Fashion school trains future designers and stylists

 

Istanbul (Dunya) – In a large classroom here full of mannequins,  sowing machines and computer terminals, young students are grouped around a table closely watching a woman instructor as they learn the basics of  designing clothes.  

She is showing them creative draping techniques, or pinning fabrics on three-dimensional designs, one of the important steps in designing clothing.

The classroom is part of Istanbul Moda Academy (IMA), Turkey's number one fashion school.

"This is the one and only school in Turkey that teaches everything related to fashion," says IMA's director, Seda Lafci. "It is the best equipped school in its field in Turkey, with cutting edge technology."

The school is research-oriented, and has Turkey's best library on fashion with more than 6,000 volumes of books and magazines.

Some 250 students are registered at the school, which works with professionals in the field as well as with major Turkish and international apparel companies, and academicians from Turkey and abroad. The academy also provides consultancy services for ready-wear and apparel companies in Turkey, often training their personnel. 

 

 

"What makes the school different is the support it gets from the industry. Student designers and future managers work with top designers and owners of the companies often on a one-to-one basis, often solving day to day problems of design and manufacturing" Ms. Lafci said. "Most of the students become professionals before their schooling is over."

The fashion school is the equivalent of a two-year college, and admission is strict. Students have to show a portfolio of their works and be interviewed. Some 60 instructors teach at the school, which is financed by the apparel and textile industries, which provide fabrics and state-of the-art technology.

The academy cooperates with many European institutions and fashion schools.

Students who complete the program can go on to study at the London College of Fashion (LCF), an institute of the University of Arts London, where they can get undergraduate degrees. LCF is considered a strategic partner.

The academy opened in 2008. It was established by Istanbul Ready-Wear and Apparel Exporters' Associations, as part of a euro 17 million European Union project to develop talented designers, and encourage research and development in the fashion business and to advise small and medium enterprises in the clothing, apparel and leatherwear industries. 

 

Prime Minister's Mansion

The school is located in Sadrazam Sait Pasha Konagi, the 19th century mansion of  one of the longest serving prime ministers of the Ottoman empire, on the busy Tesvikiye Avenue, in Istanbul's Nisantasi district.

 

Nisantasi is Turkey's fashion hub, and hundreds of stores along the avenue sell designer's clothes, such as Gucci, Escada, Chanel, and Yves St. Laurent as well as more popular brands, such as Marks & Spence and Tommy Hilfiger and Benetton. 

At the Istanbul Moda Academy, the students learn everything from fashion design and technology, to portfolio preparation, and career bridges to the fashion industry, and merchandising and management. 

Some of the students are already older professionals in the fashion and textiles business, but who wish to develop themselves or those interested in fashion and are considering a career change. They can learn fashion design and management, retail, merchandising, visual merchandising, brand management in international in international markets, fashion media, styling, fashion photography, creative draping techniques, fashion illustration and use of Photoshop and illustration.  

Students get to take part in fashion contests and shows, with winners going on to international careers.

 

Experience tells

As director of the Academy, Ms. Lafci brings more than 25 years' experience in the textiles and apparel business. She headed the fashion exhibitions department at the Turkish Textiles and Apparel Exporters' Associations, holding fashion shows around the world, and served as deputy secretary general of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM). She later had her own fashion consultancy business, before coming on as director of the Istanbul Moda Academy.