The
Catalan Fashion Institut is the quintessential fashion school in Barcelona. Fashion and image reign supreme here, focusing more on the showy or the flashy sides of the industry but taking them on in a more meticulous way. Beyond the necessary skills, techniques, and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry, the institute also goes out of its way to encourage its students' creativity. The training here includes both technical courses and artistic subjects that will help you think outside of the box. In turn, you'll eventually create fashions and images that will make a mark in the industry.
Source: Institut Català de la Moda - ICModa Facebook Page
History of Catalan Fashion Institut
Esther Soldevila, a member of the left-ring intellectual movement, “La Gauche Divine,” founded the school in October 1981. Upon its opening, it didn't take long for ICModa to become one of the
best fashion schools in Barcelona. Around that time, the school was one of the very few that offered official undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in fashion design. Over time, the Catalan Fashion Institut grew to include more specific programs within the craft, such as pattern-making, styling, and the like. The school now focuses on the image-making facet of fashion, giving students the vital lessons needed to succeed in the industry.
What Does Catalan Fashion Institut Look Like?
The Catalan Fashion Institut is housed in a classic, pre-war building on Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes in the Eixample district. The building itself looks and seems narrow at first glance, but when you get inside, you'll see that it's a fairly spacious campus overall. There's enough space for fashion design studies, including all sorts of facilities the students will need. Apart from the standard classrooms, there's also a well-stocked library, big studios, spacious ateliers, a cafeteria, and more. Though undoubtedly among the smallest
fashion schools in Europe, it's by no means less prestigious.
Source: Catalan Fashion Institut
The Catalan Fashion Institut Student Body
ICModa's student body also serves as further proof of how small of a school it is. The institute usually welcomes only 41 enrollees per term, including those returning who have yet to graduate. And while it has a couple of international students, they're not as many as those in other
fashion schools around the world. The Catalan Fashion Institut may be a beloved institution in Barcelona, but its prominence barely extends beyond the Catalan capital. Nevertheless, the school has produced more than a handful of graduates who have gone on to make a name for themselves in the industry.
Catalan Fashion Institut's Best Programs and Courses
What's great about ICModa is that it's solely devoted to fashion design. While other fashion schools also offer courses about the business side of the industry, this one is all about the craft. There's the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, for example, which is the school's most popular program. It's the ultimate course to train you to work as a designer someday, whether you start your own brand or you work for a big label. There's also the Master of Arts in Styling and Costume, which will teach you about the art of image-making.
Where is The Catalan Fashion Institut in Barcelona?
As already mentioned, the Catalan Fashion Institut is located in the Eixample district, one of the
central neighborhoods in Barcelona. It's a busy area where you'll find the iconic art nouveau basilica Sagrada Familía, Plaça de Catalunya, and more. What's great about it is that it's a healthy mix of a local community with tons of tourist attractions. Hence, Eixample tends to be the liveliest of all the city's neighborhoods. This is great for exploring the city and getting inspiration for your studies, but in terms of
renting a luxury apartment in Barcelona, you'll find it more peaceful in other areas. Eixample still has a lot of great real estate though!
Source: Catalan Fashion Institut
The Catalan Fashion Institut is the ultimate fashion school in Barcelona. This higher educational institution will teach you all about design, the industry, and more so that you can one day take the industry by storm.
