Fashion Programs

Top Career Fashion Programs

Learn about fashion programs. Choose your course major from fashion design, merchandising, and marketing.

To become a fashion designer or work in the business you need to attend the best fashion programs and obtain a suitable degree. Career options vary greatly, from being a designer, to merchandiser or even marketeer, and each job has different requirements.

Someone skilled in the fashion industry is needed each step along the way to help create, promote and sell merchandise. Without formal training, it is unlikely to get a good job or you will start at an entry level position and need to work your way up. They key is to find a top fashion design school, focus on your specialty and do what it takes to be noticed by employers.

Classroom education, practical training and building a portfolio will be necessary. Being informed of the requirements of fashion programs early on makes taking the right path so much easier.

Fashion Design Programs

Among all fashion programs, fashion design programs is the most popular. This major will teach budding designers the necessities of the job which are quite diverse.

Learning how to choose fabrics, analyze trends, draw up sketches, create patterns and produce samples are essential. The courses also allow you to decide if you want to specialize in certain areas of fashion, like footwear, outerwear, business, sports or casual wear. It could even extend to doing costume design for movies or other stage productions.

Once in the field with the right training and experience, many new doors can open. It is critical to have the right training though, so this is step one.

Both two-year associate's degrees and four-year bachelor's degrees are good starting points, as long as the fashion design programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. In your fashion programs, you will cover basic theory and skills including:

• the history of fashion
• making patterns
• sewing
• sketching
• color theory
• clothing design
• CAD or computer aided design

An internship is offered to supplement classroom theory in all reputable fashion design programs. Studying online is also possible, but an internship is therefore rare and it is difficult to find an accredited school.

If you want a more behind the scenes job, consider fashion marketing programs or fashion merchandising programs.

Fashion Merchandising Programs

Many fashion merchandising schools offer degrees in this field to train students for this crucial position.

A fashion merchandiser is responsible for researching trends, analyzing profits, determining prices and calculating potential losses. Someone trained and graduated from fashion merchandising programs has many career choices available to them:

• event planner
• fashion retailer
• store manager
• window dresser
• advertising agent
• promotion specialist

Fashion Marketing Programs

Fashion marketing programs combine the creative aspect of design with the business aspect of the industry. At fashion marketing schools, you will learn marketing and advertising techniques, how to predict the direction of trends and how to boost sales.

Both associate's and bachelor's degrees are available depending on the level of job you are looking for. Bachelor's degrees always open more doors and better prepare you for managerial positions and entrepreneurial roles.

Top Fashion Schools

Enrolling in fashion programs from top fashion schools is the best way to be noticed since you will have the opportunity to have more effective internships and develop strong portfolios. Fashion school can be pricey, so look into scholarship options and decide where you can best benefit. Some of the top schools are:

• Pratt Institute in New York
• Parsons the New School for Design in New York
• Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles
• Academy of Art University in San Francisco
• School of the Art Institute in Chicago
• Savannah College of Art and Design

Having any of these fashion programs on your resume will provide an appealing attraction to employers and virtually guarantee you a starting position, so look into their requirements and start working to meet them.

Request free information from fashion schools near you.