This thesis aims to deepen understanding about the relationship between teaching and the fashion industry in Brazil. It begins with the assumption that it does exist a gap in between both that consequently impact negatively in the whole sector. This theses presents itself as a deployment of a master degree dissertation, in which the focus was on the beach fashion in the context of the relations between design and body, in the Carioca beach culture. The standards of beachwear design is maintained, but the study turns to the scope of fashion learning processes. The beachwear segment is considered a successful case study for the national industry mainly for its innovation in design, quality blended with the local beach culture. Even though it is rooted as a strong reference both nationally and internationally, it has been found that the knowledge and intelectual content it is still well fragmented. There are several issues finding skilled professionals, showcasing the distance still to be narrowed between the classroom and to become hands-on in the factory floor and production. This gap has not contributed to the strength of the added value perception that the segment acquired in the last decades. In order to understand how the articulations between teaching and industry occur, we sought to listen to the actors involved: representatives of industry, fashion teachers, designers, students and entrepreneurs. The goal is to propose field researches and experiments, recommendations to prepare strategy initiatives utilizing design processes that could have real impact to shorten the relations of the learning centers and the market, creating incentives to accelerate the sector and ultimately contributing to the skilled job market.