• IFM logo

Fashion Management: Defining Markets, Business Models & Trends

Explore fashion from a historical and sociological perspective and understand evolving fashion business models.

935 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

Discover the importance of fashion history

On the first course of this Fashion Management ExpertTrack, you’ll explore the long and lustrous history of fashion.

From fashion as an expression of modernity, to the emergence of the contemporary industry from its counter-cultural origins, you’ll study the story behind the style.

Examine different fashion industry business models

You’ll delve into the different business models to be found in the sector, including luxury brands, digital-only companies, and mass-market fashion.

Get a comprehensive introduction to the business of fashion, and the options available to someone wanting to start working in fashion business strategy and branding.

Next you’ll sample fashion’s many different trends and tribes, allowing you to better understand what your customer might look like and what their passions are.

You’ll explore how different generations consume fashion differently, and what a truly sustainable fashion business model looks like practise.

Learn with international experts at Institut Français de la Mode

Studying fashion alongside industry thought-leaders at the world-class Paris school Institut Français de la Mode, you’ll see what makes fashion tick from the eyes of experts.

You’ll come away with a professional grounding in the essentials of fashion management, ready to tackle the second course in the ExpertTrack.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    What is Fashion? An historical and sociological perspective

    • IFM logo

      Getting started

      Welcome to the course!

    • Fashion silhouette

      Fashion as an expression of modernity

      How did fashion start?

    • Fashion silhouette

      The origins of the contemporary fashion industry

      What are the origins of the contemporary fashion industry?

    • Fashion silhouette

      From counter-culture to mainstream

      How was haute couture redefined after the Second World War?

    • Test yourself

      What did you learn this week?

  • Week 2

    Evolving fashion business models

    • Fashion silhouette

      Luxury business models: from couture houses to mega brands

      What are the different luxury business models?

    • Fashion silhouette

      The rise of affordable luxury and DNVB: singularity & new challenges

      What is affordable luxury? How to define DNVB?

    • Fashion silhouette

      Mass market retailers: a new paradigm

      How to explain the success of the mass market retailers?

    • Question mark

      Test yourself

      What did you learn this week?

  • Week 3

    Trends, tribes and customers

    • Young girl

      Key changes in fashion consumption

      An analysis of changes in fashion consumption with a social and historical approach

    • Young girl

      New generations and new consumption modes

      How do new generations influence consumption trends?

    • Young girl

      Sustainable fashion consumption

      How to analyse the emergence of sustainable fashion consumption?

    • Young girl

      The second hand market

      Let's look more specifically at the second-hand market.

    • Question mark

      Test yourself

      What did you learn this week?

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Understand the definition of fashion
  • Understand the main fashion business models
  • Explain the principles of consumer behaviour

Who is the course for?

Whether you’re a business student looking to specialise your skills for work in fashion or you’re a career changer trying to break into the fashion industry, this course will give you a thorough grounding in the fashion business from multiple professional perspectives.

Alongside students and professionals, this course will be beneficial if you’re already working in fashion as a product manager, product developer, designer, collection manager, business developer, or in fashion PR and communications to bring your skills up-to-date and in line with the fashion market today.

What software or tools do you need?

There are no specific entry requirements for this course except for a passion for fashion business and a desire to grow and specialise your business skills as a fashion professional.

You will need a strong grasp of the English language as the course is delivered in English.

Who will you learn with?

Monica Benzi

I lead the MSc Fashion & Luxury Management degree program at IFM in Paris. I hold a professional and teaching experience in fashion retail and cosmetics, luxury brand management, and fashion marketing

Who developed the course?

IFM logo

Institut Français de la Mode (IFM)

IFM (Institut Français de la Mode) is a higher education institution specialising in the textile, fashion, luxury and design industries, based in Paris, France.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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