ESIV regains visibility

Exit La Fabrique, ESIV "regains its letters of nobility", explains Véronique Bekhdadi, head of pedagogy at the Ecole Supérieure de l'Industrie du Vêtement, founded in 1945. In 2013, ESIV was integrated, along with two other CCI Paris Île-de-France training establishments, Les Ateliers Grégoire (leather goods, decoration) and Novencia/IFA Chauvin (merchandising), into a new establishment: "La Fabrique", Porte de Champerret (Paris 17th). After their closure, ESIV has returned to its original brand and is evolving its offering to better suit needs. Its new-found visibility comes at a time of renewed interest in French savoir-faire and industry. "Guarantors of French manufacturing, our school is the only one in the world to train technical executives at this level", asserts Véronique Bekhdadi.

In its 800 m² of workshops, ESIV still centers its offer on its two-year Master's degree, the subject of a major reset via a new RNCP title recognized at the end of November by the French State. Its title -Manager, expert in the development and production of fashion products- reflects the evolution of this diploma offering dual skills, technical (garment making, textiles, industrialization, quality, supply-chain) and managerial (business, product development).

More eco-design

Véronique Bekhdadi, pedagogical manager of the'ESIV. Photo credits : ©ESIV">

Focused on garments (warp & weft and Knits), for the past two years it has also included an introduction to leather goods in partnership with the Compagnons du Devoir. A plus for students heading for leather goods companies as industrial managers.

The new Mastère is also expanding its environmental and societal performance content, now associated with each skills block. The School has also added a 35-hour case study with a company in the second year (reparability at Agnès B for the last graduating class; dead stock at Home Lemaire this year). The new RNCP also introduces "information on data for predictive analysis, essential for production time and data". Some students have already become "real experts".

Two entry points coexist to integrate the Mastère. The first, a two-year sandwich course, is open to Bac +3 students (BTS Métiers de la Mode et du Vêtement (MMV) and bachelor's degrees). The second entry is aimed at Bac +3 students of all specialities, provided "they have a professional project". After full-time immersion in the clothing professions in the first year, they join the second year on a sandwich course.

Initial training and retraining

Photographic credits : ©ESIV">

ESIV also attracts around two to three returnees every year, mixed in with initial training students. "Last year, we had two women in their forties, one from a related fashion sector (store manager) and the other from digital marketing fragrances. It's a real challenge for these returnees, as the school has extremely packed timetables to train to our level of excellence",explains Véronique Bekhdadi. In order to preserve the quality of teaching, classes have only 18 students.

ESIV's new Master's degree prepares students for the professions of technical manager, industrialization/manufacturing line methods manager, product developer and product manager. "When they join our school, all the students want to become product managers, but in a graduating class, very few go on to exercise this profession, because at ESIV, they discover other professions where there are great technical careers", observes the manager.

In September 2026, ESIV will also be launching an initial cycle to the Master's degree, also RNCP, preparing for its sandwich course, accessible to bac+2 students.

Finally, the School is also announcing for the start of the academic year, a Bachelor's degree in "Sciences and techniques of fashion and accessories products", three years post-bac (one year for holders of a BTS MMV), aimed at "those who want to work quickly" to "middle management jobs, such as supervisor". This training, which is the subject of an application for RNCP recognition, includes internships (between 3 and 6 months depending on the year).

Meeting needs better

Photo credits : ©ESIV">

All these training courses are closely aligned with needs in the field. ESIV teachers have evolved or continue to work in companies, with the former immersing themselves in the field for one week a year to bring their teaching into line with industry expectations. All "love working with students, who are hyper-interactive and interested". To stimulate their interest in the school, as well as that of companies, the "mini-company" project, with the aim of creating a brand, is part of the ESIV DNA. Sponsored this year by Plissés de France, offering fabrics and consulting, students produce a silhouette from design to manufacture in 50 to 80 copies, which they then market. Partnerships are forged with other Écoles: Gobelins Paris or ISPICA (Institut supérieur international du Parfum, de la Cosmétique et de l'Aromatique alimentaire) develop graphic guidelines, logos, juices and cosmetics for the brand.

Another lever of proximity between ESIV and the industry is the requirement to spend two months on internship in workshops in France or abroad to close the first year of the full-time Master's degree. "We are also able to respond very quickly to requests from companies to collaborate on concrete projects, which will have nothing scholastic about them, costed right to the end", explains Véronique Bekhdadi, evoking the example, in 2014, of an electronic chip integrated invisibly into clothing, the fruit of specifications from the company PRIMO10.

93% insertion

Photo credits : ©ESIV">

The formula works. 93% of ESIV students are working six months after graduation. "Either they continue their work-study program on an open-ended contract, or they look elsewhere, as demand is very high for ESIV profiles and work-study offers are pouring in, thanks in particular to our Alumnis, who are present throughout the industry", she explains. The work-study pattern (one week at school, three weeks on a sandwich course) means that students, many of whom come from the provinces, are able to go to places other than Paris. Foreign students - around 10% per year - can also go on internships in Europe, Asia or North Africa...But "some prefer to stay in France to understand the inner workings of hexagonal savoir-faire, still benefiting from an aura".

On the student side, enrolment demand is up for the start of the 2026 academic year, a first since 2013. ESIV is not ruling out an additional class, without exceeding the limit of 18 students. According to Véronique Bekhdadi, the launch of La Fabrique had caused "a dilution of communication around ESIV", with many people believing it to be defunct. But for the past six months, a new communications manager has been deploying a more forceful approach to reach its target audience via social networks (TikTok...). And since last year, ESIV has been stepping up its visits to Schools with Alumnis to raise its profile.

"As the CCI Paris Île-de-France's smallest school, we are considered its diamond thanks to the very high level of commitment shown by teachers and students alike", souls Véronique Bekhdadi. Despite its small size, ESIV is also making a name for itself abroad. The school is currently negotiating a partnership with the University of Quebec, which is interested in the complementarity of ESIV's field-based teaching with its own, focused on production management. A great opportunity to promote Made in France expertise...