The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the European Union have launched DESITA, the Egyptian Italian Fashion Design Institute for Women and Girls. The project operates under the EU-funded TAMKEEN Programme with a total budget of 1.5 million euros over a two-year timeline spanning from April 2025 to March 2027.

DESITA focuses on boosting the social and economic power of women and girls in Egypt. The project offers specialized training in design, product creation, and marketing. By improving skill sets in fashion, the program aims to make Egypt’s ready-made garment and apparel industry more competitive and sustainable.

The project operates as a result of a public-private partnership with the involvement of the most important governmental and industrial partners. AICS collaborates with Egypt's Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) and a private company called Concrete Fashion Group in establishing the institute in 10th of the Ramadan City in the Sharqia Governorate.

The institute has two main education tracks prepared by Egyptian and Italian university specialists in the field of education. The first one is an applied technology school for secondary school students, and the second one is a post-diploma training center that caters to entrepreneurs, trainers, and creative professionals who are interested in starting a business or advancing in their career.

DESITA is engaged in three areas to reach its goals. Firstly, it is focusing on building and equipping the real campus and creating the staff team. Secondly, it is designing educational programmes that meet world standards and training teachers. Lastly, it is providing business, marketing, and design classes to female entrepreneurs and design trainers.

Recent press updates highlight cultural and promotional events connected to the initiative. In April 2026, DESITA hosted a special event in Aswan focused on costume design in Egyptian and Italian cinema, showcasing the artistic ties between both nations. Official media coverage also celebrated the formal birth of the school as a milestone for technical education and women's empowerment in Egypt