Wassim Saliba
Co founder of the DLX Paris agency (Public Relations & Communications)
The school’s network is one of its strongest points. I applied for an internship at KCD thanks to one of my professors. After two interviews, I got this internship which awakened my passion for public relations and it was after these 6 months that I got my first “real” job as a press officer at KCD. And by the way, my internship supervisor at the time is now my partner. Without this program I wouldn’t be where I am today!
“Manager of International Development in Fashion and Luxury Industries” Post Graduate Degree
ESMOD Paris - Class of 2011
What was your journey before coming to ESMOD? Did you always know you wanted to work in fashion?
After my graduation in a hospitality school in Lausanne, I did different internships in this domain and I quickly realized that it did not suit me. So I decided to change directions and to move to Paris and pursue other studies. Many people had already told me about ESMOD but it was the presentation on the website about the postgraduate program in fashion business that definitely convinced me.
People cannot qualify me as a fashion obsessed but I did grow up in a universe that made me become sensitive to it. My father loved dressing well and when we were younger, my sister and I enjoyed cutting out our mother’s fashion magazines and making collages and pretending to have our own couture brand.
As I arrived in Paris, I had no intention in staying but I fell in love with the city and today I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else.
Let’s talk about your schooling at ESMOD. What kind of student were you? What are your best (or worst) memories?
We cannot say that I was the perfect student. But the postgraduate program suited me perfectly. We studied the theory aspect during 6 months, the days well compacted so time passes quickly.
I only keep the great memories of ESMOD and I met a lot of people coming from all around the country and with whom I spent the best journey in Paris that any students can live. The worst memories, I have some and I laugh at them now thinking about it.
According to you, what is the specialty of the Fashion Business program that you were part of? What did it bring to you?
According me, it’s before anything the mix of cultures that makes this program unforgettable! The apprenticeship was split in separate timing : theory and practical and I find that the school network is also another important aspect.
I applied for an internship at KCD through Marion Dufour Lahore and her classes (which I loved): for the final project with my team, we wished to work on Victoria Secret Show in Paris and so she recommended KCD as agency press relation where my curiosity to get to know more and to apply grew. After two interviews, I got my real first internship as a assistant for the press at KCD. By the way, my trainer during the internship is today my associate. Without this program I would of never been where I am today!
Tell us about your professional journey after ESMOD and your tasks and responsibilities.
KCD was like a school to me, and the best school. My journey wouldn’t have been the same without this experience. From the 1st day I was greeted to the family and had the opportunity to work with a great team. For 4 years, I evolved in collaborating with Balmain, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Marc Jacobs men and many more. Even as an intern I had responsibilities and was a true press officer assistant. As time passed, I grew with the brands that I was representing and had the chance to have direct links with artistic directors of these houses.
During the fashion week we barely sleep. We are in the office for a whole month, including the weekends and everyone is implied to the whole runway and events managed by agencies and season after season the responsibilities multiplies. After 4 years, I was able to manage a runway from A to Z in a very independent way and making me grow and making me want to fly with my own wings.
What are the qualities needed for the position you have now?
Like I always said, we do not save people’s lives, and the press office is not that complicated itself. You have to know to show your patience, be organized and as well as passionate and especially keep a smile in all circumstances. It’s the relational aspect that is so important. Have a good team spirit with the teams we are working with, always satisfy the customers and to build a solid journalist network. It’s a world that moves a lot and always so you have to forge your position and make it so that you only leave a positive image to the different interlocutors.
