Which College is the Best Fit for Aspiring Fashion Designers?

With the popularity of reality TV shows such as Project Runway, fashion design has become more mainstream,

but becoming an aspiring designer isn’t easy. There are many different paths you can take to get your foot in the door, and it all depends on your ultimate career goals and how much education you want to pursue. Here’s a look at some of the top fashion schools in the country and which one may be best for you.

Parsons School of Design

The Parsons School of Design in New York City offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. Since 1897, they have been recognized as a leader in fashion design education. Their graduates are designing the latest fashions on runways and in high-end stores around the world. Parsons has an average class size of 20 students, which provides a more intimate learning environment and allows teachers to give one-on-one attention to each student’s needs. The college also offers scholarships, internships and assistantships to qualified applicants which can help lessen some of the financial burden of higher education costs.
Students will learn about fashion design from all aspects including sketching, pattern making, garment construction, textiles and marketing.

Fashion Institute of Technology

The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, NY offers a four-year program that grants a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design. Students are offered a wide range of opportunities to explore the many facets of fashion design and related fields through lectures, workshops, and individualized instruction by faculty members. There are also many options for study abroad and exchanges throughout the world. FIT’s curriculum teaches students about all aspects of fashion design including color theory, sketching, pattern making, sewing techniques and garment construction as well as how to run a clothing company.
There are many reasons why FIT may be best suited to an aspiring fashion designer.

Pratt Institute

If you’re looking to study fashion design, Pratt Institute in New York City is a top choice. The school’s fashion program ranks among the best in the world and offers a range of different options for students to pursue their passion.
Pratt has two degrees that allow students to specialize in fashion design: an undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a graduate Master of Fine Arts (MFA). In both cases, students can choose from either a full-time or part-time path. The BFA degree takes four years to complete, while the MFA program takes two years.
When it comes to coursework, there are many different options available. Students can choose from courses like Drawing I and Color Theory, for example.

The Rhode Island School of Design

Known as RISD, The Rhode Island School of Design has a reputation for producing some of the most well-known fashion designers in the world. It was founded in 1877 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than ten disciplines. RISD’s philosophy states that The best way to prepare students to live successfully in a future yet unknown, is to provide them with an education that develops their skills and minds. With this ideology, it’s no surprise that they are often regarded as one of the best colleges for aspiring fashion designers. Offering courses such as ‘Advanced Design Methods’ and ‘Textile Processes,’ there is no doubt that fashion design majors will get the necessary hands-on experience needed to succeed. For those not interested in fashion design, but still want a degree from RISD, there are many other options offered such as illustration or sculpture.

Savannah College of Art and Design

For aspiring fashion designers, Savannah College of Art and Design is one of the best colleges to consider. The school offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design, as well as a Master of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design. Students studying fashion design at SCAD learn how to use both traditional techniques and emerging technologies to create innovative designs while also being able to develop their own creative process, problem solving skills, communication skills, and entrepreneurial skills. SCAD’s graduates have had great success in the industry with many top fashion companies recruiting them after graduation and some even owning their own shops.

Conclusion

Fashion design can be a very lucrative and rewarding career. However, it is not an easy profession to master. It requires a level of dedication and creativity that many people are not blessed with. One of the first things you will need to do before pursuing this dream is to choose a college that offers fashion design courses or a school where you can study both art and business.