By Elise Zito


Abbey Swisher didn't necessarily want to become a fashion designer or consider fashion design degrees to be her forte in college until she was studying interior design and took an elective in fashion. "I just started to sew, and kept sewing and sewing," she recalls. "I'd come into class with outfits I had made, and people would be like, 'Abbey, why don't you become a fashion designer?'"

She took the hint, switched majors from interior design, and began taking fashion design courses at Virginia Marti College of Art and Design (Lakewood, OH). Now, with classes like tailoring, fashion illustration, and business law, Abbey's learning the crafts needed to become a fashion designer -- making suits and coats, illustrating her designs, and navigating the legal aspects of the industry. And, as anyone successful in fashion design careers will attest, fashion design degrees are instrumental in designing career success in the competitive industry.

Another way to set yourself apart if you want to become a fashion designer? Keep on top of opportunities in which you can show off your stuff like Abbey did. Recently, she designed a dress for a contest held by the Duck® brand duct tape company. Out of several fashion design students at her school, Abbey's dress design came in first. "It was the perfect opportunity to let my creativity run wild," she says. "When I started, I had a plain white dress. I wanted to do shooting stars, then I wanted to do watermelons -- I just wanted to get people's attention." And she certainly did. Her poker-themed prom dress, made entirely out of duct tape, caught the eye of the judges and won her an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City, as well as the opportunity to network with those who've made their mark within fashion design careers. If you want to become a fashion designer, big city exposure is a good start.

So are designer labels in the future for this aspiring fashionista? "Fashion design school is important to me -- more than anything else right now," says Abbey. "Once I graduate, I'd like to work for a designer, and what I'd really like is to start my own company. It's a risky industry, but the good thing is that you can be creative," she adds. "You have so many options for a job in this field -- everybody needs clothes." If you want to become a fashion designer like Abbey, get passionate about fashion design now.

By Jon Arnold


What kind of passion do you have for fashion design? Is your style more traditional mainstream or do you like to think out of the box with an edgy style? Either way, the London School of Fashion (officially the London College of Fashion) could very well be the school for you. This well-known fashion school has an excellent reputation for producing top designers in shoe design, mens clothing, womens clothing and accessories. They also have top professionals in other areas of fashion such as fashion photography, fashion merchandising, fashion journalism, culture and communication, and many more.

As a fashion student at the London school of Fashion, you will learn pattern cutting, garment production, designing in both manual and digital formats, the history of fashion, etc. The school is equipped with various high tech machines that you don't find in most other schools. This gives students an opportunity to learn to use the latest machines that they would otherwise not have a chance to use until they were well established in the field of fashion design.

The school encourages thinking outside the box to stretch the limits of the students imaginations so the students have the chance to stretch their wings and be truly creative in design. This gives the students a real chance to explore and find their own unique niche while still giving them a good grounding in tradition design. You can dare to be different.

The tutors connected with the London School of Fashion are often successful working designers, so you have access to an invaluable resource here. Another extremely valuable resource is the work placement program where you get the chance to actually work in the field of design while you are still a student. This gives you experiences that will go a long way towards helping find a great placement after graduation in the exciting world of fashion and fashion design.

If fashion is your career choice, check out the courses at the London School of Fashion. Expect to work hard and be rewarded with the best possible education in the fashion industry. Whether you are more traditionally minded or lean to the edgy side of fashion design, the London School of Fashion is the best place to prepare for a most challenging and rewarding career in the fashion universe.

By Ysolt Usigan


Carrie Cochran, former student of fashion design schools student turned fashion designer to the stars (and non-celebrities), moves on to the next phase of her fashion design career.

What’s Carrie's next step after attending one of the many reputable fashion design schools? She started a fashion design business called Karma Kultura.

While her motivation for looking into fashion design schools was her love for garments and crafts, Carrie says her inspiration for starting the company was her clients. "I would make custom stage garments all the time and wanted to offer unique accessories to add to my clients' wardrobes."

With accessories and garments that are very unconventional, Carrie explains how she creates these pieces. "I would look for things around the house -- junk -- and put it together into interesting designs in the form of wallet chains, bracelets, belts, guitar straps, necklaces, cuffs, and earrings," she explains.

Sounds weird, huh? But believe it or not, the funky pieces are worn by fashionistas and celebrities alike nationwide. And it's not like Carrie is just some ordinary crafty diva -- she's a crafty diva, educated at one of the finest fashion design schools, the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. A fashion design career wasn't just handed to her -- she worked hard to get her degree from one of many reputable fashion design schools in the nation.

"I am proud to say I am a fashion design college graduate, and I have a degree in something I love. With many people wanting to work in fashion -- from stylists to designers, even a public relations -- a degree can give you an advantage," she explains. "Going to fashion designs school will show that you have extensive knowledge, skills, and experience in the industry that has better prepared you to enter the job market." At fashion design schools, Carrie and other students learn about many software programs used in the fashion industry such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, as well as electronic pattern systems.

Once completing a degree from one of many fashion design schools, expect to work in various jobs within the fashion design industry like Carrie did. During the process, she networked and made a name for herself, which eventually landed her celebrity clients like Ricky Martin and Serena Williams.

"My clients loved the [offbeat] pieces and since they were all one-of-a-kind, it made them feel even more special," says the proud business owner.

Now what? With Carrie's fashion design career in full swing, she's contemplating her next move. She's already absorbed knowledge from fashion design schools, which led to her designing and collaborating with high-profile celebs. Now with her design business underway, who knows what we'll see next from the creative paragon. Maybe Carrie will go to fashion design graduate school? Who knows? The sky's the limit for the design sensation!

By Robert Byrnes


School, obviously, is the one main vehicle where you can acquire basic and formal training. This is true to all fields and industries. And as such, the fashion industry does not escape this reality. You may have the talent and the unique sense for fashion but without structured training, you might fail to understand and explore more on your gifts.

Besides, one's success in the field of fashion relies partly on your choice of school. In this article, we will give you the basic criteria you can use in exploring your options of fashion design school.

Cost- This is one of the main considerations that largely affect your choice of school. The sad truth with fashion design schools is that they are too few and among the relatively small number are the handful schools that can truly deliver efficient education.

As with many other things, low cost fashion design schools are good but only if they can give effective learning. This is rarely the case though. Often, with lower fees, lower quality of education may be had. This is due primarily to the reason that such schools can't afford higher paying professionals to provide them with man power. Thus, they settle for people who can give service at a low price. Don’t let quality suffer over the limit of your budget. There will always be some well-performing fashion design schools that will suit your means.

Area of Specialization- In the fashion industry, it is well recognized that one should have special fields where they are greatly inclined to. This must be triggered or further supplemented by the fashion school of your choice.

The first thing you would want to do is to study the nature of the fashion design school. What fields does it cater? What courses does it focus on? What are their main emphases in delivering the art? These are among the many things that you should give intense consideration since the fashion design school that you will be choosing would largely influence your career later.

The best aid for your choice of school is to know its reputation. A self respecting fashion design school is one that makes itself renowned in the world of fashion. Does your school of consideration participate in fashion school competitions? This would be a sure mark of fostering excellence in the industry and the school's commitment for brilliant education.

To maximize your strength, you must therefore find a school that focuses on your own field of specialization.

Considerations on the Curriculum- As with college education, you must also check into the curriculum offered in the school of fashion design. To get the best offered in your spectrum of choices, you can compare curriculum from various schools and decide what you think would best fit in your preferences.

Ratio of teacher to students- The size of a class against a teacher means two things- the school is either too popular or it’s the other way around. Nevertheless, the larger the size of the class the more likely would education suffer. It is often better to choose between schools of relatively fewer students since this will normally have the implication of focusing better on the students.

These are only some of the major points to consider in choosing your fashion design school. As for your final decision, your best judgment must out rule any doubt.

By Jennifer Bailey


The realm of fashion design, by its sheer glamour and grace, has always been exciting and intriguing. When we talk of fashion design, it implies a form of art that incorporates the nuances of creating clothes and accessories.

The history of fashion design can be traced back to the beginning of the19th century when the designs were the product of the dresses worn in the royal courts. Eventually, Charles Frederick Worth, the first fashion designer, set up his first fashion house in Paris. His designs greatly influenced the people and they labeled them as the designs of the "House Of Worth." As a result, a designer became synonymous with a particular brand.

Another important designer who made a significant contribution to the evolution of the fashion was Paul Poi Ret. He blended the classical style consisting of aesthetic dressing with Paris fashion. Other important designers of this age were Patou, Vionnet, Fortuny, Lanvin and Chanel.

Throughout the 20th century, Paris remained the world's fashion hub, with countries such as the US and Britain openly aping the French designs. The post World War era saw the emergence of other countries as the centers of fashion and Paris ceased to be the sole influential factor. The rising British fashion industry brought a new range of street fashion focusing mainly on the young consumers.

Later, American designers such as Calvin Klein And Ralph Lauren came to the fore with their sportswear and made it a style statement. Today, fashion designs can be categorized into two main categories. The haute couture is designed for individual customers. The other category is the ready-to-wear collection. While the former is based on certain themes and is more for creating a style statement, the latter is meant for the masses.

The mid-90s saw the emergence of a new breed of designers who redefined traditional concepts. They looked at fashion from a new angle, creating their own new concepts.

Thus, the world of fashion design has witnessed a steady evolution over the years and has been the by-product of the sincere efforts of many of the top designers.

By Jennifer Bailey


The growth of the fashion industry has considerably increased the fashion consciousness of the people. This in turn has created a huge demand for fashion design books. This is evident from the large number of books available in the market and on the Internet.

Fashion design books cover a wide range of topics related to the fashion design industry. Most fashion design books start off by tracing the history of fashion and throw light on its evolution. They also bring into light the significance of fashion in our life and the latest trends in the realm of fashion designing.

The books usually focus on some of the top designers of the world along with their style mantra. The books contain images of some of the most popular designs created.

Some of these books are informational and contain guidelines for the students and professionals for designing outfits. They contain details related to all the aspects of making an outfit, ranging from selection of the equipments to the different techniques such as stitching or hem finishes. The information given is substantiated by illustrations. There are detailed instructions on the principles outlining different aspects of fashion designing such as sketching, use of templates, garment shapes, accessories and the presentation of the designs. Creation of a professional portfolio is another area covered by fashion design books.

There are designing books for people of different age groups. They teach techniques such as pattern grading for the clothes of children and adults and present each subject in a logical way and as an integrated whole.

Fashion design books come in the form of reference books and classroom textbooks. These books can be bought online or from the bookstores. The books may also be bought at discounted prices. In addition to hardcopies, there are e-books that can be used as convenient substitutes.

The fashion design books combine theoretical information and practical tips to acquaint people with the nuances of fashion design and are an important supplement for those willing to pursue a career in the field.

By Jennifer Bailey


Online fashion design schools meet the growing need of the people who do not have the time and resources to go for full time course, but still want to learn the nuances of fashion design. These schools provide all the information and knowledge to the students through their online course material. This lets the students familiarize themselves with all the skills and technicalities of fashion design from the convenience of their homes.

Though conducted from a distance, the online fashion design schools keep the students abreast of the latest trends in the realm of fashion design. So the knowledge imparted is practical.

The advantage of such schools is that no campus attendance is required. Hence, there are no deadlines or commuting hassles. The students can gain the knowledge at their own pace and according to their own grasping ability.

The examinations conducted are of the open book type and guarantee the student a diploma or degree that is nationally accredited. The online fashion design schools do not have specific enrollment dates. So the students can take up the course at their own convenience. They have the flexibility of completing the course according to their own schedule. Moreover, the content of the course is almost the same as what is offered by the regular schools and colleges. The tuition fees are without any interest rates, which renders the whole course affordable. This flexibility and affordability assured by the online fashion design schools makes it the one of the favorite options for national and international students.

The online fashion design schools offer different programs such as high school diplomas, career diplomas, associate and master?s degree. The degree or diploma offered can be earned anywhere and is recognized by the concerned industry. Thus, after completing the course, the students can jump-start their career in fashion design.

The enrollment for the course can be done online, by filling out the online application forms. The online catalog provides all the requisite information to the candidates.

By Jennifer Bailey


Fashion design templates are layouts that are pre-designed. These can be used to make new designs by adding certain features. Fashion design templates are extensively used for making fashion drawings. The templates are available in different sizes. Templates are of different types such as fashion silhouette templates, posture template and free fashion and body silhouette template. The templates are the best option for those who do not have the necessary drawing skills.

The fashion design templates display the outline of a model in different poses and sizes. The designer has to make his own judgment about the pose and the size of the template that would be chosen for the display of the fashion apparel or accessory. For instance, if the costume is classy and represents the bygone era, the designers would normally choose a template that is more elegant and refined.

The templates are important for the proper presentation of the designer's artistic skill. The templates have to be chosen according to the theme of the apparel ready for display. If the template chosen for a particular designer apparel or accessory is not correct, it might give a misrepresentation of the theme and the concept of the design, and have a negative impact on the marketability of the design.

Considering the importance of templates, many people have come out with e-books based on templates. Similarly, there are web templates that serve the fashion needs of the budding as well as the established designers.

The templates can either be downloaded or they can be used to produce similar images for the purpose of sketching. The templates display basic outline of the models .The outlines can be drawn upon or a print can be taken to create a fashion design befitting the template.

The fashion design template is an important tool that can be used by the designer to escape the drudgery of drawing or for getting a fair idea of what to incorporate in his creations.

By Jennifer Bailey


Considering the alarming growth of the fashion industry and the consequent bright future prospects in the field of fashion design, it is worthwhile to think of being equipped with the requisite skills. The knowledge of the required skills calls for pursuing a degree or diploma in fashion design. However, it might not always be easy to bear the expenses of the schools or the college offering such programs. To provide assistance in this respect, there are fashion design scholarships available for the students. The scholarship includes tuition fees, books and other supplies.

Usually, the scholarships are granted on the basis of the nationwide competitions. Prospective applicants are required to submit projects on different topics such as a new clothing line, a project outlining a plan for promoting a particular fashion store or a marketing strategy for a particular type of outfit.

The test conducted for the scholarship is aimed at testing the creativity of an individual. It also focuses on the way the creative genius is put into practice. Proper implementation is a very important aspect of fashion design.

Various scholarship examinations are conducted on certain stipulated dates

Besides this, there are certain eligibility criteria for the scholarships. So it is important that people interested in fashion design, keep themselves posted about the related information. There are websites that provide assistance in this regard.

Scholarships are granted for different amounts and for different categories of students. There are scholarships for undergraduate costume design student. A scholarship may also be granted on the basis of disability and ethnic background or on the basis of sexual preferences such as to the gays, lesbians, bisexual or transsexual, who are actively involved in community service. It is also available to the international students, dependants of retired army personnel, people who served in the army or affiliates of a particular religion or community such as the Presbyterian Church or members of the Jewish community.

The fashion design scholarships provide financial assistance to the eligible students to pursue their dreams and make sure that their financial position does not hamper their prospects in the field of fashion design.

By Gordon Phillips


If you want to make a big splash in the fashion design industry, then choosing the right school is the best place to start. Fashion design may not be everybody's choice of career, but if you have talent in this field, there are plenty of opportunities available.

There are 7 main things you need to look for when choosing your fashion design school. Although there are fashion design schools around, they can be few and far between, and have quite different backgrounds and focus. So knowing what things to consider makes a big difference. Let's take a look at the main things you need to assess.

Focus

If you have a particular area of the industry you want to focus on, such as women's casual wear, then it's important that you find a fashion design school which is strong in this field. Also, look at what the school has to offer. Does it focus solely on fashion design, or does it offer lots of other courses as well. Is the school well known for fashion design, particularly in your field of interest? Also, does the school have a history of participating in fashion design competitions, or does it have any other projects that help to take students out into the fashion world.

Curriculum

This can take a little more digging, but it's worth finding out what exactly is covered in the curriculum. The range of subjects covered can vary widely between different fashion schools, so it's worth doing the research to find one that covers the types of subjects you want to study. To some extent this comes back to your main area of interest in designing. So if you have a specific area of fashion design you want to pursue, choose a school with a curriculum that matches. If you're not sure what you want to do, then choose a school with a more 'one size fits all' curriculum.

Accreditation

Check to see what forms of accreditation the fashion design school has. Accreditation is a way of ensuring a school has attained certain levels of educational quality. Look for accreditation from the U.S. Department of Education. You can also check with the State Postsecondary School Licensing Bureau.

Teachers

See if you can find out the quality of the teaching staff. It's great if there are established designed teaching there, because that indicates the industry has confidence in the school. What is the usual student to teacher ratio? This can make a big difference, particularly in hands-on subjects, because a big group makes it hard for the teacher to assist everyone individually. Be wary, though, if the class sizes are too small - this could mean the school is struggling in some way, and also limits the opportunity to share ideas and brainstorm with other students.

Cost

Probably the factor that's most important to many of us - how much will it cost to attend the school? It's nice if you're in a situation where cost doesn't matter, but for most of us, we need to be practical. If the tuition fees are high, you may find you have to spend far to many hours working in a part-time job and so leave yourself short of time for your schoolwork.

Scholarships

If finances really are a problem, then it's worth asking your school of choice if they offer any sorts of scholarships. This can be a great way to attend the fashion design school of your choice, because some scholarships are based on fashion design competitions. If you have talent, you may be able to win a scholarship. So found out what scholarships they offer, and what sort of terms they have.

Job Placements

Finally, this may not seem important when you're first heading off to the fashion design school you've chosen, but it can matter in the long run. Does the school offer any assistance with job placement? This can make the difference between finding a job fairly quickly, and spending months searching. Also, take a look at the alumni of the school. What sort of careers have they developed? If there are plenty of successes, that can indicate a good training program at the school, as well as open up opportunities for job placements.

In the end, only you can choose the fashion design school that best meets your needs. If you have a favorite fashion designer, maybe check out his or her educational background and see where they studied. That may help you to decide. But make sure you spend some time investigating all your options. The school you choose will make a big impact on your life and career prospects, so choose carefully. If you do, you've taken the first step to a successful career in fashion design.