The Gianfranco Ferré Research Center, Digital Innovation for Creative and Cultural Industries was established in December 2021 by the Politecnico di Milano following the donation of the Ferré family of the archive and the headquarters of the historic Gianfranco Ferré Foundation.
Under the coordination of the Fashion in Process Research Laboratory of the Design Department, the Research Center intends to systematize the technical-scientific know-how and the culture of the project characterizing the identity of the Politecnico di Milano with the related tangible and intangible heritage to the history, culture and techniques of fashion preserved and enhanced by the Gianfranco Ferré Foundation since 2008.

It will be possible to visit the space of the former Foundation designed by the architect Franco Raggi, and learn about the precious archive recognized as a heritage of “particular cultural interest” by the Ministero dei Beni e delle Attività Culturali – Soprintendenza Archivistica per la Lombardia, which has become part of the Historical Archives system of the Politecnico di Milano.

Researchers from the Politecnico di Milano will guide visitors into the archive among more than 150,000 documents and artifacts such as sketches, technical drawings, photos, clothes and accessories, objects, books, magazines, films, press reviews, writings, lessons and notes of the stylist.