Fashion Degree

What is a Fashion Degree?

Have you ever wondered who decides what the latest trends in fashion will be or wished you could make your own clothes because you just can't seem to find any styles you like at the mall? If so, a fashion degree may be your opportunity to revolutionize tomorrow's trends!

Fashion designers create clothing and accessories purchased daily by consumers. They study fashion trends, sketch new designs, select colors and fabrics, and oversee production of their final product. There are three types of fashion design: Clothing design, footwear design, and accessory design.

Clothing designers create and produce men, women, and children's apparel, including intimate wear, casual wear, suits, sportswear, formal wear, outerwear, and maternity clothes.

Footwear designers produce styles of shoes, sandals, and boots for men, women, and children.

Accessory designers fashion handbags, scarves, belts, hats, hosiery, eye wear and anything that adds the final touches to an outfit.

Some designers specialize in one category, while others work in designs across the board. The production process from the initial design concept to production takes 18—24 months to complete, depending on the number of problems and hang-ups that occur during the course of production.

Fashion Design Workplace Environment

The work environment for fashion design professionals varies, depending on whether the designer is employed by a company or self-employed. Fashion design professionals employed by manufacturing companies, wholesalers, or design firms typically work regular office hours in a well-lit and comfortable setting. On the other hand, freelance or self-employed fashion designers adjust their schedules to meet their clients' needs and often work evenings or weekends. Freelance or self-employed fashion designers work long hours in congested environments and are often under pressure to meet deadlines and build their clientele. However, all designers occasionally work long hours to meet deadlines or prepare for fashion shows. It should also be noted that the fashion design field requires a bit of traveling to fashion shows, to meet with fabric and textile suppliers, and to manufacturers producing the designer's final product.

How can I get a Fashion Degree?

Fashion design requires at least an Associate's Degree to get your foot in the door. However, the higher level of education and training you receive, the better your chances of success will be. Extensive knowledge of color, textiles, fabric, ornamentation, designs, sewing, sketching, and fashion trends is essential for fashion design. Fashion History, Human Anatomy, Mathematics, and Psychology classes will also be included in your coursework.

Aspiring entrepreneurs and retail store owners often combine their fashion degree with Business, Marketing, or Fashion Merchandising to broaden their scope of knowledge in pursuit of another aspect of the competitive fashion design field.

Employment in fashion design is projected to remain static due to its highly-competitive nature. The majority of fashion design professionals were employed in California and New York, which are known to be the cutting-edge fashion scenes. Once you break onto the fashion design scene, be aware that starting salaries tend to be very low, until a designer is established. Higher earnings vary depending on the employer and the designer's years of experience.

Earn your fashion design degree by enrolling in class today!