This course is an immersive introduction to the fashion industry. The course reviews merchandising principles and techniques, including product development, planning, editing, sourcing, and decision-making. Students will explore the relationships between design, production, and marketing. They will also acquire a working vocabulary of industry terminology. In addition, this course offers a Parisian perspective with a view to luxury markets, in particular how luxury in defined in Paris and how to align the resourcing, production and marketing of luxury products in today’s global economy. Thru the introduction to artisanal practices, visits to luxury stores and fashion incubators, students will gain an overall understanding of the fashion business today and how to address both local and global challenges.