She got the idea of launching University of Fashion while teaching at Fashion Institute of Technology and the Academy of Art University and felt that students "didn't want to rely on books; they wanted videos".

Prior to starting the website, Sterlacci was a professor and chair at the Fashion Institute of Technology and taught graduate level fashion design at the Academy of Art University.

[1] The website is owned and operated by Francesca Sterlacci and Jeffrey Purvin, who funded the venture privately.

[1] The website features video lessons on draping, patternmaking, sewing, fashion art, knits, childrenswear, CAD, fashion business, product development, trend forecasting and colour theory.

[3] All lessons are subdivided by the difficulty levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.