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School & College Guide>
Fashion Design Career, Schools, Courses, Industry Careers
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Fashion Design Career Options / Schools
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What it involves:
Clothes can display one's individuality and enable people to feel confident and powerful. Haute couture (high-fashion custom-fitted clothes) designers don't design clothing for comfort or protection but rather as an artistic expression. Many people tend to look at the final product of fashion on the run ways and the movies without realizing how much work is involved in producing a single hit design. Whole teams work for months creating that design from Sketchers to Pattern Makers, Cutters, Sewers and Researchers. It is only those designers with talent, ambition and determination that succeed in this demanding and highly competitive industry.
Some skills which are an advantage when entering the world of fashion include a good eye for color, sense of style and shape, an ability to sketch, knowledge of textiles and a formal qualification in design. You must have an excellent portfolio of your work ready to display to any potential employers.
How to become a Fashion Designer:
A bachelor's degree in fashion design should
provide the student with a well-rounded education, and many students feel that it is impossible to break into the industry without one. When choosing a fashion/costume design school,
reserach it's accreditation. The National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) or the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) are the main accrediting bodies in the US. Look for a school that will allow you to transfer credits if you wish to change schools to attend a different course, or to gain further qualifications in the future.
At fashion school you will start to make useful contacts in the fashion industry. Often design houses recruit the top students directly from graduation. When attending fashion school you will learn new design techniques and also how to improve your work. You will also have access to the latest designing software that is used in the industry.
Career Opportunities:
As the fashion industry is largely based in
Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Rome London, New York and
Los Angeles most fashion jobs are also located
in these areas. You should seriously consider
spending time in one of these fashion capitals
if you wish to succeed in your career.
Currently
the trend for bulk manufacturers is to employ
fashion designers overseas. This trend is likely
to continue so to stay employable it is
important to develop broad ranging skills in
both the fashion and business areas. Look out
for a specialist or niche job and build up your
skills in many diverse areas.
When you start your career you will hold the
least glamorous position in the design house
even if you are highly qualified. Only when you
gain experience and serve your time will you be
able to apply for better positions. Along with
good designing skills employers also look for
candidates with a knowledge of business and
marketing.
When you get your break, be prepared
for long hours and limited pay. Many of today's
top designers started off in similar low-paying
positions, and used them to learn and develop
their skills. As you gain experience in the
field, your position and salary will increase.
There are many important roles involved the
fashion industry e.g. Artists and Sketchers,
Assistant Designers, Cutters, Head Designers /
Design Directors, Pattern Graders, Pattern
Makers, Set and Exhibit Designers, Sewers, Spec
and Fit Technicians, Specialty Designers, Trend
Researchers.
Fashion designers can choose to specialize in
designing for different genres. e.g.
Accessories, Children's clothing, Costumes,
Footwear, Lingerie, Men's wear, Sportswear,
Swimwear, Uniform, Women's wear or Wedding
design. |
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 Academy of Couture Art
The Academy of Couture Art was founded as a
higher institution of learning to teach the
principles and techniques of fashion that go
above and beyond those ordinarily taught in the
United States by providing instruction combining
European Haute Couture fashion with American
fashion. Unique to American fashion education,
ACA teaches Pattern Design and Fashion Design
separately. Located in the prestigious Pacific
Design Center in West Hollywood, CA, the Academy
of Couture Art offers innovative, challenging,
and flexible fashion education programs that
prepare a diverse student population for
professional excellence in design, fashion and
business.
Programs: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Fashion Design, in Pattern Design, Associate of Arts Degree in Fashion Design, in Pattern Design, Advanced Certificate Programs (night and/or weekend programs), Intensive English Language Program, Short Term Recreational Programs, Summer Fashion Camp. |
Los Angeles, California |
Marbella Design Academy
The Marbella Design Academy in Costa del Sol sl.
was founded in 1995. We are currently located in
central Marbella, in Andalucia, Southern Spain,
and will be moving to our new purpose built
facility in Monda which is only 15km from
Marbella. The new building has been approved by
The Ministry of Education in Spain, and it
complies with all the demands for a new and
modern design Academy. The academy has an
Academic level that competes with the best
design schools in the World. The academy follows
the State recognized programmes from the
Ministry of Education in Spain. |
Spain |
 Uptodate Academy
Fashion Uptodate is the first international
Fashion and Cosmetic Academy which offers high
specialized courses for creative and
complementary professions in the Fashion System.
Uptodate Academy is located in the most
prestigious address in downtown Milan, the
European capital of fashion. In the heart of the
fashion district, between Via Montenapoleone, Via della
Spiga and Via Sant’Andrea, where the most
renowned fashion designers have their flagship
stores, Uptodate is rapidly becoming an integral
part of the ever-flourishing fashion industry.
Fashion UptoDate Academy boasts a prestigious
collaboration with C.N.A. Federmoda. Courses are
held in Italian with simultaneous translation in
English. The single courses last 12 or 24 days.
The professional look maker courses last 6
months and 1 year.
Programs: Fashion Styling Basic,
Image Consulting Basic, Fashion Photography
Basic, Fashion Make up Basic, Fashion Hair
styling Basic, Fashion Make up Trends, Fashion
Hair styling Trends, Fashion Personal Shopper
Trends, Fashion Photography Trends, Fashion
Styling Trends, Beauty Look maker (6 months),
Global Backstage (6 months), Total Quality (1
year). |
Milan, Italy |
American InterContinental University London
American InterContinental University in London,
England has been preparing students for the
rigors of the real world with practical,
career-focused learning for over 35 years. AIU
London goes even further by giving students an
international education that can set them up for
success anywhere in the world-whether in their
home town or farther afield. AIU London offers
Bachelor's degrees in Fashion Design, Fashion
Marketing, Fashion Design and Marketing, and
more.. |
London, UK |
Parsons Paris School of Design
Parsons Paris is a school for serious art and design students with a genuine desire to fully develop their talents. Students who accept the challenges offered by the faculty join a community of artists, scholars, and designers who are collectively committed to engaging creative resources, expanding skills, exploiting learning opportunities and refining values and a sense of professional direction. Classes at Parsons Paris are small and informal, resulting in close working relationships among students and faculty alike. Students are thus exposed to the substantial variety of work produced by an international team of artists and designers.
Programs: BFA degree programs in Fashion and Fine Arts as well as a BBA degree in Design and Management. Students can also begin degrees in Communication Design, Illustration, and Photography in Paris and complete their program at Parsons School of Design in New York. Also a Visiting Student Program for college sophomores and juniors, or those with an undergraduate degree. |
Paris, France |
 Okanagan Fashion Institute Inc
Okanagan Fashion Institute Inc, located in
beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia, is the
place for both young and old to begin making
their fashion dreams come true! Okanagan Fashion
Institute Inc offers an enriching & creative
education in the exciting world of clothing
construction and Fashion Design. Modelled after
the traditional one-room School house, Okanagan
Fashion Institute is a unique, creative, and
personable School, designed around the
philosophy of "Hands on Learning".
During the 10 month Fashion Design Diploma
Program, students attend classes 2-Days a week,
plus one evening, allowing them the means to
work full time to support themselves while
attending School. |
Canada |
Academy of Fashion Design
Academy of Fashion Design is located in beautiful downtown Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Our goal is to train students for the exciting and growing field of fashion design. The Academy helps to prepare students for the many challenges which they will face either working in the fashion industry or operating a business of their own. Our focus is on custom fitting, pattern making, textiles and design principles as well as exploring your own creativity. Once you have completed your Diploma, you will be able to use your artistic and creative abilities to produce unique, one of a kind designs. Academy of Fashion Design differs from other fashion colleges in that we offer our certificate and diploma programs by correspondence (distance learning) through the extensions division. Study at home if you wish!
Programs: Certificate of Fashion Design (on-location), Diploma of Fashion Design (on-location), Certificate of Fashion Design (extensions), Certificate of Patternmaking (extensions), Diploma of Fashion Design (extensions). |
Canada |
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