The École Supérieure des Arts et Métiers de la Mode (ESMOD) is a leading international fashion school headquartered in Paris’ ninth arrondissement. Founded in 1841 — the world’s oldest fashion design school — it now operates 12 campuses across eleven countries, including six in France: Paris, Pantin, Roubaix, Lyon, Bordeaux and Rennes.
Blending heritage, craftsmanship and innovation, ESMOD emphasises new technologies and creative independence across its programmes.
In 2025, it was ranked among the world’s top five international fashion schools by CEOWorld Magazine and awarded AFNOR’s “Label Engagé RSE – Progression Level (1 star)” for its social and environmental commitments. This year, it has also rebranded for its 180th anniversary with a new visual identity, website and film by Flirt Studio — signalling a renewed, forward-thinking vision for fashion education.
Its founder, Alexis Lavigne, is credited with inventing the mannequin, while notable alumni include fashion designers Thierry Mugler and Daniel Hechter, who is often cited as the “inventor of ready-to-wear”, as well as journalist Suzy Menkes and entrepreneur and co-founder of Vestiaire Collective, Sophie Hersan.
ESMOD’s fashion business programmes, launched in 1989, achieve an 85 percent industry placement rate, while design programmes stand at 82 percent. From the third year, students choose from 11 specialisations — from accessories and lingerie to menswear tailoring and performance design — alongside training in tailoring and flou, a technique where garments are constructed from light or flowing fabrics like chiffon or tulle.
Since 2021, “Digital Fashion Designer” courses have equipped students with advanced digital skills. They can also access archival pieces from major fashion houses and benefit from a research laboratory staffed by PhD-level instructors, with plans to introduce doctoral programmes in collaboration with public institutions.
As part of ESMOD’s curriculum, students showcase their creations at various events throughout the year, culminating in the school’s annual fashion show, the “Talent Show”, that spotlights the best of its students’ work. The institution also hosts a rich cultural programme, including “ESMOD Talks,” a series of panels featuring leading industry figures such as president of the Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter Féminin (FFPAPF) — the French trade federation for women’s ready-to-wear.
What’s more, the school has numerous partnerships with global brands to incentivise creative growth, including the Azzedine Alaïa Design Prize, which offers a €2,000 grant and an internship in Paris at Maison Alaïa, a collaboration with the FFPAPF and Faber-Castell.
As the school pursues its commitment to digital and technical innovation, The Business of Fashion (BoF) sits down with Véronique Beaumont, chief operating officer and general director at ESMOD, to discuss how the institution is reimagining its teaching practices to prepare its students for careers that bridge creativity, technology and business.
What makes an education at ESMOD unique?
Since ESMOD’s inception, a blend of technical excellence and traditional craftsmanship has equipped our students with skills to tackle the fashion world with confidence. We combine fashion design and pattern making, allowing students to take an equivalent number of credits in each discipline — with our pattern making courses based on the exclusive methodology invented and developed by ESMOD’s founder, Alexis Lavigne.
We draw on the rich history embodied by our Art, Culture and Heritage department — which safeguards over 1,500 garments and accessories from our study collection, along with 5,000 archival documents. The collection spans more than two centuries of fashion — from 18th-century silhouettes to contemporary creations, including couture pieces, everyday garments and experimental prototypes — and serves as a living resource for education and research, allowing students to study construction techniques, materials and design evolution firsthand.
We combine this invaluable heritage with emerging technologies in design, creation, and production — from 3D modelling and digital fashion tools to innovative sustainable practices — ensuring that today’s students graduate not only with a deep respect for tradition but also with the vision and tools to drive the future of fashion.
How do you fuse culture and creativity into your fashion business curriculum?
At ESMOD’s fashion business school, our focus goes beyond just marketing and communication. Courses entail culture, the history of fashion, product development and merchandising — and this extends all the way through to the postgraduate level. We also offer programmes that integrate innovative management, communication and corporate social responsibility.
ESMOD’s goal isn’t limited to focusing on luxury or high-end fashion; it’s about offering students a broader perspective across different market segments.
There are also hybrid opportunities between our design and business schools through joint courses, workshops and live projects with brands. This unique collaboration between creative and business disciplines is what sets us apart.
How does ESMOD encourage innovation and experimentation within its curriculum?
Our students work with tools such as Lectra, Modaris, Blender and 3D printers. We also train students on artificial intelligence (AI) design applications, using software like Leonardo and MidJourney.
From their first year, they also take classes in CLO, a professional 3D garment simulation software, to acquire an essential foundation for the industry. This allows students to visualise and experiment with designs in a highly realistic digital environment. Later on, those who wish to deepen their skills and specialise in digital design have the opportunity to do so through the “Digital Fashion Designer” course.
We have also expanded our existing fabric collections into a comprehensive fabric library designed to encourage creative exploration and material experimentation. Over the past few years, we have further developed this space into a hub for innovation and collaboration where students and teachers can experiment, prototype and push the boundaries of fashion creation.
How does ESMOD prepare students for real-world experience and industry connections?
ESMOD’s goal isn’t limited to focusing on luxury or high-end fashion; it’s about offering students a broader perspective across different market segments. Each season, we collaborate with numerous brands and companies to offer, in particular, internships and apprenticeship contracts, including Balenciaga, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Rick Owens, Jacquemus, Maison Kitsuné, Sandro, Ami, the Richemont Group, Valentino and Aubade. We also organise conferences and workshops with major industry players such as Veja and Le 19M.
Many of our alumni have gone on to create their own brands and launch entrepreneurial ventures. These include acclaimed designers like Alexandre Vauthier; Ayşe and Ece Ege of Dice Kayek; Juun J; Lisa Chavy, founder of Livy; Shanshan Ruan; and Sophie Hersan, co-founder of Vestiaire Collective. This strong entrepreneurial spirit continues to inspire our partnerships and teaching approach, bridging creativity, business and innovation.
From their first year, we encourage students to gain experience during Paris Fashion Week. Classes may be paused to allow them to take part in shows, work in showrooms, or gain hands-on experience as early as possible. These experiences help students understand the new roles that are shaping the fashion industry.
How are you encouraging students to be more forward-thinking in their design practices today?
For several years, we offered a specialisation called “No Gender”, which questioned the traditional boundaries of womenswear and menswear. Today, this approach has become intrinsic to all our specialisations. We emphasise inclusivity and innovation, giving students early experience in working with diverse body types and a broad spectrum of gender expression in design. This combination of traditional craftsmanship, cutting-edge technology, and a progressive design philosophy ensures that our graduates leave with both strong technical expertise and a forward-thinking creative vision.
What’s more, in recent years, more and more graduates are finding work outside traditional fashion roles — particularly in video games and other digital fields. By catering our classes to the evolving needs of our students and approaching design through a multi-disciplinary approach, we encourage them to explore their interests in this space.
How does ESMOD help students showcase their work?
One of our most significant recent showcase opportunities came in 2024, when Stéphane Rolland, a member of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, invited students from ESMOD and the French Institute of Fashion (IFM) to present their work as the opening act for his show. Rolland offered internships to two ESMOD students, and ultimately hired one of them.
We maintain a close collaboration with Le Printemps, one of Paris’s most famous department stores. Together with its team, we design an annual exhibition at its flagship location, Printemps Haussmann in the ninth arrondissement, centred around one iconic fashion item.
By catering our classes to the evolving needs of our students and approaching design through a multi-disciplinary approach, we encourage students to explore their interests.
For the project, six to seven students are selected to create their own pieces in dialogue with the exhibition. Each year, one student is chosen by Le Printemps to have their design featured in the store’s window display for two months — an exceptional opportunity for visibility and professional exposure. This year, the winning student comes from our Accessories specialisation.
What opportunities do students have to study or work abroad?
Since 1984, we have steadily expanded our international presence, establishing schools in highly sought-after cities such as Tokyo, Seoul and Dubai. For students wishing to study abroad, we also offer Erasmus partnerships and provide dedicated support through our Global Studies Office.
Last year, we launched the Paris-Tokyo programme: students spend their first year in Paris, their second year in Tokyo, and for their third year, they can choose whether to stay in Tokyo or return to Paris.
We also welcome a large number of international students — over 80 nationalities are represented throughout our campuses. In Paris and in some of our other French campuses, we offer both French and English curriculums. This means students are already immersed in a multicultural and globally minded environment from their first year, even before travelling abroad.
How does ESMOD leverage its alumni network to support current students?
Many of our alumni stay closely involved with the school. Many of them become professors, lecturers or guest speakers. We have a dedicated alumni director who helps maintain connections and create opportunities — with many often hiring our students because they know the quality of the fundamental training they receive here, even as we adapt our programmes to modern industry needs.
During open campus events, alumni are invited to speak about their careers, challenges and experiences, which gives our current students insights into how dreams translate into real-world pathways.
This is a sponsored feature paid for by ESMOD as part of a BoF partnership.
