Fashion Design

Archive for January, 2010

Like many college graduates, design school grads will beg the same question upon graduation: what now? You are ready to embark on the next phase in life: a career. But what should you expect with your degree? The following provides tips, facts and advices for new fashion design school grads.

Before you start your career in fashion design, there are a few things you should know. Almost one-fourth of fashion designers are self-employed, job growth is slower than average and the fashion industry is fiercely competitive. Luckily, the demand for unique clothing, footwear and accessories has always been strong, and there will always be a need for new and upcoming designers.

Also, in the fashion design industry, landing a dream job and moving up the design school ladder is extremely difficult and can be painfully slow. Fashion designers have to deal with low job turnover due to the fact that few jobs ever open up. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fashion design jobs are most available in mass market clothing design, which involves design pieces for many department stores and chain retail stores. Careers designing for specialty boutiques and private, expensive clothing stores are hard to find and are only given to the best of the best in the world of design.

There are many different careers for fashion design school graduates, however. Commercial and industrial designers, interior designers and graphic designers have better job outlooks and a less-competitive work environment than fashion designers. Although their careers are still artistically competitive, they are able to live in more diverse areas, be self-employed or work for a firm while enjoying a less cut-throat industry. Most designers in these industries enjoy a decent salary once they have established themselves.

These are just a few options fashion design school graduates have to choose from. Every degree outlook is different and can be applied in many diverse ways. The good news is that the world of design continues to grow and becomes more in demands as fashion and creativity grows and evolves.

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The Internet has revolutionized education. Distance and online learning is one of the fastest growing segments of the educational field. If you are thinking of attending fashion school for a fashion merchandising degree or certificate, you may want to consider an online fashion design program. These online programs have evolved and are more comprehensive and sophisticated to meet student needs.
As a fashion merchandising student, you’ll learn the nuts and bolts of fashion design and marketing. You’ll study the whole cycle of fashion creation, concentrating primarily on the manufacturing, buying, selling, and promotion of items to retail and other outlets. You’ll also learn about the actual textiles that create fabrics, and their manufacture.
There are many advantages to studying fashion merchandising online. You will have a more flexible schedule, and can study around your job, or other responsibilities. A great way to get even more prepared for working in the field is to take a fashion-related job while you are attending school online. This will help you get real world fashion experience that can enrich your online education, and help qualify you for your fashion merchandising career once you graduate.
There are a number of schools that offer online programs. Many respectable and respected fashion campuses also offer an online component. Its better to enroll in an online program that is well-known and has a presence in the fashion industry. Many schools offer a two year associates degree or a certificate, and some schools offer a four year bachelor degree. Whatever degree program you choose, you want to make sure that your online program has the appropriate accreditation, so that when you graduate, your achievement has merit in the industry, and is recognizable.
Another factor to consider is the job placement assistance offered after you graduate. Most schools will have statistics regarding the number of graduates working the fashion merchandising industry. Before you enroll, you should review the school’s job assistance program, and make sure it is comprehensive as possible.
A fashion merchandising career is one of the most flexible and varied in the fashion industry. Once you have achieved your diploma or certification, there are a wide variety of positions available. You could work in retail as store manager, or store owner. You could also work as a fashion buyer, merchandiser, fashion event planner, and that is just a small number of the variety of positions available.
If you live too far away to attend an on campus fashion school, or need more flexibility with your schedule, an online fashion merchandising program may be a good fit for you. More and more schools are catering to the needs of their students by offering online degree and certificate studies, and there are now a number to choose from. Your fashion career could be just a few mouse clicks away.

Amy Wells writes about fashion education. Thinking of attending Fashion
School? Get the facts first, find out where to go and how to save money on Fashion
School.

Fashion Design Schools

Find fashion schools offering online fashion merchandising, fashion design, fashion marketing, and other programs that can help you develop the skills you need to get your foot in the door of this stylish career. Find schools in top fashion destinations like New York City, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, across the US and beyond.

The field of fashion and fashion marketing is a demanding yet rewarding path. Are you ready to combine your creative talents and marketing savvy into an exciting career? Some career paths include: Fashion Buyer, Product Developer & Retail Manager. You will work closely with account executives and store managers to select appropriate merchandise to sell in stores. You are knowledgeable about current and future trends and travel to national and international fashion markets to study them.

Following schools offer online fashion courses and degrees

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX ONLINE

• Fashion Design/Marketing

BAKER COLLEGE ONLINE

• Bachelor Degree in Web Development

• Certificate in Web Design

THE ART INSTITUTE ONLINE

• Residential Planning – Diploma

• Digital Design – Diploma

• Web Design – Diploma

• Graphic Design – Associate Degree

• Multimedia & Web Design – Associate Degree

• Advertising – Bachelor Degree

• Culinary Management BS Degree Completion Program – Bachelor Degree

• Interior Design – Bachelor Degree

• Game Art & Design – Bachelor Degree

• Graphic Design – Bachelor Degree

• Multimedia & Web Design – Bachelor Degree

CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

• Graphics and Multimedia

• Web Application Development

AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY ONLINE

• Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communications

WESTWOOD COLLEGE ONLINE

• Graphic Design and Multimedia

• Visual Communications

• Animation

• Web Design & Multimedia

• CAD Courses

American InterContinental University

Fashion Design School

The fast-paced fashion industry is rich in career opportunities for individuals with an eye for color, line and texture, a keen business sense and a bold creative vision. AIU fashion school students are on the career track well before they graduate. They create a portfolio highlighting their best work for presentation to employers. Study tours to fashion centers like New York City, Paris and Milan are a great chance to network with the big names in the business. In addition, our students gain valuable experience as interns with designers, manufacturers and fashion houses.

The AIU Fashion Design School program helps new designers acquire the necessary skills to develop their personal style. Students also become familiar with the business and marketing side of the apparel industry.

Associate Degree in Fashion Design

Associate Degree in Interior Design

Associate Degree in Media Production

Associate Degree in Visual Communications

Bachelor’s Degree Fashion Design

Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design

Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design & Fashion Marketing

Bachelor’s Degree in Media Production

Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communications

Request Information – Atlanta (Buckhead), GA

International Academy of Design & Technology

Campus programs

The International Academy’s Program in Fashion Design is demanding, technical, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art. Students are given a solid foundation in fashion illustration, pattern drafting, design, draping, clothing construction, textiles, fashion history and production techniques. All of the instruction is presented using industrial grade equipment in spacious and comfortable facilities built for optimum fashion design. Students are encouraged to realize their potential with inspiration provided by visiting designers and artisans with local and/or international reputations who conduct special lectures and workshops.

Associate of Science Degree in Web Design

Associate of Science degree in Computer Animation

Associate of Science Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing

Associate of Science Degree in Interior Design

Associate of Science Degree in Graphic Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design

Brooks Fashion Design College

Associate degree in Fashion

The Fashion Design program at Brooks College provides academic and specialized practical instruction to prepare the student to enter an ever-changing and exciting world of fashion. In this growing industry, there is a constant demand for technical knowledge and creative talent. Brooks College’s Division of Manufacturing Education (D.O.M.E.) is the on-campus manufacturing facility where the major portion of the second year program is taught. Graduates of the program are qualified for the following: Designer and Assistant Designer, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Design School, Production, Pattern maker, Pattern Grader, Fabrications and trim Buyer, as well as, Fashion Illustrator and Textile Artist.

Associate of Science Degree (Graphic Design)

Associate of Arts Degree (Fashion Design)

Associate of Arts Degree (Interior Design)

Associate of Arts Degree (Fashion Merchandising)

Associate of Science Degree (Animation)

Associate of Science Degree (Multimedia)

Katharine Gibbs School New York (New York, NY)

Fashion Design School and Merchandising

Students are trained, practically and academically, in all aspects of the fashion industry. Topics include: fabric printing and print design, sketching for the designer and illustrator, industry-standard pattern drafting, showroom and retail sales, fashion design school. Through the course of the program, students will be developing their own fashion portfolio.

Associate Degree Visual Communications

Associate Degree – Fashion Design.

PCDI – Professional Career Development Institute

The Professional Fashion Merchandising Program

Have you ever wondered why certain clothes show up in fashion advertising and still others never sell? Would you like to be able to plan and produce a successful fashion show? Do you want to know how consumer fashion trends are set? Are you interested in getting in on a fast-track field by taking a fashion merchandising course? If so, you’ve come to the right place!

PCDI’s nationally accredited home study course will teach you about fashion merchandising, and much more. You’ll Receive 17 clear, beautifully illustrated lessons. First, we’ll teach you about consumer style preferences and purchasing habits. Next, we’ll take you “behind the scenes” to Find out what retail buyers, department heads, store managers, fashion directors, visual merchandisers, and sales associates do. Then, we’ll show you the secrets of staging fashion shows; planning special events; becoming a personal shopper; tracking fashion trends; and going for that first career position.

Key advantages of our school:

No campus attendance, no commuting, no deadline pressure

All exams are open-book/open notes

Learn at your own pace; graduate in as little as six months after taking the fashion merchandising courses!

Graduate with a nationally accredited diploma

Enroll any time and enjoy affordable, interest-free tuition

There are no educational prerequisites or experience requirements to enroll. Convenient, practical home study fashion merchandising courses and training from PCDI makes learning fashion merchandising easy and fun!

Fashioning and fashion designing both are different concept altogether. For people who have vision in future trends of fashion and can study latest iconic image, are bound to be fashion designer. But just ideation and creativity wouldn’t take you much ahead in this hot and happening industry. A good qualification in fashion design course and industry experience would count more along with attending trade shows and fashion modelling shows. But it is very necessary to know the best places for pursuing career in fashion design industry. Let us view some of these here. European countries like Spain, Italy and US countries like Canada, California are famous for fashion design institutes and cohesive range of programs, facilities, internships, industry orientation and quality placements. To name a few top fashion design schools:

Polimoda, International Institute Fashion Designing and Marketing, Florence Up To date Fashion Academy, Milano Marbella Design Academy, Spain Okanagan Fashion Institute, Canada Academy of Couture Art, Los Angeles, California Academy of Fashion design, Canada etc.

How to choose the course:

Fashion Industry is very challenging and rewarding as well. High education at least bachelors’ degree in art or design would be required before you take entry for any fashion designing courses. Some institutes will ask for your artistic ability test with a prototype, portfolio or sample sketch prior to your entry. You should ensure that the course you are opting for is an accredited one that is to assure that you will undergo high standard education and industry recognition. In US The National Association of School of Art and Design is an accrediting body that conduct degrees in Fashion designing or courses in pattern making through 250 institutions. You can also enquire about various regional accrediting bodies and contact them directly. There are various courses both in core designing and Fashion merchandizing or marketing. You will learn latest technology inputs and processes like CAD (Computer Aided Design) programs. It will take 2 to 4 years to complete the educational qualification. You may get opportunity as internship programs and be trained with expert professionals during course tenure. At the end of the final year, students need to display their collection to prospective employers and industry buyers.

What are the career options:

Fashion designers lead a fancy but hectic life. The level of exposure in glamorous world and film, modelling industry is high. Even big retailers, apparel industrialists, page 3 icons all these finest people of the earth would be associated through out your professional career. After completion of your courses the job profile would be as under:

Work under senior designers as pattern maker or sketching assistants. Work for apparel manufacturers or wholesalers where you will be designing clothing for public wear. Get job in high-end department stores or speciality stores Upon good experience and contacts you can be self reliant by working for individual client or set up an office at your own place.

Stephen Brown, an enthusiast writer directs gateway to fashion Design College abroad. He provides information on online colleges and associated with http://www.careereducation2u.com/

The fashion world has long been filled with glitz and glamour. The ramp for models is always long, dramatic, and well-lighted. The walk is certainly a walk for fame, fortunately for aspirants but sometimes leading to a walk for shame. Who is behind all these promises and/or even breakdowns? No less than the fashion designers.

What, exactly, does a fashion designer do?

Basically, with streaks of talent, creativity, and sensitivity, fashion designers, as if influenced by Rumpelstiltskin, craft accessory and clothing sketches. They usually concentrate in one nature of accessory or garment such as women’s or men’s apparels, swimwear, lingerie, children’s garments, handbags, and even shoes. They, sometimes, lead the groundwork of the creation and promotion of their creations.

Famous fashion designers prefer to be self-employed and they cater for the request of their clients. Some cater to high-fashion department stores or to specialty stores. They establish fashion statements by setting the colors, silhouette, and type of materials that are worn each season.

There are also some designers who are employed by manufacturers of clothes. These designers just adapt fashion statements set by other designers for the market. However, there are small manufacturers who just purchase or copy designs.

Both designers sketch unique garments and follow certain trends in fashion. Likewise, both need assistants who should get used to the fast-paced schedule of the fashion business.

In detail, these designers execute the following tasks:

• Draw their unique designs.

• Create patterns for sample garments.

• Choose textile and add-ons (accessories).

• Apply tailoring and basic dressmaking principles along with draping techniques and flat pattern works.

• Fit and alter the completed product, if necessary.

• Set-up a fashion show.

• Compare the performance of the merchandise against the competitors.

• Keep self up-to-date of latest fashion trends thru magazines and other fashion shows.

• Have frequent trips to fabric showrooms to keep self updated of latest type of fabrics.

Actually, fashion designers can be categorized as follows:

1. Lead or Head Designers

They take care of the executive and creative tasks.

2. Assistant or Apprentice Designers

They usually make patterns and sample garments. They may also teach sample makers how to make patterns and designer garments.

3. Specialty Designers

They coordinate with other designers about special lines of garments.

4. Costume or Theatrical Designers

They usually create costumes used in theater and movie productions on a contractual basis.

The foundations for their creations are their knowledge, skills, and abilities honed in fashion schools and trainings in the long run.

• Basic Design – This refers to technical know-how included in the creation and use of technical blueprints, drawings, plans, and models.

• Idea Production – This is the ability of designers to approach problems creatively and resourcefully.

• Dynamic Learning – This is being able to analyze implications of new information and materials at hand.

• Operations Scrutiny – This is considering requirements of products to execute a design.

• Uniqueness – This pertains to unusual cleverness vis-à-vis trying situations.

• Harmonization – This is being able to having good coordination with others.

• Visioning – This is being able to see how an organization works under real conditions.

The talents and skills of these artists are really important in the fashion industry. The work requires an eye for a striking creation and business management. Thus, aside from the portfolio of their usually creations, formal education help these designers acquire the secrets of the trade in this business. In fact, graduation from a college or school that provides training on fashion and design is highly recommended in the industry, to keep incoming designers updated on the advent of new techniques and technologies.

However, some leaders of this industry view vocational training schools and community college as more capable of producing competent artists because these institutions work along with clothing industries.

Vocational schools provide trainings in sketching, draping and grading, pattern making, garment construction, textiles and trimmings, costume history, principles of design and color; and how to plan and market seasonal fashion lines.

High school students inclined in fashion and design should finish basic courses in arts, sewing, mathematics, speech, English, and business.

Usually, vocational institutions provide a two-leveled program with certificate that is consonant to the degree in Associate of Arts. For those who want to enter the fashion field immediately, a first level certificate of proficiency is provided. The next level of proficiency, the second-level requires a greater time of completion. But upon graduation, artists are considered competent enough to aim for positions as Assistant Designers. After all the necessary formal trainings and specializations, those who have the guts and high hopes spin gold fabrics!

Nisse Hulth is a freelancer with an interest for fashion. Read more articles by Nisse Hulth here.