Master of Arts in Fashion Design (Garment, Knitwear, Pattern Making, Leather Goods, Footwear, Image)

"We believe fashion is a form of applied art that mixes creativity, craftsmanship and culture, in an industry that is all about passion and innovation. The Master of Arts in Fashion Design pushes the boundaries of creative talent, enabling designers to be both stylistically innovative and technically exceptional."

The MA in Fashion Design is a 2-year program in English open to students holding a 3-year Bachelor's degree, and which offers six pathways of specialization:

• Major in Garment (Womenswear / Menswear)
• Major in Knitwear
• Major in Creative Pattern Making
• Major in Leather Goods
• Major in Footwear
• Major in Image

Taught by the best faculty and practitioners in their field, they allow you to hone your technical skills and develop a full personal collection that is altogether meaningful, crafty and innovative.

The course runs over 19 months, plus a 6-month internship. Year 1 alternates experimental work, creative workshops and partnerships with the industry, while Year 2 concentrates on your final individual project. As an MA Fashion Design student, you are part of one highly international cohort, and work on projects with students from other Majors, as well as other programs at Institut Français de la Mode. The final individual project will allow you to develop a full collection and portfolio, related to the chosen Major.

Industry

The MA in Fashion Design leverages the school’s incomparable links with fashion and luxury companies (such as Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Chloé, Lanvin...) and the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, which organizes Paris Fashion Week. Projects are led with manufacturers working with these prestigious fashion houses, and individual coaching is provided by active fashion designers and art directors. A 6-month internship will allow you to put into practice the skills and knowledge acquired during the course, and is often an invaluable step towards full-time employment.

Culture

Paris is a city of culture and the fashion capital of the world, and we believe that fashion and culture are inextricably linked. Through our new program, you will have extensive access to contemporary art, dance, music and performance through unique partnerships with major Parisian cultural institutions including Le Palais de Tokyo, La Cinémathèque Française, Le Centre national de la Danse and La Station Gare des Mines.

Campus

Our brand new Austerlitz campus is located at Les Docks - Cité de la Mode et du Design on the bank of the famous Seine river. You will have access to state-of-the-art workshops, a fully equipped Fab Lab, a knit workshop, a leather workshop, a photo studio and a C.A.D laboratory.

Entirely dedicated to the fashion, design and creation sectors, our analog and digital Library has one of the most unique collections in Europe.

The 2019 / 2020 academic year will be held in temporary facilities, also at our Austerlitz campus, until construction work is completed.

Accreditation

Institut Français de la Mode delivers at the end of the MA in Fashion Design a diploma of "créateur-concepteur de mode" - Master level, validated by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (Official Ministerial Bulletin #30, 25 August 2016).

It is also registered at level 1 (Master level) with the Répertoire des Certifications professionnelles (RNCP). This registration entitles the non-EU students who have graduated from the program to obtain the "Autorisation Provisoire de Séjour" allowing them to work in France for a year and in some cases longer.

Institut Français de la Mode is a higher education institution, a training center for apprentices, a provider of executive education, as well as a center of expertise for the textiles, fashion and luxury industries. Located in Paris, it provides educational programs from vocational training to doctoral level, by cross-fertilizing design, management and know-how.

As of 2019, Institut Français de la Mode brings together Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne, founded in 1927 and recognized for the excellence of its training in couture savoir-faire, and IFM, founded in 1986 and a pioneer in fashion management education.