Fashion schools are institutions of higher education that offer training in one or more of the many aspects of the fashion industry, including fashion design and illustration, marketing, merchandising, fashion styling and photography, business and buying, among others.
The type of fashion school that you attend will depend upon what area of fashion you are interested in. Fashion-design schools or schools that are a part of an art school most frequently offer programs in fashion design and illustration. Fashion business schools are more often a part of a stand-alone school of fashion or a larger vocational college. Educational programs range from certificate options to associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees.
Entrance into art schools with fashion-design departments are generally more competitive to get into and require presentation of an art portfolio or originally sewn garments as a part of the admissions process. For this reason, those who are interested in the area of fashion design should take courses in sewing and art during the high-school years and begin to develop a portfolio of skills and experience. Art schools that offer fashion programs (such as Parsons School of Design) and stand-alone fashion schools (such as Fashion Careers College of California) generally cost more than attending a fashion program within a vocational school.
A degree in fashion can open the door to lots of fantastic career opportunities. Dependent upon your area of expertise, you can work in a number of different locations, from retail stores or private design studios to major fashion magazines and clothing companies. Many careers in fashion offer the chance to travel, and fashion-school graduates can work in any metropolitan area in the world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 edition), job opportunities in fashion design are expected to decrease slightly in the coming years as competition for jobs in high-end design is keen. However, the number of positions in merchandising, buying and retailing are expected to remain constant and the outlook is good for applicants who possess college degrees in these areas.
Fashion-design schools teach both academic and practical skills to aspiring fashion-industry professionals. While many jobs may not specifically require a college degree in a fashion-related area, employers do expect applicants to have the skills that are needed to perform. Fashion-design programs focus on design and sewing, with a secondary emphasis on theory. Coursework includes classes on pattern-making and draping, sewing skills, design considerations and fabric choice, and classes on sewing for different markets and clientele. Fashion-design students will spend most of their time working on the practical application of these skills. Fashion business majors, in contrast, will focus on subjects like business, economics, marketing, the history of fashion and the fashion industry, design and consumer psychology.