Mohali Fashion Park ties up with Paris school for courses

The Mohali Fashion Technology Park and the ESMOD International Fashion School, Paris (the world's first fashion university), signed a memorandum of understanding for diploma and degree courses in fashion in Chandigarh on Wednesday.

Set up in 1841, ESMOD is a 145-year-old art and fashion institute that has produced leading fashion designers. At present, it has tied up with institutes in 22 countries, the Fashion Technology Park being the 23rd centre.

"Our aim is to make fashion a global experience where traditional forms can be enriched with technology," said Francois Lavergne, international project manager, ESMOD, adding that from India the institute would pick up traditional art, introduce modern ideas into it, and bring it into mainstream fashion.

The fashion school is also planning to set up a fashion university in Punjab. "Initially, we are going to help the Fashion Technology Park in research and development and product innovation, and build a platform of exchange and sharing through joint venture projects," said Lavergne.

Fashion Technology Park Chief Executive Officer Jagjit Singh Kochar said the institute would give diplomas and degrees in fashion and, at a later stage, MBA degrees. "In six months we will start the course," he said.

The Fashion Technology Park Project, promoted by Chandigarh Overseas Pvt. Ltd, a greenfield venture, is spread over 14 acres, with construction on 11.5 lakh sq feet, and is coming up at a cost of Rs 220 crore in 18 months.