Everything at BFGU fosters the talent needed to breathe new life
into the competitive global fashion industry.

The fashion business in Japan has come to occupy a certain position in world. Yet, it faces a string of problems that designers and modelists do not have sufficient understanding about management and the management level in corporates, on the contrary, do not understand about design and technology. When considering fashion as a global business, it is necessary to incorporate different perspectives such as management, finance, production control, quality control, as well as original designs and excellent technologies. It is, hence, necessary to nurture more future leaders for the fashion industry from the two perspectives of “creation” and “management”. BFGU was established in 2006 as the first fashion professional school in Japan combining the achievements and know-how of Bunka Gakuen, a school corporation that has been playing the leading roles in the fashion education in Japan for more than 100 years. The school bridges up theories and practical techniques; its greatest objective is to establish a unique brand and business model so as to fostering “new creators” as proactive global leaders in the fashion industry for future generations.

What is a Professional Graduate School?

A Professional Graduate School is a new type of graduate school that has been newly established in 2003. Traditionally, graduate schools have focused on training students to become researchers. However, professional graduate schools focus on specialized training so the students can become business leaders with high professional business ability. A major feature of professional graduate schools is the promotion of high level, professional training and practical business education through practical lessons, by inviting professors and lecturers who play an active role in the forefront of their field.

Bunka Fashion Graduate University was founded in order to cultivate talent in individuals who can develop intellectual property for the fashion industry, bring creative visions into reality, and establish business models for unique fashion brands that will be globally relevant.

We form talented people who are not only able to
create ‘fashion’ but also capable of creating ‘fashion business’

As Japan’s only graduate university that aims to nurture fashion professionals, the BFGU offers unique and excellent features. First, it integrates the field of fashion creation with fashion management to learn the practical skills required to manage creative and design skills. With the unprecedented combination of these two divisions, the graduate school implements high-level education to foster the growth of professionals. Second, the graduate students can make extensive use of the world-leading premises and facilities that Educational Foundation Bunka Gakuen has developed and accumulated over the years. Third, the graduate university organizes various industry-academia collaborative projects to offer students opportunities to gain practical business experience. Based on this thorough, all-round environment for education and research, students are able to acquire not only theories but also practical knowledge and techniques as their first step and nice equipment for their development in the fashion industry.

Division, Course

At BFGU, we provide two divisions of specialization, Fashion Creation and Fashion Management within the Graduate School of Fashion Business. The aim is to educate talented people who have the intellect and skills to prevail in the world’s fashion market. In agreement with the previously mentioned three fields of study in fashion business, we have established three courses: Fashion Design Course, Fashion Technology Course, and Fashion Business Administration Course.

Structure Chart of Graduate School

Learning of how the fashion industry works in a practical way “Fashion Business Methods (Practical)”

“Fashion business Methods (Practical)” is a compulsory course in which an apparel brand is collaboratively created by three streams altogether as a group, and a simulation model of apparel manufacturing and wholesale is constructed with features of the streams. In the design domain, we plan to create a design concept based on the brand concept, propose a season concept, and develop a core item design and 20-inch design. In the technology domain, it’s pattern making, creation of virtual samples using 3D CAD software “CLO Enterprise”, examination of production methods, and creation of sewing specifications. Last but not least in the management domain, measures for products, prices, distribution channels, and communication are implemented for planning the sales, profit, and loss of the season. All of this processes are going to be summarized in a business plan and a presentation. We aim to nurture proactive leaders who are able to discover issues in the fashion industry, create ideas, plan strategies, and formulate product development for the realization of the brand concept. We also make efforts for the future apparel industry by making the production of virtual samples using 3D CAD mandatory.

“Sustainable Fashion A･B” and “AI, Metaverse & Fashion” – new courses in line with the modern times

Our graduate school always aims to fit our curriculum in modern times so as to cope with the fast-changing fashion industry. We are glad to have launched “Sustainable Fashion A・B” in 2022. In this course, students are able to acquire basic knowledge about sustainability and the newest issues in the fashion industry, identify advanced issues of concern at different stages of the supply chain, and explore solutions and models for the future.

【Syllabus】「Sustainable Fashion A」（Japanese page）
【Syllabus】「Sustainable Fashion B」（Japanese page）

In 2023, we are opening a new course called “AI, Metaverse & Fashion” in which students can get to know more about the issues of the industry as well as other interesting topics (e.g. consumer needs) through the utilization of AI and metaverse, which has become close to essential in the modern society.

【Syllabus】「AI, Metaverse & Fashion」（Japanese page）

To be more responsive to new needs in the age of globalization, BFGU works on various international exchange programs.

Participation in overseas fashion weeks and contests

Initiated by the exchange with the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague, BFGU participated in the Mercedes-Benz Prague Fashion Week in Prague, the Czech Republic where students showcase their creations. As the only educational institution that specializes in fashion in Japan, BFGU participated in the fashion show with UMPRUM and has received high praise from several media outlets.

Exchanges with international students

Academic staff members and students from overseas institutes such as ESSEC Business School in France and the University of Salford in the UK have weaved visits to our graduate school as in-depth exchange activities including facility tours and discussions with our graduate students. Since 2022, an exchange project with graduate students from the Parsons College of Art in the United States has also been implemented aiming at more interactions and thus more mutual stimulation for future research and projects.

Holding Global Seminars

The Global Seminar, planned and held by the Bunka International Communication Center for Bunka Gakuen students, invites industry professionals such as teachers and designers from overseas partner schools. It is always an opportunity to learn the latest global standards, as well as to improve communication skills in English and become aware of the need to do so.

BFGU conducts a number of collaborative projects with the fashion industry and government agencies.

The Launch of “Graphic Project”, a collaboration product by PUMA × BFGU

The “Graphic Project ” is a collaboration between PUMA and BFGU. This course is supported by PUMA Japan Co., designed for 2nd-year fashion creation majors. It is a social contribution activity of PUMA Japan Co., Ltd. in the field of education; students will be divided into three teams to work on their original graphic designs and garments for PUMA retailers. The creation was commercialized and released as a Puma Japan product.

BFGU × Kanbo Pras Corporation Upcycling Project

In our Fashion Technology Course, we have an “Upcycling Project” collaboration in the first and second years with Kanbo Pras Corporation which manufactures, processes, and sells special functional materials such as tarpaulin and canvas. The project provides special lectures about the disposal of a huge number of offcuts and waste materials in the current manufacturing process and from the end products. Participants then work in groups to plan new products from selected waste materials to create innovative sample works. The creation process of environmental-friendly products is a winning experience to learn about teamwork and problem-solving.

Promotion of the apparel industry in Sumida City and its revitalization

The Fashion Business Administration Course is an industry-government-academia collaboration project aiming to promote the apparel industry in Sumida City (Tokyo) and revitalize the area as a part of the “PBL” subject with collaborative research with fashion and style companies. The collaboration is with the Sumida City Industry Promotion Section, Ogura meriyasuseizousyo Co., Ltd. and Kips Co., Ltd. which is a string of research to solve issues in the business sector and draw public attention to the apparel industry in the Sumida City.