Esmod Berlin: How have students fared after closing?

On October 1, 2017 Esmod Berlin closed its doors for good. This came as a surprise to most students as they were notified by e-mail just days before the closing. They were informed of the opportunity to complete their bachelor's degree at the private fashion school AMD Academy Fashion & Design, which would also continue the new master's program “Sustainability in Fashion”. More than two months later, FashionUnited has checked on the situation.

Around 80 percent of the 220 Esmod students have now moved to AMD Berlin for the bachelor's degree programs in Mode Design and Fashion Design, as well as for the master's program “Sustainability in Fashion and Creative Industries” and continue their studies here. This was confirmed by AMD Berlin on enquiry by FashionUnited.

The three-semester master's program, which is taught in English, was launched in April of this year and is aimed at students who want to make a difference in the field of sustainability in the fashion industry. “Our foundation feels it is its duty to teach and promote the subject of sustainability. The international master's degree program at Esmod is a world leader in this area,” said Rolf Heimann, dean and founder and director of the hessnatur Foundation when presenting the program in February.

The titel of the master's program was extended and is now called “Sustainability in Fashion and Creative Industries”. It is still being taught by Heimann, but at AMD. “I want to pass on my knowledge in the broad field that is sustainability through teaching and to train the next generation to design and implement modern sustainability,” commented Heimann, a pioneer and long-standing expert in the field.

What is special about this program is that it is aimed at creative designers as well as managers (with a business administration or CR or CSR background) and communication experts. In addition to design blocks on sustainability, it also teaches sustainability as a guiding principle so that graduates are able to integrate themselves into existing management systems or to communicate them via sustainable corporate principles and activities.

“We would like to deepen our cooperation on the scientific and the applied level. And we are happy when through our support, new 'change agents' are trained who can then bring in and multiply their insights and new awareness in companies and projects,” added Heimann.

Photo credits: SCI - Bartek Barczyk; AMD Berlin - AMD Akademie Mode & Design