Maria Cursach Perona is a sociologist, holding a Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Barcelona and a Master’s in Urban Planning and Public Policy Design from the Politecnico di Milano. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Sociology and Anthropology at the Complutense University of Madrid, where her research focuses on the sociology of fashion.

Her doctoral project centres on the materiality of the haute couture dress, examining how artisanal processes, technical knowledge and the agency of materials contribute to the production of symbolic and aesthetic value. From a sociological perspective, her work approaches haute couture as a field where artistic practices, consumer dynamics, and industrial and heritage tensions converge, with the aim of understanding how textile objects mediate social, cultural and economic relations.

Her research experience includes projects on youth, urban inequalities and social services, in collaboration with institutions such as Barcelona City Council, the Comune di Milano and the Johan Cruyff Foundation. She has also participated in international conferences in sociology, anthropology and science, technology and society (STS) studies, presenting papers on fashion, consumption and material culture.

In the academic field, she is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Barcelona and an honorary member of the Department of Applied Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid. Her professional activity combines university teaching, research and consultancy, with a particular interest in social innovation and artistic practices.