Fashion Design School: Runway to Success

by Amy Fanter
Fashion School Review Columnist

November 6, 2006

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Interest in fashion design as a career is on the rise. If you have an appreciation for beauty, an eye for color and details and a solid sense of balance and proportion, getting into this exciting and glamorous industry could be the right move for you.

However, as alluring as fashion design is, it's also quite competitive--and getting to be more so. In fact, television shows such as Project Runway have put fashion design career opportunities in a bigger spotlight than ever before. And that means if you're breaking into this fascinating field you need to know what you can expect.

Fashion Design: What Employers Are Looking For
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most employers in the fashion design industry are looking for employees who have formal training. In particular, they are looking for would-be designers who are not only knowledgeable about textiles, fabrics and ornamentations, but also fashion design pros who've had roughly 2-4 years of training, education and experience at an accredited college, university or fashion design school and who have either their associate's or bachelor's degree.

Fashion Design School: Course Offerings
While fashion design programs vary from school to school, most programs offer courses in textiles, sewing and tailoring, color, pattern making, the history of fashion, and designing for unique lines--menswear, children's clothing, even haute couture. Additional classes that you may wish to take while you're enrolled in fashion design school include human anatomy, psychology, and math.

Add Fashion Merchandising to the Design School Mix
In addition, if you're like many would-be designers, you may also want to add a marketing, merchandising or business degree to your fashion design credential. These additional majors can prepare you to run your own retail operation, and they can give you a greater number of job opportunities after you've completed fashion design school.

If you've got an eye for design and an overriding desire to work in the sophisticated and fun fashion design industry, now is a great time to enroll in fashion design school and get started down the runway to a great new career.

Source:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

About the Author
Amy Fanter can be found working hard for her clients most mornings and playing with her daughter most afternoons.

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