As a part of the class Japanese Art & Design, our first year students had the chance to visit some of the shows from the s/s 2025 Rakuten Fashion Week here in Tokyo last week. For this excursion, we invited ms. Takano Kumiko, who is a key figure for ACROSS, the trend observing association under PARCO, and who has been supporting our GFC course as a part-time lecturer from the start of the program for over ten years.
Thanks to ms. Takano, the students were able to view multiple shows, including TELMA, MITSURU OKAZAKI, SHINYA KOZUKA, the Global Fashion Collective and WILDFRÄULEIN. Furthermore, the students were also able to meet and discuss their research projects with Vogue Italia senior Editor and young designer talent scout Sara Maino. A precious opportunity, from which the students learnt a lot.
The Global Fashion Concentration (GFC) has been founded for students who wish to gain their MA in fashion and textile studies in English. It strives to bridge theory and practice within a global context with a focus on fashion related art and design. As the course is based in Japan, there are classes offered on Japanese aesthetics and language. An array of trans-disciplinary subjects related to fashion are offered. The core subject of the GFC, titled "Project Research", is led by specialists and industry counterparts and is designed to allow students to develop their individual research proposals both in practice and theory. Students will have access to Bunka’s celebrated fashion library and world-class fashion museum for research and inspiration. Additionally, internships at high profile Japanese brands such as Anrealage, as well as the National Art Center enable students to implement real world connections between concept and practical knowledge. To be eligible to graduate, students are required to complete either a full Master’s thesis, or a collection.
In 2016, GFC launched a double degree program with the prestigious Parisian design school École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs (ENSAD). Students enrolled in this program will have the opportunity to present their MA project at the ENSAD final collection show and exhibition in Paris.
GFC is a concentrated program: Excellence in creation and skill as well as strong motivation, commitment and patience will be required. Successful graduates will be candidates for employment in all areas and levels of the fashion industry across the world, including design, journalism, fashion buying, curation, and academia.
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