RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FASHION AND THE TEXTILE SECTOR AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: ISTANBUL FASHIONACADEMY EXAMPLE

Abstract

Since 2000, fashion and textile education in Turkey seems to be forefront of private institutions. Some of these institutions are established colleges and academies that are within leading textile companies. However, Istanbul Fashion Academy which was established collectively by the existing design institutions and individuals in business, remains in a different field among its peers in terms of its organization mission and training program. Istanbul Fashion Academy, implemented by the cooperation of The European Union, the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Economy and the Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters' Union, has a mission of training fashion designers who have a deep understanding of fashion, design and international markets, therefore providing creative, innovative skilled manpower to one of the fundamental industries of Turkey; Textile and Ready-Made Clothing Sector. As a member of International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI), Istanbul Fashion Academy also has strategic partnership with University of Arts London/London College of Fashion, Polirnoda, Institute Francais de la Mode and Nottingham Trent University. This study focuses on the development of Istanbul Fashion Academy and its training program, discussing the innovations that it brought to the sector by looking at the status of its graduates in the industry.