Fashion Degrees: Launch Your Fashion Career with Style

by Joe Cooper
Fashion School Review Columnist

November 29, 2006

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Launching a fashion career can be done any number of ways. In such a competitive industry, however, earning a fashion degree improves your chances of snatching up your fashion design dream job. Fashion school will help you determine your style niche and edge out job competition.

Can you be the next great designer without a fashion degree? Yes. Will it be more difficult? Absolutely. Most employers look for candidates with a degree, a strong fashion portfolio, and even some fashion design experience through internships or entry-level positions. There are no rules for creating a fashion career, but there are best practices. Following them will help you better understand the fashion world and build a great resume.

Real Jobs in Fashion Design
So, what will a fashion degree get you? We'd all love to launch a successful clothing line some day, but successful fashion careers aren't limited to top designer roles. Check out real job advertisements from London, New York, and Boston to get a taste for some fashion jobs and their educational requirements:

Eco-fashion Project Associate: "If you are a fashion student, graduate or post graduate we'd love to hear from you."
Fashion Merchandiser: "Must have BA in Apparel Design or Fashion Merchandising"
Associate Fashion Designer: Qualifications [include] working towards or recently completed a Bachelor's degree in a design discipline

What Fashion Employers Want
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that fashion employers want "designers with a 2- or 4-year degree who are knowledgeable about textiles, fabrics, ornamentation, and fashion trends." The BLS also notes the industry is very competitive, and many fashion designers are self-employed.

So, what does all this mean? Fashion is a creative field where natural talent makes a difference, but nothing replaces good old-fashioned education. If you want to be the next fashion great, start your career in style with a fashion degree.

Sources:

About the Author
Joe Cooper is a freelance education and technology writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.

Featured Schools
Campus The Art Institutes The Art Institutes system of schools is a leading educator of students in the creative and applied arts, including design, media, fashion, and culinary programs. Every program of study offered to you is regularly reviewed by industry leaders, advisors, and employers for relevance in the marketplace. Changes are made, if necessary, to integrate subject matter into the curriculum so that our degree programs reflect the way things are done in the real world of work. Programs listed are not offered at all locations. See more facts about The Art Institutes Program Offer: Fashion Design (BFA) Fashion Design (AA) Fashion Design (AAA) And more... Campus Locations: Chicago Dallas Denver Fort Lauderdale Houston Indianapolis Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis New York North Hollywood Philadelphia Pittsburgh Portland San Antonio San Bernardino San Diego San Francisco Santa Ana Santa Monica Schaumburg Seattle Tucson Vancouver Campus American InterContinental University Get the design and business skills you need to succeed. American InterContinental University - Buckhead's mission is to provide students with the knowledge, skills and practical work experience they need for success. Whether you're interested in Internati See more facts about American InterContinental University Program Offer: Bachelor of Fine Arts Fashion Marketing Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Marketing and Design Campus Locations: Atlanta Fort Lauderdale Campus International Academy of Design and Tech Start planning for your future. No matter what you want to achieve in your career, the International Academy of Design & Technology in Chicago can help. The Academy offers diverse and comprehensive degree programs in numerous Design disciplines as wel See more facts about International Academy of Design and Tech Program Offer: Fashion Design and Merchandising Fashion Design Campus Locations: Chicago Henderson Nashville Orlando San Antonio Seattle Troy Campus Visual College of Art and Design Follow your passion! For over 35 years, the Visual College of Art and Design (VCAD) has taught artists and imaginative people just like you. VCAD's Fine Arts diploma program is highly regarded for providing a well-rounded arts education in an environment that emphasizes creativity and individuality. Which program is right for you? Choose from Graphic Design, Marketing & Merchandising for Fashion, 3D Modelling Animation Art & Design, Fashion Design, and Interior Design. We know that employers want graduates who are knowledgeable about their field and possess the most up-to-date technical skills. That's why our students receive focused and specialized training on the tools, techniques, and technology used in their chosen career field. See more facts about Visual College of Art and Design Program Offer: Fashion Design Campus Locations: Vancouver Online Stratford Career Institute Earn Your Diploma from Home! Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods. See more facts about Stratford Career Institute Program Offer: Fashion Merchandising and Design Campus Collins College Prepare yourself for the future. Collins College, located in Tempe, AZ, is your gateway to the world of design and technology. Get the education you need to start a new career in Visual Communication, Multimedia Production, Animation, Digital Video, or PC See more facts about Collins College Program Offer: Fashion Design and Merchandising Campus Locations: Phoenix