ESMOD: fashion school that transforms passion into profession

Founded in 1841, ESMOD is the oldest fashion school in France. It recently gained global recognition. With the support of 285,000 international industry professionals, it ranks 5th among the best fashion schools according to CEOWorld magazine. This distinction highlights the excellence of its programmes and its commitment to educational innovation. We interviewed Jean-Charles Le Cerf, deputy chief executive officer and director of development France at ESMOD, to explore the courses offered by the school, its eco-responsibility initiatives, and how it prepares its students to meet the challenges of the industry, with creativity as its foundation.

Hello Jean-Charles! Can you introduce yourself?

I have a background in applied arts and art history, followed by training at ESMOD Roubaix in 1996. I worked in design with designers like Kenzo Takada, co-founded a press office and a communications agency, and then moved into product strategy consulting for brands such as Calvin Klein. After 40 years, I became a teacher in fashion schools, then I founded a showroom in the US for Korean designers. In 2020, I joined ESMOD for a mission on educational innovation and since 2021, I have been director France, overseeing several aspects of the school.

What fashion design courses are offered by Esmod?

At ESMOD, we are committed to training professionals who can successfully navigate a constantly changing sector, while cultivating their creativity and sense of innovation.

Here are our fashion design courses:

Bachelor - stylist designer fashion

The Bachelor in Fashion Design lasts three years and trains students in design while responding to the challenges of digitalisation.

In the first year, they learn the basics of fashion design and pattern making, focused on graphic and textile skills.

In the second year, they develop their creativity and master innovative technologies, including 2D and 3D fashion and artificial intelligence tools.

In the third year, the programme prepares students to enter the professional world by helping them create a brand and a collection, followed by a 6-month internship in a company.

ESMOD offers 11 specialisations, such as lingerie or accessories, allowing a personalised approach for each course. This innovative programme encourages students to explore the limits of fashion while taking into account current social and environmental issues.

“ESMOD Fashion Design’s DNA is based on pattern making. The challenge is to help students understand that technique serves creativity. Once this notion is assimilated, their imagination can flourish.”

We offer an intensive one-year programme in Fashion Design, intended for professionals retraining in our establishments in Paris, Bordeaux, Rennes and Roubaix.

Postgraduate - director of fashion and creative industries creation

This programme focuses on a unique creative, sociological and cultural approach, offering a two-year course entirely in English. It aims to prepare designers for management positions in the fashion sector and the creative industries. Students explore the integration of fashion into various fields, such as hospitality, and benefit from official recognition by the educational authorities. The curriculum includes 360° creation projects, collaborations with the Fashion Business programme to develop brands, as well as professional immersion through a six-month internship and a research paper.

What fashion business courses are offered by Esmod?

Created in 1989, ESMOD Fashion Business, a pioneer in the teaching of fashion business schools, stands out for its creative approach, offering its students innovative projects despite a professional orientation towards business.

“At ESMOD, students acquire in-depth product expertise and a creative approach to skills related to the fashion business, which makes them successful as marketers, sales people or communicators. This mastery transforms them into particularly interesting product strategists.”

Here are our fashion business courses:

Bachelor - fashion business

This three-year programme is certified level 6 by France Compétences. It trains students in the various aspects of the fashion sector.

The first year covers the fundamentals, including history, sociology, CSR, marketing and personal branding.

The second year allows students to deepen their brand development strategies by exploring various sectors of the creative industries, such as cosmetics and decoration.

Finally, the third year focuses on the application of skills through a final project, consisting of developing a marketing plan for a brand. Each year also requires the validation of a company internship.

Postgraduate - manager of international fashion and luxury development

This two-year programme is certified Level 7 and prepares students for positions of responsibility in the fashion and luxury sectors. It offers initial training in English with a six-month internship, or a three-week work-study programme in a company and one week of classes. Both courses include four teaching units, followed by a specialisation in communication or innovation management. Students develop strategic skills and must write a dissertation before a panel of experts, which makes them highly sought after by companies.

How are ESMOD degrees, both in fashion design and in fashion business, recognised today in the international labour market?

The ‘Stylist Designer Fashion’ and ‘Head of Marketing and Communication Strategy Fashion’ courses are level 6 certifications, while the ‘Director of Fashion and Creative Industries Creation’ degree is a Bac+5 approved by the MENESR.

In addition, the level 7 title ‘Manager of International Fashion and Luxury Development’ is also registered with France Compétences. ESMOD’s reputation contributes to the international recognition of these degrees, facilitating the professional integration of its graduates.

Could you tell us about the ESMOD PRO courses? What are they?

ESMOD Pro, founded in 2016, offers training for companies, focused on management-coaching and integrating digital technologies.

Its 33 courses cover various themes related to the fashion industry, such as creation, business, technique and personal development, and are available in conferences, workshops and personalised sessions.

ESMOD Pro is aimed at professionals, entrepreneurs and start-ups, mainly in Paris, offering tailor-made training. The trainers are active experts, and several renowned companies have collaborated with ESMOD Pro to train.

What evening classes do you offer and who are they aimed at?

Our evening classes are aimed at beginners and professionals retraining who want to explore fashion creation. They include the development of a portfolio, the introduction to the creation of collections, pattern making, the use of CLO3D and pattern making.

These short courses allow students to deepen their skills in parallel with a job or to increase their professional skills.

What are the objectives of the summer courses, who are they for, and on which campuses in France are they offered?

ESMOD’s summer courses are aimed at beginners and those interested in fashion design and fashion business. They include programmes for 15 to 19 year olds on fashion design and streetwear in Paris, as well as introductory modules from 16 years old on styling and marketing, available in Paris, Lyon, Rennes and Roubaix.

A new intensive ESMOD x Nelly Rodi programme in Paris will focus on the new codes of luxury and current trends.

ESMOD was awarded the AFNOR label last year. What would you like to communicate about the school’s commitment in terms of eco-responsibility?

ESMOD has obtained the AFNOR label, affirming its commitment to eco-responsibility. This label structures its approach to social and environmental responsibility, aiming for continuous improvement of its programmes. The school integrates CSR into its training, reduces its environmental impact and collaborates with local players. Its initiatives include Tex & Care certification for the master’s degree and the use of fabric scraps as insulation.

What responsible awareness is applied to ESMOD’s programmes, campuses, collaborations and partnerships?

ESMOD integrates eco-responsibility into its programmes, campuses and partnerships by addressing themes such as sustainable sourcing and circular fashion.

Practical initiatives such as recycling and the use of existing materials are implemented, while collaborations with committed brands and partnerships with institutions sharing its values reinforce ESMOD’s impact and support student well-being.

Do you have partners in responsible innovation and optimisation?

The second year ‘Stylist Designer Fashion’ programme includes a Meta-Wear class focused on creative and technical design, with tools such as CLO 3D and Blender. Students also receive training in traditional pattern making and take courses on the market and the history of fashion. In the third year, they can present a virtual collection project.

The programme collaborates with CLO3D to improve textile design in terms of innovation and sustainability, and with the Chaire Bali to harmonise French fashion with industrial innovation. This latter partnership brings together major fashion players to address the environmental and societal challenges of the sector.

What strategic alliances have your campuses been able to develop?

Our ESMOD schools in France, located in Paris, Pantin, Roubaix, Lyon, Rennes and Bordeaux, offer a variety of courses in fashion and luxury, each rooted in its cultural and historical environment.

ESMOD Pantin, for example, collaborates with NEOMA Business School to integrate innovation modules. In addition, CNAM and ESMOD have been partnering for over 20 years to train hybrid profiles, with a new curriculum planned in 2025 focused on management in the luxury creative industry.