Success Stories

A career in fashion

Whether Christian Beck as chief designer of Aigner, Reinhard Brodel as chief designer of Clockhouse C&A or Chemena Kamali as chief designer of Saint Laurent

Many success stories began with a fashion degree in Trier. Designers, stylists, editors, costume designers or owners of their own companies. There are many ways to go after graduating in Trier.

The fashion industry is one of the largest, most consistent and traditional industries in the world. It is currently undergoing major changes. Exciting questions of sustainability, digitalisation, globalisation and much more offer influential opportunities to shape the future.

A sound education offers increased chances on the job market, as the fashion industry has for decades valued graduates of the Fashion Department of the University of Applied Sciences Trier. At the same time, the course of study offers the opportunity to try out and develop, to graduate with a Bachelor's, Master's or doctorate and to take one of the numerous career opportunities. A close, family-like network of former graduates provides support.

The topics sustainability, digitalisation, artistic development, sound craftsmanship and an understanding of the fashion market form the basis for a career in fashion. Experience since 1922 and numerous internationally successful graduates confirm these success stories.

Their success stories began in Trier.

Prof. Dirk Wolfes, Nadja Führinger, Lea Kasper, Miranda Konstantinidou, Anette Göhrlich

Prof. Dirk Wolfes from the fashion design department: "The fashion industry is currently undergoing major changes. It is a highly complex profession that requires a great deal of knowledge - from cutting, materials science, communication and market understanding to production processes".

A top-class podium at the alumni meeting in Trier

Antje Selzer – Senior Designer @ Calvin Klein / Sina Steidinger – Senior Designer @ Rosner / Julia Lipfert – Design Coordinator @ Betty Barclay  / Prof. Christian Bruns - Professor @ Hochschule Trier / Reinhard Brodel –  Head of Design @ C&A  / Volker Ketteniß – Head Menswear @ WGSN / Miranda Konstantinidou – Owner @ Konplott / Manfred Wagner – Senior Designer @ Closed

Fashion design in Trier - a course of studies with almost 100 years of history and tradition

The Department of Fashion Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Trier is not only one of the most renowned in Germany, it is also the oldest still existing institution for fashion design, founded as a design class in 1922 at the State Craftsmen and Arts and Crafts School.

Ralf Schmitt researches the history of the fashion course in Trier.

PROJECT GALLERY

Discover the project gallery of the fashion design department!

Numerous projects are created each semester. In the project gallery, the field of fashion design is shown in all its diversity. >

 

CAMPUS LIFE

Discover life on campus design!

Embedded in the Campus Design of the University of Applied Sciences Trier, the Fashion Design Department is surrounded by creative courses of study such as Intermediate Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Communication Design and Gem and Jewellery Design. Participation in interdisciplinary projects, as well as courses in other courses of study of the department is possible. >

 

INTERNATIONAL

Discover your opportunities at our international partner universities!

The Fashion Design course in Trier offers its students the opportunity to study for a semester at one of the numerous international partner universities. >

 

TRIER?

In an interview with the F.A.Z., Gerd Müller-Thomkins, the long-standing renowned managing director of the German Fashion Institute, recommends the fashion design school in Trier.

"What do you have to look out for in fashion schools? Which ones do you recommend?

Gerd Müller-Thomkins You should keep the term design open in the creative industry - fashion design is also product design. If it absolutely has to be fashion, I recommend public universities with a sound education up to engineering, such as the FH Mönchengladbach offers. The Trier University of Applied Sciences also produces great talent. International tops, besides the École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris, Central St. Martins College in London and Parsons in New York, are the Istituto Marangoni in Milan and of course the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. [...]"

 

(Wietersheim, Stefanie : Ein Entwurf fürs Leben? - So werden Sie Modedesigner., in: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, (2021)  

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ANTJE SELZER

Senior Designer Tailoring, Menswear
Calvin Klein Europe
Amsterdam, Niederlande

(now Head of Design at Hugo Boss)

Final year 2009 - Graduate fashion designer

I enjoyed my studies. At that time we had, among other things, the subject of collection design, which I found very helpful in retrospect, because it teaches you to think in general and not to get lost in too many details. In general it was also good to have to do so many presentations and folders, which helped me later to show my work in a completely clear and structured way.
It was also very important to learn a good basis in computer programs, which we often taught ourselves with the help of fellow students from other departments.


In general it was wonderful to work so closely with all design departments on projects. This interdisciplinary exchange was something very inspiring at the FH Trier and I think that "looking beyond one's own nose" is incredibly important, especially in today's times and in international competition.


The most important lesson was always to reflect, analyse and improve your own work next time.

Lea Kasper wins 2nd place at the international Shell Award in China

At the international fashion congress "Cheers! World University Student Fashion Design Competition", the fashion design department of the University of Applied Sciences Trier was also represented. Students from the world's 25 leading fashion schools - from Milan to New York - were invited. They came together to present their theses to a jury of 20 selected experts.

Lea Kasper has become a designer at J.W. Anderson in London.

KARIN UCINSKI ON HER STUDIES IN TRIER

Freelance Fashion Stylist

Final year 2014 - Bachelor of Arts

During my studies in Trier I appreciated the possibilities of unlimited studio use. A privilege, I think. I also liked the holistic approach to my studies, the combination of practice and theory. The study helped me especially in my independence and my stubbornness. I have learned to listen to myself and to remain true to my spiritual streams without fending off instructive criticism. All in all, the 3.5 years of study prepared me quite well for the fashion world and were definitely a pioneer.

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Enrico Isa Mathieu in an interview about his fashion studies in Trier

Enrico Isa Mathieu is a student of fashion design and reports on himself and his studies at Trier University of Applied Sciences in the SWR series "Mensch Heimat".

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JOHANNA BECKER REPORTS ON HER SEMESTER ABROAD IN SWEDEN

Johanna Becker reports on how you fared during your stay abroad. She studied fashion design in the Bachelor's degree programme and did an internship in Stockholm. How does Scandinavian weather and cycling go together? And what is fika, anyway? 

Our student reporters share their experiences from their semester abroad - in Trier and around the world - so you can learn first-hand how an internship and study abroad works. They also give you tips for your own stay abroad. 

It is possible to finance these stays abroad with BAföG, scholarships or the ERASMUS programme (funding programme of the EU).

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ANNE MARZI WINS THE RHINELAND-PALATINATE DESIGN PRIZE AND IS AWARDED FOR HER OUTSTANDING FINAL THESIS

Anne Marzis Bachelorthesis MADE IN PAIN was awarded a prize at the Rhineland-Palatinate Design Award and also recognised as the outstanding final thesis of the Trier University of Applied Sciences 2022. 

Every year, the Ministry of Economics, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture, in cooperation with the Koblenz Chamber of Crafts and the Designforum Rheinland-Pfalz (descom), awards the renowned design prize, this year in the product design category. A jury of experts awarded seven design prizes and eight awards for outstanding design achievements from a total of 62 institutions. In addition to established companies, innovative and creative student concepts are also repeatedly honoured in the "Talents" category.

MADE IN PAIN
Talents" Award, Concept Category
Designer: Anne Marzi
Supervision Prof. Dirk Wolfes, Fashion Design Department

The bachelor's thesis deals with and visualises the process of trauma processing and shows how our body can process painful emotions and transform us to new energy and heal.

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Every year at Trier University of Applied Sciences, the presentation and awarding of the outstanding final theses takes place in a festive setting. The award for Anne Marzi's outstanding thesis was donated by the Trier Chamber of Crafts.

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Is it cold in the water?

Joshua Sengespeick the winner of the City of Trier 2022 Fashion Award and Laura Schreiber, one of the nominees. They report on the final preparations for the presentation of their designs in the ARD media library. Currently, Joshua's winning collection "Is it cold in the water?" can be seen in many publications such as VOGUE. Read more here

The big "Anniversary Show" was opened by the oldest former lecturer Ursula Weissroth as well as the youngest student. Together they pressed the buzzer to open the show. After the show, the Fashion Award of the City of Trier was presented by Lord Mayor Wolfram Leibe. From over 40 submitted student collections, the top-class jury chose the work "Is it cold in the water?" by Master's graduate Joshua Sengespeick. The collection radiates originality and freshness, it combines sportswear elements with haute couture with wit and irony," said the jury. The prize, donated by Sparkasse Trier, is endowed with 3,000 € and was also awarded for the first time in the form of a sculpture. The winning design by students Patrick Johnson and Tabea Sand (fashion design) shows a three-dimensional ground plan of the Irminenfreihof made of transparent Plexiglas.

The task of the 2022 jury was taken on by Antje Selzer (Senior Designer at Calvin Klein), Dr Elisabeth Dühr (Head of Stadtmuseum Simeonstift & Chairwoman of the Museumsverband Rheinland-Pfalz), Miranda Konstantinidou (Owner. of KONPLOTT), Reinhard Brodel (Head of Communication at C&A) & Richard Gihr (Head of Knitwaer at Marc Cain).

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Digital Fashion and Emotions in the Metaverse - Digital Innovation from Trier

Fashion is more than a commodity with which one can earn money - in the real and now in the virtual world. It is part of a person's identity. Users have long been able to playfully dress their own avatars even in the so-called metaverse, virtual in-between worlds - regardless of whether the styling corresponds to their own personalities or their desire to be one or another. Paola Olguivel's final project at Trier University of Applied Sciences in the fashion design department exists only virtually and is entitled "Emotions in the Metauniverse". 

On the evening of the anniversary fashion show, she had three job offers at once and chose Marc Cain, where she creates innovation in the 3D area. The jury created a special prize especially for her to honour her far-sighted work.

Paola Olaguivel wanted to be a game designer when she was a child. But that world was ultimately very far from hers, says the 34-year-old. She studied fashion design at Trier University of Applied Sciences, graduated with a bachelor's degree. This was followed by various permanent positions and work as a freelancer. Then she studied and worked again. She chose Trier again for her Master's degree because her mentor, Professor Christian Bruns, was open to her idea of designing digital fashion. Now she has come full circle, she says.

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Lisa Maria Durchholz - Award at the Rhineland-Palatinate Design Prize

BROKEN – THE KINTSUGI PROJECT
Designer: Lisa Maria Durchholz
Mentor,  Prof. Dirk Wolfes, Hochschule Trier

Japanese Kintsugi focuses on the beauty of imperfection. The Broken fashion collection has paired this principle with precious materials such as silk and cashmere. In contrast to the classic, two-dimensional pattern construction, the models are developed via three-dimensional draping on the Kondo women's bust - an innovative basis for model development.

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"I came to Trier because fashion studies have an outstanding reputation here."

Miranda Konstantinidou is a fashion designer and founder of two brands: the designer jewellery brand KONPLOTT and the resort & cruise fashion brand MIRANDA KONSTANTINIDOU. She studied fashion design in Trier and founded her brand KONPLOTT here in 1986 during her studies. Meanwhile, the jewellery label is represented worldwide with 41 shops, two of them in Trier. Since 2000, Miranda has been living on Cebu/Philippines, where she has built up her own manufactory. She relies on solidarity and a strong company culture. The majority of Miranda's employees are women.

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"As a conclusion to the internship, I can definitely say that I learned a lot and was very well supervised."

Close to practice - Julia Qoqja reports on her practical semester at Hunkemöller where she got an insight into everyday working life in the lingerie design team. The fashion design faculty in Trier has had a close relationship with the fashion industry for many decades and attaches great importance to vocational training. The fashion industry appreciates this and gives many graduates a good start in their careers.

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SHAROKINA GOLPASHIN - SUCCESSFUL FOUNDER

Self-employed accessory designer Founder of the label SHAROKINA

Graduation year 2010 - Diploma in Fashion Design

What I particularly appreciated about my studies in Trier was that they were so versatile and comprehensive. On the one hand, we were able to work freely, experimentally and artistically and thus get to know the most diverse materials and processing techniques; and on the other hand, we were taught intensively in areas that are indispensable for real professional life and industry, such as classical pattern construction, collection design and technical drawing.

I also really liked the fact that in Trier a lot of emphasis is placed on professional presentation in the form of booklets, photo shoots and fashion shows organised by the students themselves. This allowed us to gain valuable experience in graphic design and photography, among other things, and we learned how to organise ourselves and work conceptually.

Thanks to the small semesters and the familiar atmosphere, it was always possible to respond to each individual and everyone had the opportunity to find and develop their own style.

All in all, I can say that despite the heavy workload and the many sleepless nights, I had an incredible amount of fun studying in Trier, and I think back on it positively and gratefully throughout.

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APOLDA & TRIER - AN EXAMPLE OF DECADES OF COOPERATION WITH THE FASHION INDUSTRY

Within the framework of the APOLDA EUROPEAN DESIGN AWARD competitions, students of fashion design meet professional practice in partner companies in Apolda. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the Fashion Design Department at Trier University of Applied Sciences has been cooperating with the organisers, Wirtschaftsförder-Vereinigung Apolda and the Weimarer Land District Office, to promote exchange between universities and textile production.

Thuringia's Minister of Economic Affairs Wolfgang Tiefensee says: "The involvement of students and graduates in local business practice ensures a transfer of know-how from which both sides can benefit."

The knitting and textile workshops are highly valued by Apolda's knitting and textile companies as a "creative sting" and an "experimental learning space" for new design and technology. They help strengthen the innovation and marketability of knitting companies in the medium and long term, and also enable them to enter specific niches as well as higher-end market segments through the partnership of universities.

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International exchange for more sustainability

Within the framework of international exchange, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) promotes the field of fashion design and, in addition to funded stays abroad, also enables international cooperation between students. In the project "Progressive Sustainability in Fashion", transnational teams of students from Trier, Porto, Maastricht & Birmingham worked on solving challenges in the field of design, communication & business posed by our practical partner C&A.

For this purpose, the Head of Communication Reinhard Brodel & the Head of Sustainability Kai Künnecke, as well as the respective lecturers of the universities and employees of C&A accompanied the students virtually and on site in workshops and lectures. Meetings lasting several days took place in Trier and in Porto, where the participants could get to know each other personally. Lectures by, for example, the Creative Director of Armed Angels Michael Kampe or expert for sustainable denim Sina Steidinger also provided input. The project was financed entirely by the DAAD and C&A.

The aim of the "Sustainable Fashion" project was to develop sector-specific solutions for greater sustainability in the fashion industry and to exchange best-practice approaches from Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and England. The Global Sustainable Team of the fashion company C&A in Belgium & Germany acted as the impulse-giving client.

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CAROLINE ZÖLLNER ON HER STUDIES IN TRIER

Design knitwear DOB at Hessnatur 

Final year 2015 - Master of Arts

The opportunity to discover my enthusiasm for knitting in the knitting studio at Trier University of Applied Sciences was positively enriching and groundbreaking for my subsequent professional career. In addition, I have always found it very pleasant that I had all conceivable artistic freedom during my Master's degree and was supported in this respect.

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RAINER VOLLWILLE ON HIS STUDIES IN TRIER

Diploma Fashion Designer
Senior Footwear Designer

Diploma examination in 1999

My love of designing shoes led me to study fashion design in Trier. At that time I didn't know where to learn about designing shoes. My thought was "Shoes have something to do with fashion, so I'm sure it's not a mistake to study fashion design right away. I'll see how I get to the shoes later." Immensely important for my current job was "pattern construction", because in the shoe industry the designer is also, often still, the one who makes the "first cut" for the prototypes. The basic cut for shoes is very different from that for clothing, but the logic and procedures can be transferred to some extent by thinking about it.

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LISA FRISCH

Founder of the label frisch Beutel
owner of Treehouse Designstore Frankfurt
independent fashion designer
Frankfurt on the Main

Graduated in 2014 - Master of Arts

What I particularly appreciate about my studies in Trier is that I enjoyed a down-to-earth and well-founded education. The collection and design development, technical drawing, the various craft techniques were an absolute prerequisite for my current field of work. I also learned to organise myself, to stick to deadlines and to deal with creative pressure, which I consider very important. Talking to professors who had already worked in the industry or were also self-employed also shaped my path. 

Many people start a fashion label who have not even studied fashion design. However, my experience so far shows that years of working and dealing with design and fashion prevail. Customers recognise what is special about our bags and appreciate it.

I also liked the informal atmosphere at Trier University of Applied Sciences, which was perfect for making many inter-semester contacts that have lasted until today and provide new impetus both privately and professionally.

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Tel. +49 651 8103-830
Fax +49 651 8103-831
mode.sekretariat(at)fh-trier.de

 

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Fachrichtung Modedesign
Irminenfreihof 8
54290 Trier

 

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