Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design

The art and business of fashion give form and function to clothing, a basic human need, imbuing it with meaning in the ever-evolving language of style .

The Fashion Design courses at PCA are intimate and hands-on, allowing for each student to be closely followed by their instructor with undivided attention. Our classrooms emulate the working process of a professional design studio from conceptual drawings to the selection of colors and fabrics, as well as pattern-making and the construction of finished garments.

Visiting critics help familiarize students with the design requirements and specificities of various markets, while company-driven projects expose students to the real-world challenges they will face in the business of style. The senior year culminates with the construction and presentation of a personal collection and design portfolio.

Why is Paris the best place to learn these fashion skills and techniques?

France is an industry leader in cosmetotextiles (Lytess) as well as technology companies (Lectra, Dassault system) and robotics. Furthermore, since the XVII century France has been a leader in luxury products and haute couture, excelling in both creativity and know-how (i.e. technique). French fashion and luxury represent 25% of the world’s total luxury business, with a turnover of 50 Billion euros per year (80% exported), making France the largest actor in the industry.

In Paris, we are able to combine both traditional and technological expertise in order to pave the way to not only create new couture but to improve mass customization, both of which are going to influence creativity and distribution in the near future.

Moreover, Paris is a wonderful place for arts and culture. There are 137 museums, including two fashion museums as well as fashion exhibitions all year round in different venues throughout the city.

Paris is the only place in the world to host 6 Fashion Weeks per year (Haute Couture, Women’s Ready-to-Wear, and Men’s Ready-to-Wear).

Paris College of Art is a dynamic forum for exchanging ideas, methods, and professional experience. Our students and faculty combine curiosity, experimentation, and enthusiasm in the pursuit of learning.

At Paris College of Art, we believe that finding a design solution, creating a work of art, and facilitating the production of a creative team are intellectual processes of undeniable value. Developing critical awareness through hands-on research and discussion is essential to professional maturation and individual growth. Artistic practice demands a high level of personal commitment and discipline, and we expect our students to participate actively in class so that they can explore differing points of view and engage our creative resources.

Paris College of Art is rooted in a city of primary art and design production. Experiencing the uniqueness of the Parisian metropolis provides a rich source of visual inspiration. Sharing this experience with individuals from over 40 different countries gives our students a unique perspective on the variety of expressions existing throughout the world.

Paris College of Art is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment, and prohibits discrimination against and harassment of any student, applicant, employee, or community member because of race; color; national or ethnic origin; age; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity and expression; genetics; veteran status; and any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We expect all PCA employees, students, and community members to join with and uphold this commitment.

The legacy of Paris College of Art and its successful graduates is something to be proud of and to contribute to in the years to come.

Mission

Paris College of Art, a new name for a college with over 30 years of experience, promotes the artistic and intellectual maturation of promising students into exceptional artists, art historians, photographers, designers, and design managers.

Grounded in the Parisian landscape, informed by the European art and design world, nourished by a faculty of leaders in the creative industries from the world over, and replenished by students from over 50 countries, Paris College of Art is a truly international college.

Paris College of Art was established as an independent degree-granting institution with the mission to:

• Provide the highest international standard of art and design education taught within an American pedagogical paradigm while being influenced, informed, and drawing from our French/European environment;
• Open up French educational opportunities to the world and international education to the French.

Vision for 2023

Paris College of Art serves a multi-national student body that enriches the educational experience by bringing the values and experiences of their respective traditions to the studio/classroom and assures that each graduate will understand herself in a global context and be prepared for the contemporary professional marketplace in art and design.