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Fashion Schools

Posted: Sunday, May 1, 2011

Looking for an interesting career in the fashion industry? Offering a diverse education; fashion schools provide comprehensive coursework that maintains up-to-date fashion and design training programs, which often include the latest accessories, clothing, hairstyles, jewelry, cosmetics, and relevant fashion equipment.

Aside from basic instruction in fabrics and textiles, common fashion school curriculums introduce and educate students about budgeting; CAD (Computer Aided Design); clothing production (including learning how to sew and sewing machines); fashion history; merchandising, retail management and wardrobe ensemble.

Successful candidates who have completed and earned a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Fashion Design or Fashion Merchandising may enter lucrative fashion careers such as buyers; costumers; cosmetic artists; cutters; designers; drapers; fashion models; hairstylists; photographers; and merchandisers.

A. Guide to Choosing A Fashion Design School
A successful future in the fashion design industry depends on right choice of school to attend. When choosing a fashion design school, consider the following factors. Look into the nature of the school. Is it solely a fashion design school or does it offer other courses. Is this school well-known for its emphasis on fashion design?

Fashion design schools are few and far between. Also, look into whether the school participates in any fashion design competition or has accomplished anything of reknown in the industry. Different schools have different strengths, find a school that plays to your strengths and has specialization in the field of your choice.

For example, you might choose a very well-know fashion design school only to find out that they specialize in childrens’ clothing, while the field of your choice is adult formal wear. Make sure you know what field the school you are scouting focuses on.

Alumni and Job Placements
If you see that those that had gone through this school before you received proper training and are successful in their field, that is an indication of a good school. Most of these reputable schools have numerous connections in the graphic arts industry. They usually offer job placement services. You may want to consider this when choosing a school.

Curriculum
You may want to compare the curricula of different schools to see which offers the best form of education. It would also be wise to check the quality of the teaching staff at that school. Having established artists who teach at a fashion design school is also an indication of a good training program.

Student to Teacher Ratio
Ask yourself: how big are the classes and how many teachers and classes are available at this school before you choose it.

Accreditation
Accreditation means the school has passed a certain standards of educational quality. Fashion design schools must be accredited to prove their level of competence. Check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau to see if the college you are investigating is accredited.

Cost
Unfortunately, it also pays to be practical in your choice of fashion design school.

Scholarships
You might want to consider whether the design school you are looking at offers any scholarships. Some schools offer scholarships based on academic performance. Some offer them based on fashion design competitions they hold regularly. Your choice of school is an investment that will last you a lifetime. When you are comfortable with your choice of fashion design schools, you can now chart your path towards a successful career.

B. Fashioning A Fashion Career
Most people conceive of a career in fashion designing as merely drinking cocktails, dressing celebrities up and attending chi-chi affairs. But fashion designing is more than that. Fashion is not just about clothes design either; designers pursue other interests like shoes, accessories, or bag designs. Excited about pursuing a fashion designing career? In setting up a fashion design business, a budding designer needs to know the basics. Knowledge and experience in designing, drawing, sketching, and CAD applications are necessary to facilitate design illustrations. Certification from design schools and workshops give additional points for a budding designer but are not really necessary.

Possessing the above-mentioned skills does not guarantee fashion designing success. As a starting fashion designer, you must identify the type of design you are interested in pursuing. Are you going to concentrate on women, teens, kids, men, or be a general designer? Some starting designers opt to concentrate on a special market by being a formal wear designer or a bridal gown designer. Starting design businesses opt to open their own store and hire their own pattern-makers, sewers, and staff. Custom and per-order designing are the usual pursuits of budding designers. Fashion business experts recommend the latter two to most starting fashion design business as these require less capital and workforce.

To jumpstart a fashion design career quickly, applying as an employee in a fashion house is another option. Positions for entry-level applicants are usually pattern makers, sample maker, and sketcher. Fashion house managers agree that they tend to look for individuals with great style and flair for fashion.


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