Institut Français de la Mode

The Institut francais de la Mode (IFM) is an institution of higher education that offers training programs and continuing education seminars in addition to providing expertise in the textile, fashion, luxury, and design industries.

Established in 1986 by Pierre Bergé with the support of both fashion industry professionals and the Ministère chargé de l’Industrie, the Institut maintains close ties with the industry, notably through its Cercle de mécènes, which brings together fifteen major fashion and luxury companies. Ranked third among the world’s fashion schools by Business of Fashion in 2016, the IFM welcomes approximately two hundred students and two thousand professionals every year.

The IFM’s research and publications as well as its Economic Observatory provide expertise in the fields of economics, the social sciences, and the human sciences applied to fashion and design. The IFM also helps professionals to better understand the economic and structural changes in the field in terms of supply strategies, consumer behavior, and distribution strategies.

In 2016, the IFM announced that it would partner with the École de la chambre syndicale de la couture parisienne, which has trained numerous designers and artisans working in French fashion since 1927. The Institut Français de la Mode now provides educational programs ranging from vocational to doctoral level, bringing together fashion design, management and craftsmanship under one roof. Its objective is to grant France a school fit to be a worldwide standard.