4 Steps to the Right Fashion Design School for You

Right after taking the major step of deciding to study Fashion, the next big question is: WHERE? There are many design schools available, each with their pros and cons. You might be considering one with better facilities, or one which produces famous couturiers, you might even be thinking about the total amount you will be spending for your education - right down to your transport fees. So how exactly do we figure out which option's the best?

Here's a guide to find out what you'll need to look out for in a Fashion school:

Step 1: Decide on your Dream Job!

First up, it's important to know which career direction you like to adopt. The earlier you figure out what you want to do, the more time you will have to fine-tune and develop skills in your choice of expertise.

These are a few career paths that you can learn about in Fashion Design school:

- Costume Designer/ Coordinator (for Television, Film or Theatre)

- Fashion Designer/ Assistant designer

- Pattern maker

- Fashion Illustrator

- Fashion Merchandiser/ Buyer

- Fashion Stylist

The fashion industry is enormous and is worth hundreds of billions of dollars every year, worldwide. Some might think that the fashion industry is exclusive and hard to break into. But try to get to know your opportunities better before giving into the temptation of settling with a mundane career.

Step 2: Find out Your Dream Job's Responsibilities

Having an ambition is great, but if you want to turn it into reality, you've got to be realistic. Fashion may be a creative field, but employers tend to prefer and respect job candidates who know their responsibilities. To find out your future job description, simply search for your job in a career search engine and you'll see a list of hiring companies. Click on the more reputable-looking ads and collate what they have in common.

Normally, employers would expect a fashion designer to have:

- Proficiency in software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand and CorelDRAW

- A portfolio

- A keen eye for fashion

Knowing what you will need to learn for career purposes will allow you to understand what you see in module guides from school brochures.

Step 3: Look for a Reputable School

You can spend thousands on a certificate, but if it's not recognized, it will be hard or in some cases, impossible to advance your studies. It can even hinder your chances of getting a job in Fashion. Look out for schools that are accredited by the country's education ministry - it will at least ensure that your certificate is recognized in your country. Look out for their track record, find out how their graduates are faring in the fashion industry.

Step 4: Select your Country of Choice

If you have got extra cash to spend, have a good idea of how you are going to repay your student loan, or if you have got yourself a scholarship, consider studying overseas. Choosing to study locally or overseas depends on what you want out of your educational experience, the price of living in the country, how accessible it is and how much you are willing to travel.

Hardcore fashionistas may insist on schooling in elegant/romantic France which produced top notch designers like Issey Miyake, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent. But if you are up for exotic fashion and culture, the Asia Pacific could be an ideal option with at least half the world's population here.

Verdict

A school is ultimately a place for you to study, develop your portfolio and contacts that will help you in your future career. Choosing a school is like shopping for stuff - you can get branded stuff with lots of quality and recognition that makes you feel good, or you can settle with a school that suits your needs and gets you where you want to be.

Choosing the Right Educational Path in Order to Become a Fashion Designer

If fashion designing is your calling and you dream of becoming a part of a major fashion house such as Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Armani, Prada and so many more some day, then you've stumbled onto the prefect resource center! Preparing for a career in fashion designing is going to be surprisingly easy with the resources and help you will find here!

If you're looking to become a fashion designer, then you need to make sure that you receive the best education in the field. Applying in Britain is your best option because, British fashion designing courses are generally regarded as the best in the world. Graduates sometimes get jobs in international fashion houses right after they complete their education and some even start clothing lines of their own!

Eligibility

What qualifications are you required to have in order to apply to fashion designing schools in Britain? You need to have completed your secondary education, or alternatively, students may even have a degree in equivalent vocational courses like BTEC in National Diplomas.

Education

After having completed your secondary education, you need to apply for a "foundation course". So what exactly is a foundation course? This course introduces you to the basics of fashion designing, and no, it is not all fun and games. This course lets you have a broad and comprehensive art and design experience and you also learn how to put together the kind of portfolios which the industry demands.

After the foundation year, you are required to go on to the Higher National Diploma. This is a two year course. You may also do a Bachelor of Arts in fashion designing. This is a three year course. But most colleges offer a four year course which covers the material included in the BA as well as the HND. These courses are especially helpful because industrial training is a part of the course as well.

Experience

You might spend up to twelve months working in the industry. Six months of industrial training is also included in the Bachelor of Arts degree as well. After you are done with this course, you may go on to do a master's course or a diploma in fashion designing.

Course material covers drawing, design, pattern cutting, developing, manufacture and industrial practices, styling, knitting, footwear designing, or even photography. Of course there are several elective subjects which you may choose from and this is one of them! The fashion industry is an extremely exciting and creative one, armed with the proper qualifications and degree; you may just take it by storm!

Is Fashion Design the Right Degree for You?

Are you a creative person who enjoys putting together great outfits? This makes you a natural for the field of fashion design. This degree allows you put your style knowledge to work designing and creating clothing for consumers of all types. This is a competitive field that has the potential to be very rewarding for students who are willing to work hard.

Skills Gained from a Fashion Degree

Although you may get a head start on your degree simply by having a great sense of style, you can gain numerous additional fashion skills by pursuing a degree. Some of the core skills learned in the program include:

Understanding of different fabrics, textiles, and clothing ornamentation
Insight into the fashion industry and current trends
Basic business and marketing skills for the fashion industry
Clothing design skills
Style design skills (such as how to work as a personal stylist)

What a To Expect in a Course

People who get this degree typically attend either a two-year or four-year program. The course is usually one degree offered at a design or art school. Some of the specific classes that students take include:

Sewing and tailoring
Pattern making
Art history with an emphasis on the history of fashion
Design technology including computer-aided design
Business classes with an emphasis on entrepreneurship
Sales and marketing classes

Fashion Design Degrees

The core degree that students get when graduating from a fashion design program is in fashion design. However, there are related degrees that may be obtained from a fashion school as well. For example, there are specific degrees in footwear design and accessory design. There are also degrees for the business side of fashion including merchandising and marketing degrees.

Jobs for Students

Upon graduation, most students use their degrees to get into an entry level position in retail. Others begin to work as assistants to a working fashion designer. Eventually these designers become self-employed as fashion designers. Important things for prospective design students to know about the industry, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, include:

The number of jobs available in this industry is expected to remain steady between 2008 and 2018. Intense competition for fashion careers is expected during this time.

The states with the most jobs designers in the United States are New York or California.

The median annual wage for fashion designers in 2009 was $64,260. The majority of people working in this field are earning between $32,320 and $90,020.

The state of the economy has made it so that a vast number of consumers are interested in the option to purchase affordable clothing that is still stylish and attractive. The majority of jobs for fashion degree students at this time are in this area of the market. Students interested in high-end boutique design may have a tougher time getting a job in today's market.

Kelli Smith writes about colleges and universities, community colleges, and online schools. Find schools offering fashion design degrees at CollegesandUniversities.org.

Fashion School Majors - Choosing the Right Major For a Career in Fashion Design

You know when you're meant for a career in fashion design. Perhaps you made clothes for your dolls (or dogs) when you were little; at the movies, you pay more attention to the costume design than the plot; you devour fashion magazines; or maybe you watch a red carpet event and just know you can do a better job dressing the stars. So what does it take to be a fashion designer? Professional training from a fashion school is key, but you might be surprised at the wide range of majors that lead to industry careers.

Fashion Design. This major teaches you to make the most of your creativity. It provides training in essential skills like fashion sketching, draping, computer-aided design, and pattern drafting. You would also study fashion design in the context of a bigger industry picture, with an examination of marketing, production, historical trends, and global business practices. But while this major may be the most obvious, it's not the only option for students looking to break into the field.

Merchandise Marketing. If you have both fashion sense and business sense, this program will prepare you for a career in fashion merchandising. You would receive valuable training in the planning, purchasing, and allocation of merchandise while keeping on top of fashion trends and consumer forecasts. In addition, you would gain the marketing and advertising expertise to effectively merchandise your fashion.

Merchandise Product Development. Suppose you want to develop your own product line, or merchandise an established brand. This major would help you do just that. The curriculum focuses on strategic planning, preproduction, trend analysis, and line production, and also would provide you training in the basics like sketching and fitting.

Apparel Manufacturing Management. This program prepares you to own or manage a fashion manufacturing company. You would learn every phase of the manufacturing process, from global sourcing and production planning to sales management and financial accountability, so you could take a product from initial concept to store distribution and beyond.

Textile Design. Some of the most innovative designers today focus on textiles. This major concentrates on the creation and production of printed and woven textiles that will be used for fashion, and interior, design. You would delve into the technical aspects of production and develop design skills using both traditional and computer-aided programs.

Fashion Knitwear Design. Knitwear is such an integral part of fashion design that many fashion schools now offer a major devoted to it. The curriculum is similar to that of the general fashion design major, with courses in illustration and pattern drafting, but specializing in the unique construction requirements of knitwear.

Costume Design. Students interested in the entertainment industry will benefit from this major, which is often divided into two programs - one for theatre costume design, and one for movies and television. You would study costume construction, wardrobing, rendering, script analysis and breakdown, while learning to work within the production constraints of budget and timing.

These are just some of the college majors that can help you break into the fashion design industry. Visit FIDM the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising for more info.