MBA Fashion Management

Master of Business Administration in Fashion Management or MBA Fashion Management is a postgraduate programme. Similar to other MBA programmes, students can apply for the course after completing a bachelor’s degree. It is a specialisation in MBA, focused on operational management of the fashion industry and its organisations. The course helps aspirants to combine their fashion-based creative abilities along with the principles of management to nurture their strengths and have a successful career. 

MBA Fashion Management courses can be applied for in India through national-level entrance exams of CAT, GMAT, MAT, and institution-level entrance exams like NIFT GAT. There are full-time, part-time, online, and distance learning courses in the field that ensure not only flexibility but also high academic standards. 

While pursuing an MBA Fashion Management course, students are given the opportunity to study traditional management coursework along with subjects from the fashion world such as marketing luxury brands, brand culture, market management and development, fashion business forecasting, etc. The said management skills are necessary to cope with the ever-changing fashion trends and to manage a diverse group of professionals in the fashion world. Some of the top MBA Fashion Management colleges in India include NIFT, IIFT, IIFA Multimedia, and NID. The average cost of the course ranges from INR 4,00,000 to INR 10,00,000 which shall vary from one institute to another.

Here are some of the highlights of the MBA Fashion Management course in India: 

The MBA Fashion Management course is a very thorough and cutting-edge programme that leads to a fulfilling profession appropriate for the distinctive tastes of the fashion industry. It has grown to be one of India's most popular and lucrative industries. In addition, the curriculum makes sure that students are kept up to date on emerging trends, challenges, and innovations in the fashion business.

An MBA in Fashion Management broadens students' expertise in areas like retailing, fashion buying, fashion promotion, market research methodology, fashion forecasting, and visual merchandising strategies. Additionally, this course will teach students how to gather raw materials, how to manufacture goods, and how to promote their final goods both domestically and abroad via a variety of channels. Through field trips and internships offered in the sector, the curriculum will also give students the chance to develop projects on particular issues and earn expertise.

Fashion Industry growth will continue due to the increase in demand for people with a passion for fashion. In addition to the wide variety of jobs available in this field, it is also very rewarding. As a result, there are practically no limitations on the types of jobs a student can pursue, whether it is at a small store or a big brand, or even starting their own company.

The emergence of new platforms like Jabong, Myntra, Flipkart, KOOVS, and Amazon have given an impetus to Indian fashion as the e-commerce industry booms. Thus, creating many employment opportunities for MBA Fashion Management graduates. 

One of the most prognosticated MBA programmes after a bachelor's degree is the one in fashion management. MBA Fashion Management courses are offered to prospective students in all three modes of learning: full-time, part-time and online/distance schooling. Details are discussed below:

Full-Time MBA Fashion Management Courses

The full-time MBA course is for two years and students must attend in-person classes, complete regular assignments, and take semester-by-semester offline exams on campus. They must also present projects and perform practicals as part of the MBA in Fashion Management course curriculum. Students who enrol in a full-time study gain practical experience in the subject as well as in-depth learning through actively engaging with their instructors and other students.

Part-Time MBA Fashion Management Courses

For students who cannot commit to the full-time programme or who are working in their professions full-time, there is a part-time MBA in Fashion Management course available. A part-time course can consist of weekend, evening, or online classes, depending on its type. The part-time programme lasts two to three years.

Distance/Online MBA Fashion Management Courses

Similar to the part-time course, distance/online MBA Fashion Management courses also last two to three years and can be pursued from anywhere. This course is designed for students or researchers who are working professionals and who cannot attend full-time or even part-time courses. Colleges like Amity University (Noida), Jaipur National University (Jaipur), NIMS University (Jaipur), Sai Nath University (Ranchi), Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (Meerut), Vogue Institute of Fashion Technology (Bangalore), etc provide this course.

In India, multiple entrance exams are held for MBA Fashion Management courses, such as at the national level, state level, and university level. Internationally acclaimed research has become a hallmark of many well-known business schools around the country. The following is a list of some of the entrance exams that applicants may take to enrol in this management course:

Common Management Admission Test (CMAT): For admission to the country's management programmes like MBA in Fashion Management, CMAT is a national-level entrance test. This test helps AICTE-accredited participating MBA colleges choose qualified graduate applicants for admission to their management programmes.

Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT): For admission to MBA Fashion Management at top b-schools like IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB, TAPMI Manipal, and 160 other leading MBA institutions in India, XAT is the management entrance exam.

Common Admission Test (CAT): The most prominent national-level entrance exam in India used to admit candidates to the best management colleges, especially IIMs is CAT. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Ability make up the three portions of the test.

Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP): It is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International (Deemed) University (SIU). SNAP is conducted at the end of each year to admit MBA aspirants to 15 institutes that officially come under the umbrella of Symbiosis.

NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT): The NMAT is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) for admission to leading b-schools in the country such as SPJIMR Mumbai, NMIMS Mumbai, VIT University, IFMR, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, SRM University, etc.

In India, the eligibility criteria for MBA Fashion Management courses may vary from one college/university to another. However, applicants need to fulfil the basic minimum eligibility criteria as discussed below:

• Applicants must have received a minimum CGPA of 50% or equivalent at the undergraduate level; there is a 5% relaxation for candidates who fall into reserved categories.
• A minimum of 60% aggregate is required for admission to the top MBA institutions, IITs and IIMs.
• Students applying for MBA in Fashion Management admissions must have received their three to four-year diploma (preferably in a relevant field of study) from a recognised institution.
• Applicants must sit for university-level exams like the CMAT, CAT, MAT, NMAT, XAT, etc. and other management-related entrance exams.

MBA Fashion Management is a combination of the elements of fashion and marketing and business planning. The admission process it follows is the same as other MBA specialisations. Students need to clear a three-step admission process to get admission to MBA Fashion Management courses. Each step of the admission process has been described below for the convenience of students:

Step 1 - Entrance Exams: It is widely known that to get admission into MBA colleges in India, students need to attempt entrance exams such as CAT and GMAT. It is only when they clear the cut-off score of a particular college that they can apply for admission there. These entrance exams are conducted on national, state, and institutional levels as well. Some of the popular entrance exam scores accepted for admission to MBA Fashion Management are CAT, MAT, and GMAT. Students can submit their applications to colleges whose cut-off scores they were able to satisfy.

Step 2 - Group Discussions (GD): The business schools to whom students have applied review applications and issue a letter of invitation to all those whom they found suitable to move to the GD round of admissions. In this round, a group of students, generally 7-12, discuss, debate, and argue on the topic given by the panel. These discussions are conducted under the supervision of a selection panel. There may be multiple rounds of GD, wherein each successive round students are eliminated. After the last round of GD, the panel inducts the successful candidates into a waiting area for their turn for Personal Interviews.

Step 3 - Personal Interview: On their respective turn, students need to present themselves in front of a selection panel. This panel comprises around four or five faculty members who have with them the application and other documents submitted by the student as references. They ask questions from the student and eventually decide upon their admission into the MBA Fashion Management course.

If the student manages to clear the final round of the admissions process, they get a confirmation letter from the college regarding their successful admission.

There are many reputed business schools in India for MBA, however, not all of them offer MBA in Fashion Management courses. Here are some of the Indian business schools which do offer the course and their respective annual course fees:

The value of the global apparel market was USD 1.5 trillion in 2020, and by 2025, it is expected to rise to USD 2.25 trillion. With this value, it is possible to estimate the breadth of studying for an MBA in Fashion Management courses abroad, providing several employment prospects to prospective students. They will gain a thorough understanding of management and fashion theory if they pursue an MBA in fashion management abroad. The programme's curriculum combines fundamental management-related concepts like marketing and strategy with expertise in fashion management.

The duration of an MBA in Fashion Management course varies slightly depending on the type of specialisation, country, institution, and curriculum. The benefits of pursuing an MBA in Fashion Management course abroad include having access to an array of the best facilities, resources, and faculties, as well as exposure to a slew of topics and cultures around the world.

The following table highlights some top colleges to study MBA Fashion Management Abroad along with their respective country:

Fashion management students have a wide range of options when it comes to selecting the best college or institute to suit their professional needs. The following is a discussion of some state-wise top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in India.

Haryana

The following are the three top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in Haryana:

Uttar Pradesh

The following are the three top MBA Fashion Management colleges in Uttar Pradesh:

Maharashtra

The following are the three top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in Maharashtra:

Rajasthan

The following are the three top MBA Fashion Management colleges in Rajasthan:

Delhi NCR

The following are the four top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in Delhi NCR region:

MBA in Fashion Management courses are offered by various prestigious b-schools in India. Some of the top businesses or companies in the fashion industry also offer internships as part of the MBA in Fashion Management programme. The following is a discussion of some city-wise top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in the country.

Pune 

The following are the five top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in Pune:

• All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society's Institute of Management
• Dr D Y Patil Institute of Management Studies
• International Institute of Management Studies (IIMS)
• Institute of Management Development (IMD)
• International School of Design (INSD)

Bengaluru

The following are the five top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in Bengaluru:

• Alliance University
• International School of Business and Media (ISB&M)
• International School of Management Excellence (ISME)
• National Institute of Retail and Management
• NSB Academy

Mumbai

The following are the five top MBA in Fashion Management colleges in Mumbai:

• Welingkar Institute of Management
• Universal Business School
• NMIMS SBM Mumbai
• S P Jain Institute of Management And Research
• K J Somiya Institute of Management

The course fee for an MBA in Fashion Management differs from the government to private institutions or public colleges. However, a student may expect to spend a minimum of INR 75,000 to INR 4.77 Lakh annually. Multiple factors affect MBA Fashion Management course fees. Although government institutes are quite pocket-friendly, private or public colleges are expensive. The following table summarises a list of b-schools along with their average annual fee charged:

As an MBA specialization, MBA Fashion Management subjects are focused towards the study of fashion industries, operations, administration, and trends. The course syllabus is aimed at equipping students in handling the business operations of fashion houses, ventures, and related organisations. 
Here are the topics and areas which are a part of the course curriculum commonly followed by Indian colleges offering MBA Fashion Management:

First Year:

Second Year:

As discussed, MBA Fashion Management course is stretched over two years i.e., four semesters. The course curriculum includes elective, core, and lab subjects, internships, and projects. On the other hand, teaching methodologies consist of detailed study materials, labs, projects, new techniques, tools, and technologies. Furthermore, students can choose their specialisation or elective subjects based on their interests. The following pointers make the course curriculum for MBA Fashion Management:

• Workshop
• Thesis writing 
• Survey
• Seminar
• Research papers
• Project
• Practical sessions
• Lab sessions
• IV-semesters
• Internship
• Group projects
• Elective
• Core subjects

After pursuing a post-graduation degree in Fashion Management, candidates can access ample number of job opportunities in both public and the private sector. Some of the top recruiting companies for fashion management graduates are Godrej Interior, Futomic Designs, Space Art, Synergy Corporate Interiors etc. The average starting salary of a fresher is Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh. Here is a list of popular employment areas, job profiles, and their respective annual salaries for MBA Fashion Management graduates:

An MBA in Fashion Management graduate with one to four years of experience is often provided with a salary of up to INR 6.25 lakh per year. For an individual with five to nine years of job experience, the remuneration rises to INR 8.5 lakh annually. This is also because the pay scale varies based on the position, expertise, experience, and location of the employee.

In most pay scale-based urban and tier-2 cities, there is discrimination. As people's interest in fashion-related products is growing exponentially, there is a constant increase in the need for management professions in the fashion industry.  The table below gives an idea of the salary range for an MBA Fashion Management graduate:

Graduates of the MBA Fashion Management course need a variety of complex and soft skills to succeed in the workplace. These traits cannot always be taught in a course curriculum or classroom. These are expertise that can only be acquired via progressive practice. Students should therefore make every effort to broaden their perspectives and acquire as much experience as they can via internships or on-field experience. The following are a few skills required of fashion management graduates:

• Project management
• Patience
• Multi-tasking
• Marketing and communication
• Interpersonal skills
• Creativity and innovativeness 
• Ability to work under pressure, etc.