- Aileen Yu
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2020 is here and we still don’t have flying cars, but technology has
changed our daily lives in ways never expected by previous forecasts. Going
beyond devices, technology altered our reality from how we interact with
each other, how we learn, how we dress and so much more.
Tech companies are turning to clothing, but not necessarily to fashion.
The time is now for the fashion industry to keep up on those new
technologies and be able to respond to future demands. “We will all need to
become lifelong learners”, it was stated in the Jobs of the Future
report at the World Economic Forum. According to fashion tech agency, The
Powerhouse, the European Union has agreed on a 2020 Digital Education
Action Plan to stimulate, support and scale-up purposeful use of digital
and innovative education practices in Europe.
Recently, the fashion industry has noticed the shortage of a qualified
workforce in craftsmanship for luxury goods while major companies have
decided to solve this issue by establishing in-house academies. Ralph &
Russo launched a couture apprenticeship programme. LVMH’s Institut des
Métiers d’Excellence incorporates practical learning and a formal
qualification. Kering has two schools of artisanship, and Gucci opened a
private school in Florence. Tommy Hilfiger Global and PVH Europe are
committed to achieving 100 percent 3D apparel design by their Spring 2022
collections. To accomplish that, they are creating an academy dedicated to
training professionals for the new fashion industry, called Stitch Academy
which is part of the Hatch Studio.
It seems that traditional MBAs may also expire in a few years, as they have become too long and less interesting for new professionals. Instead, having on-demand degrees could increase the appeal for post-grad school and better prepare students in non-traditional fields by mixing areas of interest. Short term post-grad courses offered by traditional schools are leading this education trend. Polimoda in Florence, one of the top fashion schools in the world, is offering a master’s degree in Digital Fashion, with mentoring by The Powerhouse’s CEO and founder, Lisa Lang. The program covers a cross-field experience to train future Chief Innovation Officers for major fashion houses, in only nine months.
Photos: screenshot of the Stitch Academy website, suzymenkesvogue Instagram
