The IFA Paris Bachelor’s and Master’s Graduation Fashion Show at the Musée national de l’immigration

On Thursday July 13th 2023, IFA Paris students graduating from the Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology and Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design programs presented their final collections! Twenty-two students were selected to show their creations after the graduation ceremony. The event was held in the exceptional setting of the Musée national de l’histoire de l’immigration. A venue perfectly in tune with the values of the school, which promotes strong inclusivity and is committed to supporting immigrant populations through projects such as The Unthreadings, in partnership with the Good Chance association. For the occasion, the models were lucky enough to have their make-up and hair done by students from ITM Paris, with whom we collaborated.

This year, the theme “Adaptative Resilience” guided the creation of the collections. This theme is profoundly significant for our times. It embodies the individual’s ability to adapt and overcome the challenges they face, while embracing their own identity and creativity. The students drew on this universe to create unique pieces.

The show highlighted the fashion industry’s ability to adapt and evolve, drawing on the beauty of diversity. Over 100 looks were on show, each a unique interpretation of the theme, revealing the students’ artistic visions and how they captured the essence of resilience.

Deciphering the collections and inspirations of each designer:

GIOVANNI LIBERO ZOCCETTA (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Italy):

Thought: covert symbolic responses to stimuli that are either intrinsic (from within) or extrinsic (from the environment). Thought or thinking is considered to mediate between inner activity and external stimuli. In simple terms, our brain reacts to given inputs formulating responses, which translate into thoughts.

We are surrounded by inputs that our body assimilates through the famous five senses: vision, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.

SEPEHR MOGHARAB (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Iran):

“77 Rue du Temple” this concept came to Sepehr while he was reading this book called, The Alchemist at this address. Understanding the signs that life gives him, the repetition of “7” was incredible in his life.7 is also the symbol of perfection in ancient egypt. There is also a belief that we live 7 lives , so i created this persona in my imagination.

VANDANA CHERUKUTHOTA (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, India):

« Modern Vintage » : The concept is inspired from the Retro_Futurism, Imagination of the future in the past blend of fiction and technology. focusing on the past and current life , weather it is art or technological lives are visited some of our past interpretations.

DASHA FELD (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Canada):

« t e m p t i n g s i n g u l a r i t y » : There comes a moment when you experience something so universal, so clear, almost a tangible speck of eternity. Whether it’s through a divine encounter, a near-death experience or even drugs, appears an impossible idea: myriads of pasts and myriads of futures exist in the same moment, now. Time and space contort so much that it loses all human understanding. We are left with the dark, mysterious matter, tempting singularity, that will always produce more questions than answers.

TOE WAI LIN (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Myanmar):

« Off scene » : This collection is inspired by the hidden beauty that often goes unnoticed around us. Through meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, we create garments that embodies an off-scene aesthetic. Raw edges, exposed seams and the choices of unexpected fabric and design element allow the wearer to express their own sense of unique style and inspire curiosity.

YAELLE LE GOFF (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, France):

“Beautiful Weakness”. This collection showcases the inner conflict of anxiety in an empowering manner. Pushing you to learn about yourself and find balance. Fighting fears and letting go of unnecessity. Showcasing what is considered an “error and transforming it into beauty”. To seek the unknown and change it into a statement. Trying to break norms and regroup people through the acceptance of struggle.

DUMENU LORD-JOHNSON (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Ghana):

“Concrete Rose”: Is an ode to the Yesterday of Dumenu. A tribute to the strong women he knows and how he imagines them to be today. This collection is a representation of audacity, change makers and the new order. It is filled with unique cut outs and shapes that center around a heroic igure in the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana.

HAWI SISAY MIDEKSSA (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Ethiopia):

“Ye Balager Lij” is an Ethiopian term that translates to “the child of a countryside person.” This collection of stories focuses on three generations: her parents’ past, her twin sisters’ present, and her future. It delves into the research of their upbringing and the outcomes that have resulted from it. The collection aims to highlight the experiences and influences of each generation, exploring the interplay between rural and urban experiences, family traditions, and cultural values. Through personal anecdotes, interviews, and historical context, the collection aims to provide a deeper understanding of our family’s journey and the complexities of identity, growth, and intergenerational dynamics.

ANA AHAMADA (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, France):

« Sumud », common term used to describe Palestinian nonviolent everyday resistance and struggle against ethnic cleansing and meaning “steadfastness” or “steadfast perseverance” in Arabic, – is a collection aiming to put a light on today’s persecutions of communities for ethnic, spiritual traditions and cultural reasons, to dismantle stereotypes and counter xenophobia with a blend of Western and Arab World-inspired styles.

GANZUL DOLINGOR (Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design, Mongolia):

Through “Echoes from the steppe”, the designer envisioned a new generation of warriors and reconceptualized the older aesthetic and inventors. As a representative of the generation who was born in nomadic culture, Asian philosophy, Soviet flavor, and Western mindset, I wanted to depict the beauty and the conflictual sides of being a young, modern Mongolian, a modern nomad. The goal is to bring hope, inspiration, and pride to people who empathize with the designer’s vision.

REBECCA SUMMERFIELD (Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design, USA):

In her graduate collection entitled Decay & Renewal, Rebecca Summerfield drew inspiration from the colors and structures of fungi and explored the relationship between these heterotrophs and their environment. Rebecca repurposed yarns and fibers to create new pieces, much like a fungus dissolves organic matter and absorbs nutrients from other life forms to sustain its own. She used felting techniques as well as hand knitting and crochet to mimic the biological structures of these incredible organisms.

SHERIFAT ABUBAKAR YUSIF (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Ghana):

“WEAR THE LANDFILL“ is inspired by textile landfill in Ghana. Textile landfill is one of the major issues the Government of Ghana is handling now because Ghana has the largest second-hand clothing market in the whole West Africa. The concept is to breathe new life into old clothing and to make people wear fabric leftovers without knowing through fabric transformation. It also aimed at taking into consideration the environmental issues and contributing to the positive campaign towards saving the climate for the next generation.

EUGENIA ADJETEY (Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design, Ghana):

“better mistake“: Identity is how Eugenia discovered her interest for natural dyeing from childhood play in her grandmothers garden. Inclusivity is making genderless pieces that appeal to everyone and how the first two elements can bring us together in making a change and saving the environment (sustainability). The sustainability aspect is echoed better by using dead stock for my project, finding treasures in fabric waste or leftover fabrics.

CHLOE BERTHELOT (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, France):

“Rejuven” : The main idea behind this collection is climate change and how we can react to it. Since the fashion industry leaves a huge ecological footprint due to lengthy supply chains and intensive production methods, clothes are directly linked to climate change. To make a change, we need to adapt ourselves to the resources that we have. This collection was created to give new life to old clothes from thrift stores by rejuvenating them to show how clothes and materials can be resilient through time.

HELENE PRUDHOMME (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, France):

“Montain Mosaic”: Mountains and mosaics connect through their shared qualities of endurance, adaptability, and transformative power. Mountains symbolize the resilience of nature, while mosaics exemplify the resilience of human creativity. By exploring these themes, we gain a deeper appreciation for the interactions between natural landscapes and artistic expression, reflecting the invincible spirit of resilience and adaptability that resides within us.

ULUKA NKECHI RITA (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Nigeria):

“Calamity”: The goal of this collection is to prove that people can still be productive even when things are not going exactly how they want and can still be unproductive even when everything is working out just the way they want it. So being broken, depressed and down shouldn’t stop us from achieving our goals and it’s important to know that all emotions can co exit the goal is to achieve set out goals and share positive spirit everywhere we go or find ourselves. Don’t break others because you are broken. always maintain a pure, healthy, and positive spirit, that’s where the wins start from.

JESSICA INDRAWAN (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Indonesia):

“The odysseys”: A quest for self–reflection by unraveling the true essence. This concept weaves together nostalgic childhood memories, bravery, innocence, and femininity of oneself. Through “Wrap to Unwrapped” concept, each garment is meticulously crafted, the collection symbolizes the act of unwrapping layers, both metaphorically and literally. Fabrics cascade and reveal, unveiling the multifaceted nature of the self and the intricate layers of growth and resilience that have been forged throughout the journey.

DUA PICHAYA (Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design, Thailand):

“Anatomy by Leonard Da Vinci”: In this collection, he wants to portray another aspect of his talent and passion for anatomists. Traveling back in time highlights the dissection events in the Renaissance period when anatomists and Leonardo da Vinci collaborated and investigated the human body through dissection events and made detailed observations through drawing.

Da Vinci early anatomist studies focused on the skeleton and muscle and then on the role of the body’s individual parts. This finally led him to study the internal organs, brain, heart, and lungs as “motors” of the senses and of life.

MARIA FERNANDA (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Mexico):

“One is not born a woman, one becomes one”, this famous phrase from Simone de Beauvoir’s book Le Deuxième Sexe, perfectly sums up the spirit of the “Corps et âme” collection. The designs are an ode to the independent, free-spirited woman. Strong, yet vulnerable, imperfect, and down to earth. To feel its unique type of selfless love, as in the theme of adaptive resilience, to evolve within oneself and to work with nature, to respect it as the big and powerful force it is. This collection is also environmentally conscious and is made from mostly natural fibers, dead-stock fabrics, dead-stock thread, and natural dyes.

Each piece is one of a kind and has a unique character just like every woman.

GAUKHAR MAMITOVA (Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design, Kazakhstan):

“Open hearts”: Reflexion and research on human connections, vulnerability and fragility of privacy. Exploration of inner thoughts and emotions. Intimacy of connections between people. Collection follows and explores the concept of sensuality and vulnerability through under- wear. Following and adopting the same ideas and parallels around privacy and intimacy.

MOHAMAD FAWAZ (Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology, Lebanon):

« Silent Fighters » is a fashion collection that pays heartfelt tribute to the resilient journey of his late mother as a cancer survivor. This collection aims to capture her indomitable spirit, unwavering strength, and enduring grace through a combination of empowering designs, symbolic details, and heartfelt storytelling. Each garment serves as a powerful reminder of her courage and resilience, celebrating her triumph over adversity and the everlasting beauty she brought to the world.

TANJA HALBMAYR (Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design, Austria):

“Glitch”: Every metro ride to university, she is watching people glued to their phone. She wonders where they are with their thoughts, with whom they are connected and well… how far disconnected they are from their surroundings. And then she takes her phone, and she is somewhere else as well. . .

The collection portrays us, these in-between-two-worlds’ humans. The digital world which overtakes reality. What do we do to ourselves by obeying a screen? Where will that go? How do these worlds interweave? Do they collide and damage happen? The inspiration comes from cells surrounded by digital data and amorph shapes to portray the real world in comparison to the digital part.

To see the full collections from the Graduation Fashion Show, please visit the IFA Paris Instagram.

Contact our admissions team for more information on the Bachelor Fashion Design & Technology or the Master of Arts Contemporary Fashion Design.