Discover the interview with Edouard Vermeulen
Discover the interview with Jean-Paul Knott

THE CAD, ONE OF THE MOST RESPECTED COLLEGES OF FASHION DESIGN

In order to meet the growing demand of students looking for a fashion design school in Brussels, the CAD has teamed up with two fashion professionals: Jean Paul Knott and Edouard Vermeulen to create a three-year fashion design training programme.

PRESENTATION OF OUR FASHION SCHOOL IN BELGIUM

At the CAD, the training of future designers begins with the development of their artistic culture, their eye for detail, their curiosity, their sense of proportions, volumes, materials, fabrics and colours.

In keeping with the CAD’s philosophy of preparing its students for the reality of the professional world, the school also strives to prepare them for life in a fashion house. For this, they learn to create the visual identity of a clothing line for example, and to imagine the presentation of products, their photography, and the different components of a fashion show.

Throughout this 3-year cycle, students will develop their creativity to bring innovative solutions to their concepts. They will start by using  “traditional” textiles to create women’s, men’s, mixed and children’s collections. They will then tackle the issue of inexhaustible sources of natural and recycled materials.

Finally, and this is an important challenge, our students will develop the technical skills needed to put the most innovative ideas into practice, to work with new so-called ‘intelligent’ textiles, and to understand the technologies of tomorrow.

Students will be supported in their ideas to one day create their own concept. They will meet with designers, avant-gardists and stylists who make today’s fashion. They will also do numerous internships. What better way to prepare them for the reality and challenges of these beautiful and creative professions with a bright future.

STUDYING AT THE CAD OPENS DOORS TO INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES

The CAD is an international institution. Courses are taught in English, offering our students the opportunity to do internships abroad. They can take part in international workshops and become familiar with other cultures thanks to visits and cultural trips organized each year.

As part of the double degree programme with the Ecole de Design de Nantes, this programme allows students to go abroad to France, India, Brazil or China for a semester of study in one of the destinations offered by our partner.

Experiences like these allow our students to pursue international careers all over the world (across Europe, the USA, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, China and beyond).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES

The CAD is an international institution. Courses are taught in English, giving our students the opportunity to obtain internships abroad, to take part in international workshops and to become familiar with other cultures through visits and cultural trips organised each year. In the framework of the double degree with the ECOLE de DESIGN de NANTES, this programme allows you to go abroad to France, India, Brazil or China for a semester of study in one of the destinations proposed by our partner. These experiences allow our students to pursue international careers all over the world (USA, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, China… and in different European countries).

THE COURSES FOR FASHION DESIGN

Fashion design is in full transformation. Designers are now choosing more eco-friendly materials, designing eco-responsible fashions, offering a second life to clothes, and working with new materials. It is therefore important for us to offer students a range of courses that is as exhaustive as possible.

MAIN CLASSES

  • Fashion Design
  • Study of textiles
  • Pattern making
  • Art direction
  • History of fashion
  • Accessories
  • Up-cycling
  • Colours
  • Photography
  • Scenography
  • Digital design
  • Social media communication

Edouard Vermeulen

Artistic director of the Natan Couture House since 1983, Vermeulen is sponsor of the new CAD Fashion section. An interior designer in a previous professional life, he devotes his vision of beauty to sublimating femininity and in all things, the balance of lines.

Discover the interview

Jean-Paul Knott

A stylist for 13 years with Yves Saint-Laurent, Knott worked for the Rive Gauche Femme line for 5 years under the direction of Loulou de la Falaise. A cosmopolitan personality who studied in New York, Knott was also Monsieur Saint-Laurent’s assistant for Haute Couture.

Discover the interview

SCHEDULE OF STUDIES

BEGINNING OF CLASSES

Classes begin late September. A Summer School is organized in September (a 3-week course in both drawing and English) for those whose levels in drawing and/or English need to improve. The decision to participate in these courses or not is made by the school directors during the interview process.

YEARLY SCHEDULE

The 3 years are divided in 9 quarters of 3 months each:

  • Year 1 – Q1: October – November – December
  • Year 1 – Q2: January – February – March
  • Year 1 – Q3: April – May – June
  • Year 2 – Q4: October – November – December
  • Year 2 – Q5: January – February – March
  • Year 2 – Q6: April – May – June
  • Year 3 – Q7: October – November – December
  • Year 3 – Q8: January – February – March
  • Year 3 – Q9: April – May – June

Year 1

  • Summer school: 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks of September
  • Start of Academic Year: the last Monday of September
  • During the first quarter: every Friday, there are cultural visits in Belgium, as well as to France, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany
  • 3-week internship in a Fashion house during the Easter break
  • 1-week study trip during the Easter break: one year it’s in the USA (New York or Chicago), one year it’s in a European city like Berlin, Barcelona or Madrid

Year 2

  • 4-week internship in a Fashion house during the Summer break
  • Start of Academic Year: the last Monday of September
  • 3-week internship in a Fashion house during the Easter break
  • 1-week study trip during the Easter break: one year it’s in a European city like Berlin, Barcelona or Madrid, one year it’s in the USA (New York or Chicago)
  • One international multidisciplinary workshop with guest students coming from the UK, France and/or Italy.

Year 3

  • 4-week internship in an agency during the summer holidays
  • Start of Academic Year: the last Monday of September
  • Two weeks multicultural and multidisciplinary workshop in Shanghai during the Easter break (this workshop would be replaced by a 4-week internship in a Fashion house for the students not going to the workshop)
  • Two international multidisciplinary workshops with guest students coming from the UK, France and/or Italy during Q2

POST-GRADUATES in development

HOW CAN I APPLY TO THE CAD?

TUITION :

The tuition fees for the Undergraduates B1/B2/B3 programs and the double degrees M1/M2 are 9,000 EUR per year (8,700 EUR + 300 EUR registration fee*) and are to be paid as follows:
  • 300 EUR + 2,900 EUR i.e. 3,200 EUR (1st third of costs) upon registration
  • 2,900 EUR (2nd third of the costs) paid by June 30th
  • 2,900 EUR (Final third of costs) paid by September 15th

For international transfers, bank fees are payable by the sender.

A staggered payment plan is possible for some residents (upon acceptance and subject to a surcharge of 300 EUR).

Tuition fees do not include cultural visits and study trips.

*Registration fee: this amount covers general administrative costs as well as individual insurance (taken out by the CAD) in case of any accident on the school premises.

Bank details of the CAD
– BNP Paribas Fortis : IBAN BE93 0017 2185 3767 – BIC GEBABEBB
– ING : IBAN BE45 3631 3208 9889 – BIC BBRUBEBB
– Belfius : IBAN BE85 0689 3121 7306 – BIC GKCCBEBB

Remarks
– The CAD does not accept bank cheques. Tuition fees must be paid into one of the school’s bank accounts. For international transfers, bank charges are at the expense of the originator.
– Tuition fees remain as announced at the time of registration for the entire programme (except for students repeating the first year, if the price increases) unless inflation exceeds 5% per year, in which case the fees will be indexed.
– Since the number of students admitted each year is limited, the full tuition fee is due even in case of withdrawal or exclusion from the course.

Online registration

CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS

In Belgium, private schools can’t deliver states diploma.

The awarded degrees are certificates which may correspond with Bachelor’s degrees and are credited with 60 ECTS per year.