IFM was founded in1986 by professionals in the sector with support from the Ministry of Industry, and remains under the Ministry's tutelage. IFM welcomes over 120 students and 2000 professionals each year. The Institute is state-recognised and is a member of the Conférence des grandes écoles and of the International Foundation of Fashion Institutes (IFFTI).

The IFM enables postgraduate students to follow high-level professional programs in both management and design. Students then take their training in both dimensions to work in companies where creativity is a major source of added value or alternatively develop their own business. The end result is the breaking down of barriers between management and design in an industry that is about products, brands, culture and design. Professions in the fashion, design and luxury industries have diversified considerably in recent years.

Marketing, retail, logistics and communication have developed as the industry has become more complex and requires more and more executives trained to an increasingly high-level. The managers and designers trained at IFM are known for their ability to fulfill these expectations by combining creativity and good management. The sectors for which the IFM trains people are varied: clothes, leather goods, shoes, jewelry, watch making, glasses, perfumes and cosmetics, design and interiors.

The teaching emphasises the involvement of companies at all levels: the programs are designed according to the needs expressed by their professional partners. Major players from the sector and high level contributors come in to talk to the students throughout the year. Workshops are put together with input from companies to make real-life case studies.

During their studies, students are put in touch with companies and their recruiting departments, and benefit from a personalised coaching system that is designed to facilitate their future professional journey. IFM ensures career follow-up and accompaniment throughout the professional life of each graduate thanks to a dedicated team.

Study grants are available by the financial support of the Cercle IFM, a group of high-level companies that aim to make IFM a global reference in terms of teaching in this domain.