IFA Paris

Summary

IFA Paris is an international fashion school with campuses in Paris, Shanghai & Istanbul offering Bachelor and Master/MBA degrees in a wide range of areas related to fashion: design, business, marketing, media, luxury brand management and more. The school also offers intensive short and summer courses. IFA Paris is a private higher education institution. As such it is not attached to the French Ministry of Education as a University or a Grande Ecole could be. However IFA Paris is registered with the Academie de Paris under the denomination International Fashion Academy as a private academic entity.

History

IFA Paris was established in 1982 to combine French fashion heritage with the modern globalized world. IFA Paris established its school in Shanghai in 2002, the first-ever Sino-French joint venture in fashion education approved by the Chinese government. Recently IFA Paris oppened a new campus, in cooperation with Bosphorus (Boğaziçi) University,  located in the heart of Istanbul and it can be easily reached from all destinations in the city.

Mission and Ethos

Whether you choose to study in Paris, Shanghai or Istanbul, IFA’s lecturers are mostly recruited from France. This approach provides students the French fashion heritage. The school is located in three locations, which also adds a different character to the school, distinguishing it from others. So on one hand it mixes the classical side of fashion in Paris with the fast changing fashion and luxury world of Shanghai and the well-connected Istambul holding  a strategic location and all kinds of trades. This truly creates a unique learning experience to the students.

IFA Paris’s course offerings were created based on real industry demand to help prepare students for life after their education. The traditional core course, the Bachelor Fashion Design and Technology, was created with the same curriculum in both cities to give students a chance to delve into both fashion capitals and obtain valuable global insights in the industry. The Postgraduate courses are built with the thought of offering high level education in the fashion and luxury field, and  to teach valuable skill sets that future managers can use with confidence and efficiency and ultimately be leaders in the international scene.

IFA Paris has 1200 current students enrolled, coming from 5 continents and originating from 50 different countries. Their main objective is to not only train students, but to also make them better professionals to join the competitive environment of the fashion and luxury industry, in France, in China, in Turkey and anywhere in the world.

Courses

Fashion Design and Image – Experience Creativity:

• Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology
  This entry level 3 year Bachelor program is our signature course and will teach you all the knowledge, techniques and processes to create full fashion collections upon graduation. You will showcase your final collection on the runway during Fashion Week. Available on our Paris, Shanghai and Istanbul campuses.

• Bachelor Fashion Sustainability
  Our Bachelor in Fashion Sustainability is all about eco-friendly fashion and there are two paths you can choose from: the design side or the business side. Guaranteed to be very useful knowledge in the future, as our planet depends on the fashion industry being sustainable.

• Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design
  This 15 month program builds on skills learnt in the Bachelor in Fashion Design and is aimed at nurturing your creativity while also giving you tools to launch your own fashion brand. One semester will also be spent in Florence, the city of Salvatore Ferragamo, Gucci or Emilio Pucci.

• MBA Global Fashion Media
  Choose this 15 month course if you have a passion for fashion media and communication. Learn all the know-how such as how to create high end fashion publications, offline (magazines) as well as online (social media and blog).

• Postgraduate Diploma: Fashion Tech Innovation
  This 1 year diploma course takes advantage of the tech age we live in today. Work on cool projects integrating technology into fashion. Prepare yourself for the Fashion Tech revolution, which will hit the traditional fashion industry as it did to others.

• Short Course Upcycling Fashion
  This 2 week short course takes place every July and is taught by upcycling expert Bridget Artise of Born Again Vintage. Be part of this sustainable movement which is to make use of discarded or previously unwearable materials. Learn to think and create upcycling, which is the future of fashion retail.

• Short Course Fashion Studio
  This 7-8 week intensive short course is for entry level fashion design enthusiasts and will give you a basic intro into this creative subject. It includes creating a mini collection from scratch and is available on our Paris and Istanbul campus and starts every March, July and October.

• Short Course Creative Director
  This short course brings together our expertise along with MAKE UP FOR EVER ACADEMY to immerse you into the world of creative direction in fashion. Learn everything from styling to make-up and hair dressing to execute a successful photo shoot. This 2 week course takes place every July.
• Summer Course Fashion Design Discovery
  Our 2 week Fashion Design Discovery summer course is a great first step towards the world of fashion design. It’s a fun course and is aimed at students who possibly want to study in this field and will give participants a feel for what fashion design is all about.

• Foundation Program Fashion Design & Marketing
  If you are unsure whether you prefer the creative design part of fashion or the business and management path in fashion, then this 7 month program is suitable for you. It will give you a foundation in both areas enabling you to decide which path to take. Upon completion, you can transfer into our corresponding Bachelor program.

Fashion and Luxury Business – Experience Big Business:

• Bachelor Fashion Marketing
  The 3 year Bachelor in Fashion Marketing prepares students to take on challenges in the global fashion business world. Behind every successful designer, there is a successful business person. Learn to market and manage fashion brands. It is also RNCP certified through FEDE.

• Bachelor Visual Merchandising
  Become an expert visual merchandiser and create an unforgettable consumer experience with stunning visual displays and welcoming atmospheres. This Bachelor program includes a year in Florence, one of Italy’s main fashion hotspots.

• Bachelor Fashion Sustainability
  Our Bachelor in Fashion Sustainability is all about eco-friendly fashion and there are two paths you can choose from: the design side or the business side. Guaranteed to be very useful knowledge in the future, as our planet depends on the fashion industry being sustainable.

• MBA Fashion Business
  This 15 month MBA in Fashion Business looks at the management side of fashion as a whole. Ranked highly every year by SMGB, it is one of our most popular MBA programs. It starts every September and takes an in depth look at the rapidly and ever evolving fashion industry and includes many real-life projects.

• MBA Luxury Brand Management
  Explore luxury beyond fashion in industries such as hospitality, watchmaking and includes case studies with real luxury brands. This MBA program looks at management, distribution and retail, luxury environment and lifestyle and much more. Available on our Paris and Istanbul campuses and starts every September.

• Postgraduate Diploma: Fashion Tech Innovation
  This 1 year diploma course takes advantage of the tech age we live in today. Work on cool projects integrating technology into fashion. Prepare yourself for the Fashion Tech revolution, which will hit the traditional fashion industry as it did to others.
• Short Course Future Fashion Tech
  Will robots take over and will artificial intelligence eliminate jobs in fashion? This 1 week short course provides participants with basic knowledge on the topic of fashion tech, which is set to revolutionize the industry in the years to come.
• Short Course Fashion Event Planning
  Our 3 week short course in Fashion Event Planning is taught by expert event planner Jenae Green, who works for Bergdorf Goodman. Learn all the different steps that go into planning a successful fashion event. The course concludes with planning your own mini fashion event from start to finish.

• Short Course Fashion & Luxury Business
  Build your fashion & luxury entrepreneurial skills with this 7-8 week program. It encompasses the 3 themes of luxury, fashion marketing and visual merchandising. Available every March, July and October.

• Summer Course Fashion Luxury Business
  This 2 week summer course in July will give you a clear overview of the fashion and luxury industry along with its’ current challenges. A great course for participants to sniff out if they’re interested in a career in this field and continuing on to a full time program.

• Foundation Program Fashion Design & Marketing
  If you are unsure whether you prefer the creative design part of fashion or the business and management path in fashion, then this 7 month program is suitable for you. It will give you a foundation in both areas enabling you to decide which path to take. Upon completion, you can transfer into our corresponding Bachelor program.