In 1887 the anthropologist and linguist Abel Hovelacque proposed that the city of Paris should create a municipal school of arts and professional printing for industry. In November 1889 the school opened with 108 students in temporary premises on rue Vauquelin.
The school was named in honour of the Estienne family, a famous family of 16th-century printers including Henri Estienne (elder), Robert Estienne and Charles Estienne. Its vocation was to address the poor qualifications and standards of printing and book-making, covering theoretical and practical aspects.