Saudi Fashion Commission Launches Educational Programs in Collaboration with French Fashion Institute, ‘Misk’ Foundation

The Saudi Fashion Commission logo
The Saudi Fashion Commission logo
TT

Saudi Fashion Commission Launches Educational Programs in Collaboration with French Fashion Institute, ‘Misk’ Foundation

The Saudi Fashion Commission logo
The Saudi Fashion Commission logo

The Saudi Fashion Commission launched an educational program initiative for fashion pioneers in collaboration with the French Fashion Institute and the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation “Misk.”

The initiative aligns with the Commission’s goals of empowering the local fashion industry and providing fashion professionals with the necessary tools for creativity and excellence.

The programs follow the Fashion Commission’s announcement of its strategic partnership with the French Fashion Institute in June of this year, including the launch of innovative educational programs. The programs combine the latest knowledge with practical experience and serve as a platform to empower designers, brand owners, and investors to grow in the fashion industry.

The programs launched by the authority include five training courses, including a preparatory course in executive business management in the fashion sector, conducted in three phases: a virtual training program, an in-person training program in Riyadh, and an in-person training program in Paris, culminating in a final project.

The Riyadh program includes introductory sessions on planning, marketing, sales, brand identity, business strategy, planning, visual merchandising, and retail. The training sessions in Paris feature academic elements, including lectures and activities focused on digital marketing, financial management, product development, and production.

The programs include a developmental course on advanced sustainability practices in the fashion industry, conducted in two phases: a virtual training program and an in-person training program in Riyadh. The course covers an introduction to fashion and sustainability, the study of the circular economy in fashion, innovation and technology in sustainable fashion, as well as strategies for implementing sustainability and social responsibility through a business model in the fashion sector.

The programs include a developmental course on exploring advanced research methods in design applications. The course highlights the essential project guidelines that form the preparatory foundations for designing a fashion collection. The six-day program focuses on the exploratory research aspect of a creative project at the intersection of contemporary global fashion, local and heritage materials, clothing, textiles, and local architecture. It will be conducted in two phases: virtual training and in-person training in Paris.

Moreover, the Fashion Commission offers a developmental course on visual merchandising and marketing in the fashion industry, lasting seven days in Riyadh. The course covers the fundamentals of building a fashion brand, marketing basics, visual display techniques, trend analysis, and insights into the fashion business landscape, distribution channels, and shopping strategies.

Additionally, there will be a developmental course in fashion photography, offering participants valuable insights into visual storytelling within the industry. The intensive six-day course, conducted in person in Riyadh, offers a comprehensive exploration of fashion photography, blending theoretical knowledge with practical application.



Hermes Q3 Sales Up 11.3%, Continues to Outshine Rivals

A logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Nantes, France, October 17, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
A logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Nantes, France, October 17, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
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Hermes Q3 Sales Up 11.3%, Continues to Outshine Rivals

A logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Nantes, France, October 17, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
A logo of Hermes is seen on a store in Nantes, France, October 17, 2024. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

Birkin bag maker Hermes reported on Thursday an 11.3% rise in third-quarter sales, continuing to outshine rivals hit hard by a downturn in China as its luxury handbags lure wealthy shoppers.

The French luxury company generated 3.7 billion euros ($3.99 billion) in revenue for the three months ending in September, an 11.3% rise at constant exchange rates, Reuters reported.

The figure was in line with an analyst consensus estimate of 11% growth cited by Jefferies.
"In a more uncertain economic and geopolitical context, I want to thank all employees for the robust third-quarter performance, and our customers for their loyalty," said Axel Dumas, Executive Chairman of Hermes.
"Thanks to the singularity of its model, Hermes is continuing its recruitments and long-term investments," he said in a statement.
A sector-wide slowdown has affected labels across the high-end spectrum.
Luxury bellwether LVMH missed expectations last week and flagged a drop in Chinese consumer confidence to COVID-era lows, with a deterioration in demand for fashion over the quarter.
Late on Wednesday, Kering warned its 2024 operating income would almost halve to its lowest in years as weak demand in China deepened the struggles of the French luxury goods group's main label Gucci.
Hermes' famously classic designs and tight management of production and stock have helped reinforce the label's aura of exclusivity and made the company one of the most consistent performers in the industry.
Handbags like the coveted $10,000 plus Birkin model are affordable only for the wealthiest shoppers -- who are typically the more immune to choppy economic conditions.
But showing limits of its resilience, executives earlier this year said that Hermes was seeing slightly less traffic from aspirational clients, impacting higher volume products like fashion accessories such as silk scarves.
Hermes shares have risen nearly 9% since the start of the year, outpacing rivals, with LVMH down nearly 15%, Moncler down 3.3% and Kering, which is working to turn around Gucci, down 40%.