In this classroom, the phones stay on. 

Highsnobiety and Google Pixel welcome you to the Pixel Institute of Fashion and Technology, aka PIFT: a new interdisciplinary program designed to push fashion forward by empowering a new generation of creative entrepreneurs.

Part learning environment, part working platform, PIFT brings together a group of boundary-pushing designers to exchange ideas, develop their practices, and explore how technology can actively shape creative output. At its core, the program is driven by a mission to democratize access—opening up the tools, knowledge, and networks traditionally reserved for a select few, and rethinking how emerging and independent designers can build sustainable, scalable businesses.

And to the Class of 2026, say hello to your new peers: Founder and Creative Director of his eponymous label, Chet Lo; Founder and Creative Director of Ahluwalia, Priya Ahluwalia; Co-Founder of OBS, Matthias Schweizer; Co-Founders of Ottolinger, Christa Bösch and Cosima Gadient; Designer and Founder of Krobos, Lukas Krob; and Designer, Lou de Bètoly.

While each designer enters with a fully formed perspective, PIFT is designed to take them further—bridging the gap between creative vision and scalable business. Through a series of structured assignments and collaborative challenges, participants will explore new ways of building brand narratives, reaching global audiences, and integrating technology into every stage of their workflow.

Across the program, each of the students will work with Google Pixel as an integrated part of their process—using it to capture, create, and scale their ideas in real time. The focus is on turning experimentation into something tangible, with technology embedded at every stage of development.

The curriculum is designed to be intensive. Alongside ongoing project work, the schedule includes a series of drop-in lectures and sessions from leading figures across fashion and culture, shaping a term that is as enriching as it is collaborative. Not one to miss a beat, the students are already preparing for their orientation day. And where better than to kick-off the school year than at Milan Design Week, of course. 

Stay tuned for more to come, the academic year has only just begun.