MBA Fashion and Luxury Marketing

The first year of the MBA program at IFA Paris functions as a foundational core, common to all MBA specializations. It focuses on the acquisition of competencies related with strategic, operational, and global perspective.

Year 1 blends academic rigor with practical insight, fostering critical thinking, analytical capabilities, and leadership potential. Students engage in immersive modules that cover strategic marketing, business operations, financial planning, and sustainable innovation, all while participating in hands-on industry collaborations. The goal is to prepare students not only to thrive in their chosen specializations but also to contribute meaningfully to cross-functional teams and global enterprises.

Students are encouraged to think beyond conventional boundaries, exploring fashion as a cultural and economic force. Through group projects, consultancy assignments, and exposure to real-world challenges, they develop a multifaceted understanding of the global fashion ecosystem. The emphasis on intercultural communication, ethical leadership, and adaptability lays the groundwork for successful specialization and future management roles.

French program : Cooperative education
Or English program : 6-months internship

Learning Objectives

By the end of the first year, students will be able to:

1. Strategic Thinking & Market Analysis
   • Analyze global fashion and luxury markets using advanced marketing and consumer behavior theories.
   • Apply strategic planning tools to design effective brand and distribution strategies.
2. Business & Financial Acumen
   • Understand key financial principles, budgeting, and business planning in the fashion industry.
   • Interpret financial data to inform business decisions and evaluate profitability.
3. Legal & Operational Awareness
   • Explain the impact of intellectual property rights and corporate law on fashion businesses.
   • Demonstrate an understanding of operational models including supply chains, e-commerce, and sustainability practices.
4. Innovation & Customer Experience
   • Propose innovative solutions for customer experience using sensory marketing and omnichannel strategies.
   • Leverage data and digital tools to create impactful marketing and retail strategies.
5. Leadership & Communication
   • Collaborate effectively in diverse, multicultural teams and lead group projects with confidence.
   • Communicate strategic ideas clearly across various business contexts, including crisis communication.
6. Socio-Cultural & Ethical Competence
   • Assess fashion’s role in cultural diplomacy, advocacy, and sustainability.
   • Critically reflect on contemporary fashion issues including inclusivity, environmental responsibility, and ethical sourcing.
7. Professional Development
   • Design a clear professional development roadmap supported by mentorship, workshops, and real-world projects.
   • Prepare a strong personal and professional profile aligned with their future specialization and career aspirations.

Course Modules

Advanced Marketing & merchandising

The advanced marketing and merchandising module groupings is designed to equip students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to excel in today’s dynamic fashion marketplace. These modules delve into sophisticated marketing strategies, consumer behavior analysis and the integration of data analytics to inform decision-making. Students will explore advanced topics such as brand management, global marketing trends, and omnichannel retail strategies.

• Strategic planning
• Distribution
• Innovative client experience
• Sensory marketing
• Branding
• AI and Marketing Innovation in Fashion

The fashion industry

The Business of Fashion modules offer an in-depth exploration of the fashion industry from a business perspective. These modules cover essential topics such as intellectual property and corporate law as well as a variety of subjects related with the development of business models. Through case studies, industry projects, and expert lectures, students will develop the strategic thinking and practical skills needed to thrive in the fast-paced and ever-evolving fashion business landscape.

• Planning
• Finance
• Advanced strategies
• Intellectual property
• Corporate law

Fashion’s Environment

This module grouping looks at fashion with the prism of diversity and inclusivity. It prepares our students to address the future needs of a competitive fashion industry, whether it is the optimization of the supply chain through a sustainable perspective, the implementation of cutting-edge tech processes for digital retail or the consideration of contemporary fashion phenomena.

• E-commerce
• Intercultural fashion
• Sustainable sourcing
• Managing a “fashion faux pas”

Two options from:

Students will get to pick 2 electives out of 6 available. Each of them gives a taste of what the 5th year specializations will encompass. Such a structure provides an opportunity for full customization of the learning experience.

• MBA Fashion and Luxury Marketing
• Media and image production
• Fashion and eco-responsibility
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• Fashion design workshop

Fashion Lab

The Fashion Lab module grouping is handled by the Direction of Corporate Relations of IFA Paris. Through a variety of practical workshops, students will get the opportunity to be involved in real-life case studies provided by partner brands. They will also have the opportunity to work on their professional profile through customized coaching sessions to ensure they can secure a 6-month internship.

The Fashion and Luxury specialisation is designed for students who want to take on the sector's structural challenges. At the end of year 2, students are able to navigate between the exclusive communication channels specific to luxury and the widely used social networks and master innovative marketing tools up to and including the metaverse.

French program : Cooperative education
Or English program : 6-months internship

Learning Objectives

1. Develop Expertise in Fashion and Luxury Brand Management:
   • Students will gain advanced knowledge in managing luxury and Fashion brands, learning to cultivate and sustain brand prestige, exclusivity, and desirability through strategic marketing initiatives.
2. Craft High-Impact Marketing Strategies:
   • Students will learn to design and implement sophisticated marketing strategies that resonate with affluent consumers, leveraging data-driven insights, personalized experiences, and innovative storytelling to build strong emotional connections with brands.
3. Master Global Market Dynamics:
   • Students will develop a deep understanding of the global luxury and fashion markets, including consumer behavior, cultural nuances, and regional trends, enabling them to effectively position and expand brands across diverse international markets.
4. Spearhead Digital Innovation:
   • Students will explore and apply cutting-edge digital marketing tools and platforms, from social media to AI-driven personalization, to create immersive and engaging experiences that enhance brand loyalty and drive growth in the luxury and fashion sectors.

Course Modules

Advanced Marketing & Merchandising

This module grouping is building up on the competencies and skills acquired in Year 1. Students will be exposed to a variety of creative and data driven business modules. A large component of themes deals with the notion of Fashion and Luxury as components of influence.

• Collection development
• Event Management
• Fashion Metaverse
• Marketing through Influence
• Public relations
• Events

Business of Fashion & Luxury

In this business-focused module grouping, students will benefit from a deep insight into strategies that structure the evolution of the Fashion and Luxury industries. Understanding what lies behind Merges and Acquisitions, Franchising and Licensing as well as Expansion tactics into Emerging markets are themes that will be covered in this section.

• Franchising & Licensing Strategies
• M&A in the Luxury Industry
• Risk Strategy in Emerging Markets

Fashion & Luxury Environments

Fashion and Luxury are made out of diverse segments. Understanding this heterogeneity is key to build a differentiating perspective and create future leaders that will break pre-conceived ideas. Students will engage in a dialogue to understand the tenets of haute couture, to deconstruct fast fashion or to analyze experiential luxury in the fields of hospitality, gastronomy and jewelry.

• Haute couture
• Deconstructing Fast Fashion
• Showroom Planning
• Luxury Watchmaking & Jewelry
• Luxury hospitality
• Gastronomy & Oenology

Capstone

In the Capstone Project, students are expected to create a link between the course knowledge and their practical understanding of the industry’s up-to-date best practices to prepare a fully-fledged plan for a business venture in the fashion and luxury industries.

Fashion Lab

The Fashion Lab module grouping is handled by the Direction of Corporate Relations of IFA Paris. Through a variety of practical workshops, students will get the opportunity to be involved in real-life case studies provided by partner brands. They will also have the opportunity to work on their professional profile through customized coaching sessions to ensure they can secure a 6-month internship.

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 good internet connection
• An up-to-date web browser
• Microphone & Headphones (a headset with microphone/headphones is recommended)
• Webcam

Prerequisites Year 1:

• Applicants must have successfully completed 3 years of higher education (equivalent to 180 ECTS credits)
• Depending on the chosen teaching language (English or French), non-native speakers should provide a language proficiency score:
• English teaching language: an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, or a TOEFL score of 79 or above. Alternatively, provide an English training certificate or proof of previous education in English.
• French teaching language: a TCF score of B2 or equivalent. Alternatively, a proof of previous education in French.
• Significant professional experience in related fields preferred, but not required (internships are considered).

Prerequisites Year 2:

• Applicants must have successfully completed 4 years of higher education (equivalent to 240 ECTS credits)
• Depending on the chosen teaching language (English or French), non-native speakers should provide a language proficiency score:
• English teaching language: an IELTS score of 6.5 or above, or a TOEFL score of 79 or above. Alternatively, provide an English training certificate or proof of previous education in English.
• French teaching language: a TCF score of B2 or equivalent. Alternatively, a proof of previous education in French.
• Significant professional experience in related fields preferred, but not required (internships are considered).

Required documentation:

• Resume
• Motivation letter
• Passport photo
• Passport copy for non-EU applicants and ID copy for EU applicants
• Language proficiency certificate
• High school diploma or higher & Transcript

For more information about the application process, please visit our How to apply page.