ESMOD

ESMOD (l'Ecole Supérieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode) is the first fashion school established in France; founded in 1841.

Today it is a school with 23 establishments worldwide in 15 countries which provides a degree in fashion design and tailoring, officially recognized by the government in the third level.

ESMOD provides throughout its 17 international schools a program combining fashion design and tailoring. Three years of studies can give a diploma officially recognized by the government. ESMOD's philosophy is to offer a high level of education to form and shape competent professionals at an international level. The school works on adapting with the happenings in the fashion market.

ESMOD international has a wide network in France (Paris, Bordeaux, Rennes, Lyon and Roubaix), and throughout the world (Berlin, Munich, Beijing, Beirut, Damascus, Dubai, Jakarta, Osaka, Tokyo, Oslo, Seoul, Sao Paolo, Sousse and Tunisia); a reputed school recognized by professionals.

History

Origins

In 1841, Alexis Lavigne, tailor, inventor, and innovator, created ESMOD, the first fashion school in the world; accessible to all and specialized in clothing design.

Alexis Lavigne

Companion of the Tour of France and “master clothing tailor” of the Empress Eugenie. In 1841 he established “Guerre-Lavigne” which became ESMOD. In 1847 he invented the soft metric ribbon and took ESMOD internationally by publishing his cutting methods books in German and English.

In the International Exhibition in 1849, he displayed the first of his Bust Mannequins.

The same year, he established a famous couture house to display his Amazonian costumes.

The School

After the death of Alexis Lavigne in 1880, his daughter Mrs. Guerre, and after her, his granddaughter Mrs. Lecomte-Guerre managed the school till the 1940s. From 1945 until 1960, the school expanded internationally. In the early '70s, Paule Dovarinou and Annette Goldstein adapted new teaching methods for the market realities and sat up a new program targeting the new generation of fashion makers: fashion design. Then the first time they combined tailoring and fashion design. In the 1980s, ESMOD opened new schools around the world and branches in Lyon, Bordeaux, Rennes, and Roubaix.

In 1989 ESMOD formed ISEM, the Higher European Fashion Institute (School for Marketing and Management, branch of fabrics clothing distribution).

Currently 700 students are registered at ESMOD & ISEM of which 40% are international students (many Japanese, Russians, and others from 60 different nationalities). The faculty members reach 50 individuals.

The ESMOD network accounts today for 6 schools in France, in Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes, and Roubaix; and 14 other international campuses in Brazil, Japan, Norway, Germany, Indonesia, South Korea, Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, China, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Programs

The programs are officially recognized by the government. (Level III):

• General Education: Fashion Design and Tailoring
• 3 Years Specialization: Men’s wear, Women’s wear, Kids wear, Lingerie, Theatrical costumes, new couture (haute couture), and accessories.
• Program Duration: 3 years
• Program content: 25 hours per week
• Equipments (in Paris): 50 Computers (Software: Illustrator, Photoshop, Lectra Systems…); Sewing machines, library, fabrics,…)

Admission: Minimum 17 yrs, and holder of a baccalaureate or an equivalent diploma. Admission in subject to interview and assessment test.

ESMOD can be done in alteration: 10% of the students do it. They stay 75% of their time on campus and the remaining 25% they spend it in companies. The examination success and placement rates range from 75% to 85%, depending on the sectors. The internship service provides 500 to 700 employments per year, depending on the activities. Students cannot benefit from scholarships, however they can get student loans. Throughout the years ESMOD became the most important fashion institute in the world of fashion and clothing, and a leader in its sector given its international presence and the number of campuses it has.

The Alumni

• Franck Sorbier: http://www.francksorbier.com
• Gunhild Nygaard: http://www.gunhild.fr
• Vincent Mac Doom
• Sébastien Meunier
• Jianghong Li, Cinq Février
• Nicolas Fafiotte, Lyon Haute Couture
• Fifi Chachnil: http://www.fifichachnil.com
• Eric Bergere: http://www.smartpixel.net/ericbergere/index2.html
• S.Nick Barua
• Dice Hayek
• Olivier Schetrit
• José Gayegos - first famed Brazilian Fashion Designer
• Christophe Decarnin- Balmain Paris

External links

• Site officiel d'ESMOD
• Le Site de l'association des anciens élèves
• Le site de Esmod Dubai
• Esmod Jakarta Official Site