Skills and opportunities
Luxury recruitment in France is a process that goes beyond the simple circulation of a CV. It requires knowledge of the sector, a passion for excellence and a keen eye for detail.
Luxury recruitment in France
The luxury goods sector in France has seen strong growth in recruitment since 2021, particularly in production workshops. This strong demand is explained by a worldwide increase in demand for luxury goods since the end of the pandemic.
By 2024, 3,000 jobs are expected to be available in LVMH’s clothing workshops in France. Hermès, meanwhile, plans to create 5,000 new jobs a year over the coming years.
Skills required
In the luxury ready-to-wear and leather goods sectors, technical skills are essential. Skilled operators must master leather and textile working techniques, such as cutting, assembly, stitching, finishing and ironing.
- Mastery of sewing techniques
Seamstresses need to know how to use various sewing machines, such as flatbed stitchers and sergers, as well as mastering hand-sewing techniques for delicate finishing touches.
- Knowledge of materials
It’s important to know the characteristics of the different fabrics used, such as silk, satin, cashmere or other luxury materials. This includes knowing how to work with them and the sewing techniques suitable for each material and project.
- Assembly and mounting
Seamstresses must be able to assemble garment sub-assemblies from cut fabrics. This includes pre-assembly operations and quality control throughout the process.
- Professional know-how
This type of work requires rigor and attention to detail to guarantee product quality in a sector where excellence is expected. You also need to be adaptable, as models have different requirements and sewing methods. Although the work is carried out individually, you are part of a larger team collaborating on the same model, whose progress depends on the whole group. A simple mistake can slow down the entire production of the garment.
What training do I need to work in the luxury goods industry?
To work in the luxury ready-to-wear sector, whether in a textile workshop or in leather goods, there are several possible courses of study for acquiring the necessary skills
School diplomas
Several diplomas can be obtained in the academic field related to fashion professions, starting with the CAP, followed by the Bac Pro, and the BTS in post-bac luxury training. These courses cover specialties such as working with loose-fitting garments (silk, chiffon, cashmere) or tailoring, and prepare students for sewing techniques.
In-house training
Luxury companies often offer in-house training courses for new arrivals, to pass on brand-specific techniques and work methods that guarantee optimum quality in the production of each garment.
The Thierry Fonlupt Academy offers comprehensive training in luxury ready-to-wear at its workshops in Ifs (Calvados) and Ballots (Mayenne).
Lasting from 3 to 9 months, the program is supervised by experienced professionals and aims to make participants fully autonomous and versatile in their role within the Thierry-Fonlupt company.
For further details, visit our website and contact us to find out more.