graduate from the school and is an active member of the Marangoni Miami community.
Her dissertation, Where Have All the Tailors Gone?, was published in the fall 2021 issue of Fashion Studies Journal.
Particularly interested in the history and growth of Latin American Fashion, Agostini has contributed several entries to the encyclopedia ‘Raíces de la Moda’ of Vogue México and written profiles on upcoming regional designers. She also collaborates for publications like Vanity Fair Spain and DNA Magazine.
Teaching Areas: Fashion Writing and Research Methods
Victor Uphaus is a former retail executive who worked as a Store Manager and District Training manager for well-known American retail companies, such as Kids R Us, The Children’s Place, GAP, JLindeberg, and Brooks Brothers. His passion for learning and sharing knowledge has enabled him to teach management, marketing, and other business courses at colleges and universities since 1997. His educational background includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Michigan and two Master’s Degrees from St. Thomas University, one in Management and the other in Business Administration.
Teaching Areas: Finance and Strategic Retail Management
