Master of Arts in Critical Fashion Practices
Paris, France
MA
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2027
TUITION FEES
EUR 32,640 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
* international students | 16,320€/year: EU/EEA/CH/UK nationals
Key Summary
About: The MA in Critical Fashion Practices at Paris College of Art is a one-year studio-focused programme that teaches de-design, research methods, studio practice, and theory so you can reimagine fashion systems with ethical, sustainable, and inclusive approaches. Applicants must present a clear, visually articulated project at interview and will work with industry professionals.
Career Outcomes: Graduates may pursue roles such as sustainable fashion designer, design researcher, creative director, curator, consultant, educator, or social-innovation leader. You’ll apply skills in critical thinking, practice-led research, conceptual development, portfolio building, and professional collaboration across industry, advocacy, curation, and academia and public policy spaces.
Rethink Fashion Systems
In our one-year, studio-focused MA in Critical Fashion Practices, we invite you to look at fashion as a space for activism, identity and social change. You will explore how design can question existing systems and contribute to more conscious, inclusive and responsible ways of working.
Our approach is rooted in the philosophy of de-sign, a process of questioning, disrupting and reimagining established design practices and modes of production. You will examine dominant ideas within the fashion industry and explore alternative approaches that consider community, environmental care and social justice. When you apply, we ask you to bring a clear, visually articulated project idea that can become the starting point for your Master’s degree project.
Develop Your Creative and Critical Practice
We combine studio practice, theory-based courses and electives so you can strengthen your technical expertise, deepen your conceptual thinking and develop an individual point of view.
You will create your own fashion collections using research-led and process-oriented methods, while exploring ways to challenge conventional fashion narratives. Throughout your studies, you will also engage with fashion professionals and change-makers, helping you connect your creative work with wider conversations taking place across the industry.
By the end of the program, you will have developed a stronger understanding of how fashion can respond to social, cultural and environmental challenges, while building a practice that reflects your own values and creative direction.
MA Curriculum
Fall
- Degree Project Concept & Design 1
- Degree Project Studio 1
- Critical Fashion Studies
- Fashion Subcultures as Visual Language
- Introduction to Research & Methodology
- Masters Elective
Spring
- Degree Project Concept & Design 2
- Degree Project Studio 2
- Masters Elective
- MA Thesis
This program is right for you if you are a fashion designer, creative thinker, or industry professional who is eager to critically question the norms of fashion and rethink its role in society. If you are drawn to issues like sustainability, inclusivity, ethics, activism, and social justice, and want to explore these through design, this program offers a powerful platform.
You’ll thrive in this MA if:
- You are looking to move beyond commercial fashion and instead design for meaningful impact
- You want to engage deeply with theory, research, and cultural analysis as part of your creative process
- You are excited to be part of a collaborative, international graduate community in Paris
- You value experimentation, innovation, and design as a tool for change
The program’s emphasis on unmaking and reimagining means it’s ideal for those with bold ideas, a reflective mindset, and a desire to shape the future of fashion—not just follow it.