If you are prone to hanger management and tend to be clothes-minded, a masters in fashion management abroad might suit you well. Studying a masters in fashion business overseas allows for a tailor-made experience that not only provides invaluable hands-on experience in the heart of your fashion niche, but also leads to an international network buzzing with global concepts and exposure.
Got a creative mind and flair for fashion? Maybe a degree in fashion business is for you!
Whether it’s visual merchandising, wardrobe organization, or furniture promotion that gets you giddy, an international fashion degree automatically boosts chances of getting a fashion career most aligned with your interests.
Furthermore, the vibrant atmosphere of cultural exchange stimulates creative ideas, while working with different business models enhances communication and management skills. In no time at all, you’ll be bursting at the seams with the knowledge and confidence to start the next global fad!
Where are the best places to study fashion business abroad?
A masters in fashion management abroad probably translates to expanding upon a small field in the vast world of fashion. Thus, there’s a country most adept to every chapter of fashion design history, but here are some general eye-catchers that certainly know how to steal the spotlight:
- Paris: France continues to charm the crème de la crème of fashion designers with its history of flair. The City of Lights shines bright for haute couture and prêt-à-porter, with no shortage of professional institutes to increase your brand’s value by an extra 0 at the end. There’s a reason this is considered the Fashion Capital of the World!
- Milan: La bella figura gets a little help from a stylish exterior, let’s be honest. Throwing back three espressos a day while zooming around on a Vespa will become a habit while working closely with the biggest labels in Quad d’Oro: Prada, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Armani…
- Sao Paulo: Brazil’s bustling financial capital has two world-renowned universities that offer prestigious masters in the fashion business. Whether you want to create your own label or pitch your designs to Havaianas, there’s a course for all stages of the creative process.
- Melbourne: The Land Down Under isn’t just kangaroos and the outback. Melbourne boasts great fashion degrees that combine traditional studies with modern technologies to create timeless styles. As a bonus, Australia boasts the world’s highest level of coffee culture—so plenty of fuel to keep the inspiration going!
8 reasons to earn your fashion business degree abroad
The cool views don’t hurt!
Studying abroad never goes out of style and getting masters in fashion management abroad is a lucrative way to personalize your experience and exposure to the market.
Fashion is not calculus or computer sciences, where every classroom offers the same computer and equations. Instead, it’s a juxtaposition of historical styles, colors, moods, and accounts.
Researching the psychology of Bauhaus in Frankfurt is a vastly different experience than refurbishing watches in Switzerland, planning a fashion show in Dubai, or manufacturing the most eco-friendly tatami in Japan.
However, no matter your field of expertise, international education in the fashion business is a worthwhile investment. Not only do you bump your resume to the next level, but you get to bring back all the new shoe designs and scarf tying tips from abroad to show off at home!
1. Think big, think global
A big part of fashion business is communication, detecting social shifts in the market, and analyzing the economic performance of brands. Learning these skills abroad is invaluable, as you get acquainted with various cultures and their thought processes, as well as new scenarios and solutions.
Language is only one part of communication; work ethic, business culture, and physical presentation are just as important, and studying in an international environment matures all of these traits.
2. Unique opportunity to work with superstars
Whether your dream is to shadow a product manager in Vuitton or to see the drafting tables at Dolce & Gabbana, the only way to work first-hand with the biggest names in the fashion industry is to fly to them.
A brief internship with Burberry while studying in London is a lot more impressive than an A+ on the latest quiz! Or how about participating in Paris Fashion Week while getting a masters in international management at ESMOD International?
3. Take part in the hottest events
Getting your degree abroad can open some pretty (fashionable) doors.
Working backstage at the Pitti Uomo or lending a hand as a photographer at the Fashion Fringe are pretty cool perks of studying abroad. For both those interested in drafting or event organization, participating in the top events of the fashion world is an eye-opening experience to how the material is organized, displayed, and marketed. Guess we don’t have to mention the after parties…
4. Learn new vocab
You might be familiar with cottage industries and linesheets, but what about faire du lèche-vitrines or la calzoleria in Via Manzoni? There are going to be two stacks of flashcards on this international adventure: one for all the basic words in the local language to successfully order the right meal, and the other for all the foreign terms for your field of study.
It’s probably equally important (and impressive) to chat up the cute neighbor and to keep up in course lectures.
5. Diverse teams with common visions
Brand launching simulation projects are bound to result in some gloriously funky stuff when working with local and other international students. For example, ESMOD boasts over 60 nationalities on their campus and actively works to team up foreign students with local peeps in various projects to increase the exchange of ideas and highlight collaboration. Additionally, they provide opportunities for team building between fashion design and fashion business students!
On top of an innovative product design, successful team building leads to new friendships and future favorite pen pals. This assembly of different perspectives to problem-solving and endearing sign-offs are some of the most rewarding reasons why you should study fashion abroad.
6. Business cards of all formats
The connections you’ll make could prove to be invaluable.
Fashion is an international business; your professional network should be as well. In this highly competitive, dynamic field, you can never know too many People In The Right Places… and there’s a big chance that those influencers are not hiding in your hometown.
Want to increase your chances of employment or star on the next hashtag challenge? Probably one of those foreign names on a designer rectangle is your ticket to glory.
7. Ride the wave of up-and-coming trends
Every airport’s Duty Free has the latest Chanel scent, but at that point, it’s already last year’s news. If you want to accurately predict the new big hit and improve decision-making skills, take a few hints from the biggest names in the business and see through their eyes for a while. The best way to get on the wagon is to be there when it’s being built.
8. See the global picture
There are many components of fashion design: product design, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. These steps usually flow across borders and if you do the same, you’ll better understand the bigger image of this expansive industry.
Whether you want to be a brand designer, retail manager, or public relations expert at the local quilt show, participating in the global flow of ideas, actions, and products helps relate to society at large.
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Follow your passion, wherever it may lead.
Now that you know why to study fashion abroad, it’s time to invest in a boutique education and get ready to walk into the hottest career upgrade in style. A masters in fashion management abroad basically gets your CV onto the brightest catwalks and gets you into all the VIP dressing rooms, so what are you waiting for? Time to throw on some heels, pull down the designer glasses, and throw an extra dash of sparkly sequins onto your future!
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This article was written with help from ESMOD Paris. ESMOD has been operating since 1841, offering unique, comprehensive undergraduate and graduate degrees in Fashion Design and Fashion Business that take full advantage of Paris as a backdrop.
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