The Executive MSc in Strategic Management of Fashion & Luxury is an innovative hybrid executive programme designed for professionals to pursue career growth in fashion and luxury while obtaining an industry-recognised postgraduate diploma (RNCP Level 7 in France). The programme delves into the key challenges facing the fashion and luxury industry today, as well as the innovative solutions emerging to tackle them. Topics addressed include the ever-changing role of creatives, successful global branding strategies, how to build a sustainable and responsible industry, the impact of new legislation, shifts in consumerism, the future of fashion media and opportunities presented by new technologies. Additionally, the programme fosters valuable networking opportunities through interactions with peers, academic staff and industry experts.
Key features
- Develop an in-depth understanding of the contemporary challenges and emerging trends shaping the fashion and luxury sector;
- Hone the critical and analytical skills needed to tackle these issues from an executive standpoint;
- Leverage unparalleled industry exposure to cultivate cutting-edge management strategies and refine your leadership skills;
- Benefit from the flexibility of a hybrid programme that allows participants to honour professional commitments whilst pursuing advanced education;
- Engage in rich interpersonal exchanges with fellow participants, academic staff and top-tier professionals, expanding your network;
- Obtain an executive Master's diploma in strategic management to unlock new career opportunities in the fashion and luxury industry.
Pedagogy
The programme's hybrid format combines four non-consecutive weeks of intensive classes on campus (160 hours) with five online modules comprising 215 hours of online learning, plus 50 hours of independent thesis work, offering professionals the flexibility to balance their studies with their career commitments. Online content can be completed at your own pace and is supported by weekly collective feedback sessions with faculty and staff.
Taught entirely in English, the programme delivers a total of 375 hours of learning. At the end of each module, participants complete an individual or group assignment, alongside approximately 10 to 15 hours of independent work between sessions. All modules are compulsory and must be successfully completed in order to graduate.
Business Plan 2.0 Challenge
During the first semester, you will take part in an immersive capstone project, the Business Plan 2.0 Challenge. Working collaboratively on a real-world brand challenge, you will develop strategic recommendations and translate them into an actionable business plan. The project culminates in a final pitch presented to a jury of fashion and luxury industry experts and investors.
Master's Thesis
During the second semester, you will complete a Master's thesis addressing a current challenge facing the industry. You will develop in-depth expertise in a topic of your choice, and build knowledge you can carry directly into the next stage of your career.
Curriculum
The programme covers all aspects of the fashion and luxury business, from the history of fashion designers to the study of the latest consumer trends and the implementation of successful branding strategies online and offline. You will be challenged by the latest thinking and best practices, with the aim of being equipped to anticipate and adapt to new developments and transformations of the fashion and luxury industry.
Semester 1
Module 1 | Creation & Design
This module explores the cultural, historical and creative foundations of fashion and luxury. It examines the relationship between fashion and art, the role of creative directors, the evolution of fashion from couture to a global industry, and the importance of heritage, know-how and storytelling. You will learn about fashion designers and luxury brands, the art of fashion, fashion trends, creativity in fashion and luxury, and decoding fashion shows.
Online module (40 hours). Runs over 4 weeks. Each week comprises 8 hours of self-paced learning and 1–2 hours of faculty-led feedback.
Module 2 | Luxury Brand Strategies
This in-person module on the IFM campus provides you with a thorough understanding of the business strategies and marketing tactics that are critical to success in the fashion and luxury industries. The module helps you develop the skills and knowledge needed to create and implement effective fashion and luxury brand strategies. You will learn about strategic industrial drivers, business strategies, brand identity & collection planning, branding and storytelling strategies.
On-campus five-day module (40 hours, IFM's Paris campus)
Module 3 | Sustainability
This module provides a strategic understanding of the sustainable transition of the fashion industry, exploring the challenges, the conceptual frameworks and business models, stakeholders and innovations that can accelerate it. You will learn about changing goalpoasts, sustainability frameworks, enabling the transition, and scaling the transition.
Online module (40 hours). Runs over 4 weeks. Each week comprises 8 hours of self-paced learning and 1–2 hours of faculty-led feedback.
Module 4 | New Consumers
This module provides you with a deep understanding of fashion and luxury consumers and their evolving identities, cultures and behaviours. It develops the skills and knowledge needed to generate meaningful consumer insights and translate them into relevant marketing and branding strategies. You will learn about understanding fashion and luxury consumers today, shifting consumer identities, drivers of fashion consumption, and the importance of consumer insight.
Online module (60 hours). Runs over 6 weeks. Each week comprises 8 hours of self-paced learning and 1–2 hours of faculty-led feedback.
Module 5 | New Retail & Territories
This in-person module on the IFM campus provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the new trends and transformations shaping fashion and luxury retail and merchandising systems. You will learn about omnichannel retail, augmented retail experiences, VIC clienteling, and new fashion spaces.
On-campus five-day module (40 hours, IFM's Paris campus)
Semester 2
Module 6 | Fashion Media
This module explores the transformation of fashion communication in an increasingly fragmented, digital and influence-driven media landscape. You will learn about the new inlfuence landscape, multichannel communication, the content creation economy, integration of AI, and the future of social media.
Online module (40 hours). Runs over 4 weeks. Each week comprises 8 hours of self-paced learning and 1–2 hours of faculty-led feedback.
Module 7 | Collection Management
Each day of this in-person module on the IFM Paris campus is dedicated to a type of collection: Ready-to-Wear; Beauty, Cosmetics and Perfume; Jewellery and Watches; Leather Goods; and Hospitality. Taught by experts in the field, the classes and workshops examine in detail the specific skills and in-depth knowledge required to manage each type of collection. This module takes place in Paris for both tracks, on different weeks. You will learn about ready-to-wear; beauty, cosmetics and perfume; jewellery and watches; leather goods; and hospitality.
On-campus five-day module (40 hours, IFM's Paris campus)
Module 8 | Fashion Prospective
This module supports the preparation of your thesis. It introduces the foundations of rigorous research (conducting a literature review, crafting a research question and making methodologically informed choices) so that your work generates knowledge of value both to academic research and to fashion and luxury practitioners.
You will critically examine the key challenges shaping the future of fashion and luxury, from emerging technologies to the sustainable transition, learning to question established assumptions and develop original insights and actionable recommendations for the industry.
You will be free to choose your own research topic, allowing you to explore an area of the industry that particularly interests you and aligns with your professional aspirations. By combining academic research with practical industry questions, you will develop genuine expertise in your chosen field, build a deeper understanding of the fashion and luxury sectors and bring a fresh, informed perspective to your next career move. More than simply acquiring knowledge, you will learn to produce knowledge of your own.
Online module (85 hours). Runs over 3 months and includes 50 hours of autonomous work on the thesis.
Module 9 | Future Horizons
This final in-person module invites you to look ahead, both at the future of the fashion and luxury industries and at your own professional journey. You will explore emerging trends, new business models and the challenges reshaping the industry, while developing the leadership skills and perspectives needed to navigate change and seize new opportunities. You will learn about exploring future horizons, innovation in management, inclusive leadership, and new working practices. You will also benefit from individual professional coaching sessions to help you advance your career. Your Master's thesis defence will also take place during this week.
On-campus five-day module (40 hours, IFM's Paris campus)
