With the Art, Culture, and Heritage Division, ESMOD Aims to Establish Itself as a Cultural Force in Fashion
With the Art, Culture, and Heritage Division, ESMOD Aims to Establish Itself as a Cultural Force in Fashion
The Vestologie Exhibition Credits: Lucas SOUBIGOU MARIE
Fashion school ESMOD has strengthened its partnership with Printemps Haussmann through the event La veste dans tous ses états and the exhibition Vestologie. On this occasion, a selection of exceptional pieces from the school’s study collection—previously unknown to the general public—was exhibited alongside those of prestigious Parisian fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Lanvin. This event is part of the initiatives led by ESMOD’s Art, Culture, and Heritage division, created in March 2024. Speaking to FashionUnited, Sylvie Marot, the division’s director, emphasizes the school’s ambition to position itself as a key cultural player in fashion moving forward.
Statement
With a heritage spanning over 180 years, ESMOD possesses a rich history. While museums and major fashion houses have been highlighting their heritage for over a decade, fashion schools have rarely explored their own.
For the past ten years, ESMOD has begun examining its legacy, thanks to meticulous research led by Claire Wargnier, former head of publishing and heritage at the school. Her work has unveiled an extensive archive bequeathed by Alexis Lavigne, his daughters, and granddaughters, including numerous books, magazines, and other editorial content.
"They enriched fashion literature through educational methods as well as illustrated fashion magazines that have since fallen into oblivion," explains Sylvie Marot, who aims to revive this forgotten knowledge.
The Art, Culture, and Heritage division encompasses three key areas: publishing, documentation, and heritage. Under the leadership of Véronique Beaumont, the school’s director, ESMOD has made a strategic decision to leverage its cultural dimension as a major communication and recognition tool. Marot also highlights that this initiative serves as an excellent resource for students and industry professionals, providing access to a documentation center and historical archives.
A Strategic Expertise
To lead this ambitious project, ESMOD has appointed Sylvie Marot as director of the Art, Culture, and Heritage division. A fashion heritage consultant, educator, and curator, Marot brings over 20 years of experience in the fashion industry.
She began her career at the Museum of Art and Industry in Saint-Étienne, where she expanded the museum’s contemporary and haute couture acquisitions. In the early 2000s, she joined Marithé and François Girbaud, a French ready-to-wear brand that sought to establish a heritage department—an avant-garde move for a company outside the luxury sector. Her tenure ended with the brand’s liquidation, after she had successfully curated a monographic book and exhibition.
For more than a decade, Marot has assisted fashion brands, private and public collectors, and museums in preservation and heritage enhancement projects, specializing in exhibitions and publishing. Passionate about craftsmanship and knowledge transmission, she joined the Université de la Mode in Lyon in 2017 to develop a fashion heritage curriculum.
Now at the helm of ESMOD’s Art, Culture, and Heritage division, she is ready to take on new challenges.
Future Projects
"I can’t reveal everything yet, but one thing is certain: a lot is in the works, both within the division and the school as a whole," teases Sylvie Marot. She points out that much of the groundwork remains unseen by the general public, but it is essential for the division’s long-term impact.
In just a few months, the Art, Culture, and Heritage division has already collaborated on two major exhibitions: Vestologie at Printemps Haussmann, curated by Sylvie Marot and Marlène Van de Casteele, and Corps In-visibles at the Rodin Museum, where ESMOD provided a selection of archives. Starting in February, the L’Art du Drag exhibition will shine a spotlight on the creativity of three ESMOD alumni.
Looking ahead, ESMOD plans to establish long-term partnerships with leading cultural institutions to support and participate in major exhibitions. A recent example is its collaboration with the International Council of Museums – Costume Committee (ICOM).
"The idea is to venture into projects where people least expect us," says Marot, revealing that a new publication is already in progress. With its Art, Culture, and Heritage division, ESMOD is also engaging with its research laboratory, which recently organized two study days on Vogue magazine. The goal is to increase the school’s visibility among both the general public and the academic community. To support this mission, the division is working on the digitalization of ESMOD’s archives, building a comprehensive database—a long and meticulous process, but one that is essential for preserving and sharing the school’s invaluable fashion heritage
Comments0
Please log in to see or add a comment
Suggested Articles
