30 years of ESMOD Bordeaux

A photographic review of a school that draws on the richness of the surrounding region and the relevance of its creative uniqueness.

Avec la vidéo Stranger Clothing, Esmod Bordeaux a su souligner la richesse et la créativité de son enseignement, à l'écoute d'une mode toujours en mouvement.

Thanks to the vitality of the various cultural events it hosts on a regular basis throughout the year and its strong sense of community (with some 8,000 associations, including 600 new ones created each year - twice the national average), all supported by its extensive infrastructure dedicated to performance, sport and of course culture (the city is home to 17 museums, including the Musée des Beaux-Arts, which is one of the oldest in France and houses a number of leading collections, as well as numerous cinemas and 37 concert halls), the appeal of Bordeaux where new generations wishing to combine excellent education with an exceptional lifestyle are concerned, is as clear now as it has ever been.

As part of a retrospective exhibition, ESMOD Bordeaux has produced an anthology of photographic works designed by Fashion Design and Fashion Business students.

Photographic project: Jeanne Feito

It’s easy to see why the ESMOD International group wanted to establish a presence at this world-famous artistic heritage site with a view to reinforcing its status as the leading French fashion school dedicated to fashion design and the fashion business. Here in this native city of Sempé, Lolita Lempicka and Rosa Bonheur, a city that also served as a final place of refuge for Goya, the ESMOD school stands on the bright quaysides at the heart of the Bacalan district, a district that simply oozes maritime character. It is also a legendary district in many respects thanks to its unique spirit and the charm that shines through in the eclecticism of its cultural life, incorporating alternative venues, bold architecture, designer boutiques, trendy bars and concert halls that carve out the skyline of France’s ninth-largest town.

Under the direction of Stéphanie Lehir, who is always keen to highlight the innovation and artistic dimensions of the two courses the school offers, life at the school is just like the city itself: extensive, teeming and diverse, and the establishment has trained professionals whose careers testify to the originality of an education that is very much in keeping with the times. Olivier Rousteing is one notable example of this. We won't dwell here on the quality of the facilities that this spacious building offers, which include the assembly room fitted with sewing machines, sergers and semi-industrial machines, along with numerous computer workstations and a digital plotter, but we will highlight the diversity of the opportunities that the students get to exercise their talents, including local events and numerous partnerships with leading labels, not forgetting various competitions such as those held in conjunction with the Rotary Club, for example.

The photographic work of Fashion Design and Fashion Business students is a testament to the energy that has driven the school over the past 30 years.

Photographic project: Julie Piris

Although the course lasts three years before the students then head off to hone their specialisations in Lyon, Roubaix or Paris, the time they spend at ESMOD Bordeaux is still a key part of their studies, during which each student is required to reconcile the universal nature of an education that is renowned across the globe with the specificities of what is essentially an inimitable region. It’s also not unusual for students to turn to the city’s designers in search of an internship, from Vincent Sicet and his quality lingerie to Lou La Belle and her childrenswear, not forgetting Laetitia Macleod and Marie Vileteau, who specialise in evening and wedding dresses, and even the city’s Opera House.

ESMOD Bordeaux celebrated its 30th anniversary by opening its doors to the public for two days of festivities culminating in four exhibitions based on creative passion held on Saturday 18th June. The photo shoots executed by Fashion Design students were showcased alongside a compendium of creations designed by the students as part of their course.

Photographic project: Julie-Anne Marc

A celebration of fashion accessible to the general public

While organising the end-of-year runway show is a highlight of student life at any ESMOD school, the 2022 event held in June took on a special flavour as we celebrated 30 years of ESMOD Bordeaux. The school marked the occasion by opening its doors to the public for two days of festivities culminating in four exhibitions based on creative passion on Saturday 18th June. The photo shoots executed by Fashion Design students were showcased alongside a compendium of creations designed by the students as part of their course (with a screening of the runway event filmed on the Pont de Pierre) while the masterpieces produced by 2nd-year students were showcased as part of the 30 years of ESMOD Bordeaux competition launched in February. This opportunity for sharing brought together several generations of creative talents who were more in tune with the world of fashion now than they had ever been.