In this graduation season, Cao Lujian, one of the graduates of Shanghai University—Paris International Institute of Fashion an d Arts, chose to attend the graduation show, on the stage of which he could demonstrate what he had learned.

"This is our tradition, " said by Shen Zhiwen, the Executive Dean of Mod’Art. Each graduate must design at least 6 clothes in the last 6 months in the school. Most important, the clothes should pass the criterion of professors in design. Thanks to the focus on students’ creative thinking, the institute maintains the record of 100% employment in the past 7 years.

The Focus on the Creative Thinking

On the Jul.11th afternoon, Mod’Art graduation show opened in Shanghai International Fashion Center. The graduates demonstrated their design philosophy by their clothes.

"This collection 'Two Faces' demonstrates that everyone has two sides, one is visible an d the other is invisible,” Cao Lujian said, “Life is not a procedure. We should think out of the box.” This philosophy was well presented by his designs: the opposite wear, the shirt collar dress, the rolled up sleeves an d trousers…….

Cao Lujian’s design philosophy has also influenced on his choice of future job. He chose to work for himself. He founded an art an d fashion company in Taopu road. He said, “I hope to design an d produce cheap fashion bran ds in order to change citizens’ lifestyle.
 
"It has been 10 years since Mod’Art started,” said by Shen Zhiwen. In the past 10 years, the graduates keep 100% employment for 7 consecutive years. 92% students find jobs to match their majors. Every year, around 10%-15% graduates choose to employ themselves. For the graduates, Shen Zhiwen described them as “Three Highs”: High pay, high starting salary an d high rate of self-employment."

The introduction of “the Best of Paris”

Although Mod’Art is a Sino-French school, at the beginning the institute decided to teach students in English instead of French. “One is because of the market demand an d the other is high rate of employment,” explained by Shen Zhiwen. In order to have a broader world, people should have a good command of English, which is mainly used to communicate in fashion.

"In 2003, there are 1000 fashion schools. Most people consider the fashion design as textile an d art. In fact, it is not right.” Shen Zhiwen thinks that these schools are assimilated, which are completely different from foreign fashion schools. He said, “we wanna introduce the best to Shanghai University, including theory an d practice.

"With the best courses, best machines an d best works, students can grow up in the best environment,” said by Shen Zhiwen. Although the annual tuition is from 40000 to 60000, all the money are spent on the students. In addition, the institute hires more than 10 part-time teachers, hires the best stage director in Shanghai, builds the best stage, an d purchases many foreign advanced equipment......

Three Teachers for One Student

In the cultivation of students, the students are trained by practice. “We have 90% courses are practical courses," said by Shen Zhiwen. The designs of the graduate exhibition are all made by the students themselves.

For the final exams of each semester, students are graded by their works. There are three teachers who give students questions on one topic. But these three teachers are in responsible for their parts: clothes, design an d pattern making. The students must finish one piece of clothes in accordance with three requirements. This is to test students’ practical ability an d the overall command of a design. This kind test is the first assessment in domestic colleges.

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