Widely regarded as the world fashion capital, the luxury industry in Paris is a booming one – a short stroll down the Champs-Élysées would tell you that. With brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Lacroix all headquartered in the city, Paris also hosts a fashion week twice a year.
Luxury, the DNA of the French capital
Paris is a city which is investing in the future of the luxury industry too, with a number of specialist fashion schools in the city. From the likes of Esmod International and ENSAD to the world renowned Institut Français de la mode (IFA), there are many respectable institutions out there.
IFA notably offers Bachelors in Fashion Design & Technology, as well as Masters in Arts Contemporary Fashion Design and an MBA in Bachelor Visual Merchandising, amongst others.
All of the companies and schools in Paris go to show that fashion and luxury is at the heart of the city. If you want a crack of a good job in the luxury industry in the world, you won’t find anywhere better than the French capital.
If you’ve got a qualification and experience in the luxury industry, then you might be looking at the top jobs. For instance, many set their dreams on being a fashion designer. In charge of creating fashion lines for luxury brands and everything that comes with it, it’s one of the most prestigious roles in the sector. Designers often either work for a fashion company or go freelance to move between them all.
Textile designer
For those adept with textiles and good with their hands, there’s the possibility of becoming a textile designer. Otherwise, there’s the role of art director who takes charge behind-the-scenes of a brand.
For those more skilled with words, working in the press and PR side of Paris’ luxury industry makes the most sense. From fashion weeks to new collections, the goings-on of Paris’ fashion sector hits big time in the press. There are jobs either reporting for an outlet or working for a brand and communicating with journalists.
For those looking to break into the luxury sector in Paris for the first time, there are roles which rely on largely transferrable skills. Sales managers and sales assistants work alongside teams to grow the notoriety of brands and study market trends.
If you’ve done a sales role elsewhere, you could also fit into these fashion brands. Often, these roles look for English-speakers too due to the international nature of the industry. A lively sector, there’s often turnover too. The likes of Michael Kors and Versace have been on the lookout for such roles in Paris at the time of writing (March 2020), so always have your feelers out.
Showroom assistant
More hands-on and requiring less experience, the role of a showroom assistant in one Paris’ many outlets is a fun way to gain experience. This job will see you get involved in the set-up of showrooms, laying collections out and assisting brand sales agents in just about everything!
On a bigger scale, these roles during Fashion Week are of great importance as assistants work with high-profile models and brands - an exciting goal to set yourself.
Finding an internship in Paris’ luxury industry is also easier than you may think. These vary a lot in types of role too. Some brands look for interns to do analytic work and pull in as much data about the current industry trends.
Elsewhere, interns working especially in event organisation will see projects through from start to finish. Others look for assistants that encompass many different roles from showroom assistant to sales assistance and back office management, which is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to try a bit of everything!
Whatever the role, experienced or entry level, being an English-speaker is a huge plus for companies. Paris is the worldwide centre of the luxury industry, and that means people from all over the world want to work with the French capital’s companies.
If you are an English-speaker in Paris or looking to move to Paris, why not join Mômji? As well as fun and flexible part-time jobs, we have a huge international community who meet up at regular socials. Want to hear more about us and join the movement? Apply now through our online form.
