Frankfurt School students organise first Fashion, Luxury & Beauty Forum

Getting to know attractive industries and their challenges, talking to company representatives, and discussing career paths—these were the goals of the student initiatives "Women in Business" and "Fashion". Their heads organised the Fashion, Luxury & Beauty Forum for their members and students at Frankfurt School. The first forum took place at Frankfurt School on Monday, March 2.

“We deliberately decided to invite companies that we admire from afar, but about which we don't actually know that much,” says Florentine Appelhans, head of the Women in Business Initiative (WiB) and a fourth-semester bachelor's student. Fleur Dolmetsch, also head of the WiB initiative and a sixth-semester bachelor's student, adds: “The media and influencers spread a certain image of Louis Vuitton, Cartier, or Gucci, but these companies too face strategic management decisions when it comes to branding, sustainability, or the supply chain. At the Fashion, Luxury & Beauty Forum, we gained some really good insights. In the workshops, we were able to contribute our questions and perspectives.” 

Representatives from Cartier, Douglas, Gucci, few, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren offered exciting workshops and answered participants' questions about starting a career. They also shared their personal career decisions. Tracy Reeves, a US citizen, started her career in Portland, Oregon and is now a Gucci executive. She emphasised that the luxury industry in particular allows and supports international careers. Big brands had a global DNA and relied on international teams. 

Another topic that alle company representatives highlighted was the complementarity of online and offline sales. Customers can get an overview online, but especially in the luxury sector or when it comes to sensory and emotional products such as skin care or perfumes, personal advice is key to understanding customers and their needs. 

Patricia Müller, founder and CEO of few, stresses the opportunities that the internet offers entrepreneurs in particular, citing flexible accessibility for customers as an example of added value. 

"Fellow students showed enormous interest in the forum. We were overbooked and decided that there will be another edition next year,“ Fleur Dolmetsch sums up. Florentine Appelhans adds:” It's great that Frankfurt School trusted us and just let us do it. We would like to thank the Förderverein its generous financial support."

Frankfurt School is strengthening its collaborations with companies in the fashion, beauty, and luxury industries and has also been expanding its teaching activities. This January, for example, saw the launch of the elective course “Luxury Industry Management,” for which Claus-Dietrich Lahrs was recruited as a senior fellow. The internationally experienced executive (Bottega Veneta, Dior, Hugo Boss, among others) is a long-standing member of the Frankfurt School's Board of Trustees and contributes his experience and network. The Fashion & Beauty Career Forum will take place for the first time on November 24.