We meet the lively Lyly Lemêtre, founding director of Jaelys Group and its institutions.
Visual pleasure, aesthetics and the art of living: Jaelys trains students for careers in fashion, interior design and wedding planning.
We meet the lively Lyly Lemêtre, founding director of Jaelys Group and its institutions.
Jaelys is a fashion school but you also offer courses in interior design and wedding planning. What would you say is your institution’s ‘trademark’?
Yes, Jaelys is a higher educational institution focusing on the world of fashion, events and design. We also offer specific training for careers as a brand ambassador, wedding planner/designer and interior designer.
Jaelys was founded 18 years ago by two of us – Jael and Lyly. We are both art directors, colour artists and fashion designers. By combining our two names we came up with ‘Jaelys’.
Jaelys students’ professional projects are conducted on the ground (a big thank you for inviting the FEDE to your wonderful event at the Shangri-La!). In practical terms, how are you managing to organise student projects during the COVID pandemic?
Yes, the strength of Jaelys over the past 18 years has certainly been that our students have the opportunity to work on real-life projects based on the real requests of clients or venues. We are very proud to have our students take part in these exciting projects that allow them to apply their theoretical knowledge on the ground.
In the current circumstances, Jaelys projects are more pertinent than ever! Postponements have given our students an idea of what it is like, as a professional, to deal with unforeseens. They have learned to handle the logistics of a ‘plan B’ in events management. Many are also working on fashion projects with magazines, which is allowing them to have contact with luxury brands. Others are involved in interior design, working in the homes of clients who are working from home.
The pandemic has actually allowed us to be even more available than ever for our students. So Jaelys projects have not stopped: you can see them on Instagram.
Has demand for some of your courses changed?
We are a small institution and, given the reputation of our students’ projects and our great student atmosphere, we always attract a lot of applications: the number has not changed. We receive about 30 applications per month for 20 places per year.
A lot of people apply directly from high school for our intensive three-year bachelor’s.
You have been a member of the FEDE for two years now. What is the advantage of membership?
Networking and professional support on a daily basis. The FEDE also provides our students with valuable knowledge about Europe.
Your institution is currently developing fast and always aims to meet the latest job market needs. Are there any new courses in the pipeline?
We are currently expanding our course catalogues both for our institution and our adult training centre. Some new courses will be announced in 2021.
Our main institution will be offering a masterclass system for our graduates; the idea is to help them develop their technical skills and knowledge.
Nowadays education has to adapt quickly to market demand. Consequently, we are also planning some online courses dedicated to specific subject areas.
2021 has brought with it a new world and new opportunities. What are your hopes for the new year?
Like everyone, our chief hope is that the pandemic will soon end and that our students will remain in good health.
As for Jaelys, I would like to reassure parents who are worried about their children’s future careers, that events management is not going to disappear… The fashion industry is still functioning and during lockdown people actually have plenty of time to think about decorating their homes. Consequently, our three-year bachelor’s programme provides students with a solid course of studies and great future job prospects.
