Paris Seminar

A week-long seminar in the Spring semester that brings together leaders from the French and EU luxury fashion industries for a week-long intensive exploring brand heritage, creativity, and strategy. The program examines the evolution of the luxury sector, shifting consumer behavior across the EU, and current trends defining the French market as a global center of fashion and innovation. Through executive sessions, company visits, and a real-world case study, students gain first-hand insight into the business of luxury and the dynamics shaping France’s enduring influence on global fashion.

Lectures and Site Visits

paris seminar chanel
Offsite visit at Chanel during the Paris Seminar.

Past seminar activities have included:

  • Behind-the-scenes visits to leading fashion houses, ateliers, and luxury brands
  • Executive discussions with designers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders
  • Exploration of French craftsmanship, heritage, and luxury production techniques
  • Retail immersion experiences at iconic Parisian department stores and boutiques
  • Curated visits to museums, galleries, and major fashion and cultural exhibitions
  • Opportunities to examine the intersection of fashion, culture, design, and business
    within the global luxury marketplace

Case Study

GFM students from FIT, HK PolyU, and IFM—representing a diverse range of countries, cultures, and professional backgrounds—work in multinational teams to develop strategic recommendations for a real-world business case study focused on a French or European brand. Teams present their findings and recommendations on the final day of the seminar to senior leaders from the participating company and receive direct feedback from key stakeholders.

paris case study
Students presenting their case study recommendations to industry executives who provide feedback, critiques and strategic recommendations on student presentations

Past projects have included:

  • Developing growth and strategic recommendations for luxury, fashion, and lifestyle brands
  • Exploring opportunities for brand expansion, market positioning, and international growth
  • Creating original video projects that examine the creative, cultural, and artistic influences
    behind fashion collections
  • Investigating the relationship between heritage, craftsmanship, innovation, and brand identity
  • Presenting executive-level recommendations to industry professionals and academic leader

Networking

paris seminar networking
Program participants have the opportunity to participate in a professional network with global reach. All seminars include social events to reestablish existing contacts and to build rapport among new colleagues, guest speakers, faculty, and alumni.

 

Additional Global Fashion Management Seminars

New York Seminar
Hong Kong Seminar

Related Links

Contact

Aaron Duncan, Associate Chair
[email protected] 

For general admissions questions, please contact the School of Graduate Studies.