Diploma

  • AVAILABLE IN: CANVAS
  • LANGUAGE: FULL FRENCH OR FULL ENGLISH
  • DURATION: 3 YEARS
  • ECTS: 180
  • NEXT INTAKES: january 2026 (EN), september 2026 (FR, EN),
See tuition fees

Are you one of the 60% of young professionals in fashion who are still unsure about your ideal role in the industry? If so, The Fashion Design & Marketing Foundation Program offers you the perfect introduction to the world of fashion, providing you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to determine your career direction in this dynamic industry. If you’re ready to explore the world of fashion from multiple perspectives, this is the program for you.

Our innovative and diverse teaching methods – including classes, workshops, independent research, experiments, presentations, and field trips create a dynamic learning environment, drawing inspiration from a wide range of cultural influences.
IFA Paris’ personalized approach is tailored to meet the unique career goals of each student. Our fashion program strikes a balance between creativity and production, allowing students to master advanced pattern-making techniques while developing their own distinctive creative vision. We cultivate fashion designers who are as imaginative in their concepts as they are meticulous in their execution.

Throughout their studies, our Bachelor Fashion Design students consider the broader context of their profession, including the latest trends, industry news, and sustainability. By mastering technical skills, fostering creativity, and developing a personal style, our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and abilities to thrive in a variety of roles within the global fashion industry.

Learning Objectives

  • Cultivate Innovative Design Excellence: Students will push the boundaries of fashion design by integrating cutting-edge concepts, experimental materials, and avant-garde aesthetics, driving the future of fashion through visionary and impactful creations.
  • Master Technical Skills in Pattern Making, Draping, and Sewing with a Deep Understanding of French Fashion Heritage: Students will develop advanced technical proficiency in pattern making, draping, and sewing, while also gaining a comprehensive knowledge of French fashion heritage, enabling them to integrate timeless techniques and classic design principles into the creation of meticulously crafted garments.
  • Design Fashion with a Commitment to Sustainability, Diversity, and Inclusivity: Students will learn to create fashion that embodies principles of sustainability, while also embracing diversity and inclusivity, ensuring that their designs are environmentally responsible, culturally diverse, and accessible to a wide range of audiences, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and sustainable fashion industry.
  • Discover Future-Ready Digital and Technological Tools: Students will harness the power of next-generation digital technologies, such as AI-driven design, virtual reality, and 3D printing, to revolutionize the fashion design process and create the next wave of fashion innovation.

Total Foundation Program: 60 ECTS Crédits
8 months, Monday to Friday, 600 hours in total.

Business Modules

Fashion Business Core:

  • Business Foundations: Excel
  • Business Foundations: Data & Trends
  • E-Fashion: Social Media
  • Fashion Forward: Fashion Disruption & Sustainability

Marketing & Communication Foundations:

  • Marketing Fundamentals
  • Fashion Anthropology: Consumer Behaviour

Digital Fashion:

  • Digital Design: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign

Fashion History & Culture:

  • Contemporary Fashion History

Design Modules

Fashion Design Foundations:

  • Fashion Figure
  • Color theory
  • Products / Technical Drawing
  • Volume & 3D Research
  • Garment Upcycling

Pattern-making and draping:

  • Skirt Block / Skirt Construction
  • Skirt Draping
  • Bodice Block / Shirt Construction / Collar Study / Shirt Project
  • Creative Draping

Production Foundations:

  • Introduction to Sewing + Basic Skirt & Shirt

Teaching methods employed
Classes are held in person or online and are structured on the basis of group work, face-to-face teaching, lectures, etc.
Assessment methods
Oral and written assessments, continuous assessment, evaluation during project phases.
Validation of the program
Successful completion of the program depends on validating the targeted skills.

The online program takes place live and in real-time (Paris or Istanbul local time) and you will interact with the lecturer and other students through our online platform. However, if you cannot attend or miss a live class, every session is also recorded and saved, so you can go back and watch it at a later suitable time for you.
For more information visit our Study Online – Distance Learning page

Material Requirements for Online Format

  • A recent computer with a recent operating system
  • A list of fashion design supplies will be provided at the start of the program
  • A good internet connection
  • An up-to-date web browser
  • Microphone & Headphones (a headset with microphone/headphones is recommended)
  • Webcam

Prerequisites

  • Minimum age: 16 years old
  • English proficiency: IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL iBT 65 or equivalent, or proof of prior English studies (for non-native English speakers)
  • Interview (on-campus or via Skype)

Required Documentation (in English or translated to English by a certified translator):

  • A recent computer with a recent operating system
  • A list of fashion design supplies will be provided at the start of the program
  • A good internet connection
  • An up-to-date web browser
  • Microphone & Headphones (a headset with microphone/headphones is recommended)
  • Webcam

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