On Via Tortona, in one of the five buildings renovated by Matteo Thun, the headquarters of the Research Center showcases the heritage accumulated over the years by Gianfranco Ferré. An extensive archive. A “never-ending story projected toward tomorrow,” as Ferré liked to call it.

For the 2025 edition of ApritiModa, the Gianfranco Ferré Research Center (in collaboration with the Laboratorio Fondamenti del Progetto Moda of the Fashion Design program at the School of Design of Politecnico di Milano) presents the second edition of the project LESSICO FERRE’. First-year Fashion Design students, after a thorough analysis of the iconic shirts from the Ferré Prêt-à-porter collections—Dumas (F/W 1982-83), Milonga (F/W 2005-06), Sari (S/S 2002), and Rabari (S/S 2002)—along with archival materials, technical drawings, and runway photographs, will present their personal reinterpretations. This exercise involves redesigning the construction, volumes, and details deemed most significant of the Ferré shirt, adapted to the classic Polishirt model. It is an example of technical experimentation with archival materials, giving new life to contemporary fashion, with 24 shirts on display—juxtaposed with and inspired by the designer’s originals.