In 1964, fashion and costume historian and designer Rosana Pistolese founded the Accademia Costume & Moda in Rome, creating an educational establishment that would serve both the fashion industry and the costume needs of entertainment industry. Since then, the school has educated a number of renowned fashion designers, including Alessandro Michele - creative director of Gucci, and his predecessor Frida Giannini; Tommaso Aquilano; Albino D'Amato and Maurizio Galante. At the academy, students benefit from an engaged alumni network, some of which teach master-classes and give career testimonials at the school. The school and its curriculum are designed to act as a cultural platform, fostering the interchange of ideas and inspiration between students and faculty alike. Students are taught to focus their creativity through historical research, design, experimentation and prototyping and craftsmanship. Students participate in industry projects within their studies, while many are fortunate enough to be sponsored with fabrics and materials from some of Italy's finest producers. With an increasingly global reputation, acceptance to the Bachelors and Masters has become much more competitive. The Bachelors has risen over 20 places, and the Masters five, compared to 2016's ranking, largely due to the school's reputation and the employability of its graduates. Graduates have an excellent record of work placement - all students will complete internships during their studies and over 85 percent of undergraduates said they found work within six months of graduation.