Set during the 1970’s punk rock movement, the movie Cruella is not only Disney’s live-action prequel to 101 Dalmatians, but a tour de force of fashion moments. The movie takes viewers on a visual journey as Cruella transforms from a young burgeoning fashion designer and petty thief to a revenge-seeking frontwoman, backed by a band of talented thieves and fashion-forward miscreants. From the frocks she designs throughout the movie to the characters’ wardrobes themselves, this movie undoubtedly inspired many to seek a career in fashion. 

Yet as the movie demonstrates, fashion design before the digital era consisted of a pencil and paper, a dress form, and bolts upon bolts of fabric for draping. Relying on their passion and a pencil, it was up to designers to use these rather rudimentary tools and techniques to succeed. Today, digital has found its way into most nooks and crannies throughout the world of fashion. From inspiration and design to manufacturing and marketing, digital tools have changed the scope of what an education—and career—in fashion looks like. 

So what tools and apps are at the forefront of digital fashion design today? And what digital education can someone anticipate when training for a career in fashion? 

Digital fashion design is a broad term used to describe the digital technology used to support the fashion industry. Increasingly, designers are required to possess digital know-how at every stage of their work. In this article, we’ll cover the five key stages of fashion design (inspiration, design, product development, manufacturing, and marketing) and touch upon the top apps and software that support each stage. 

The word that best encapsulates digital fashion design is precision. As with any industry, technology is greatly beneficial to narrow down guesswork in fashion. With algorithms, huge amassments of behind-the-scenes data encapsulation, and the sophistication of apps and software, the chance for error is greatly reduced. 

For instance, technology has advanced to the point that higher-end fashion designers are able to take digital measurements with such precision that traditional fittings are unnecessary. By using a body scanner to create a virtual 3D copy of a person to create digital patterns, garments are custom-designed using exact measurements. Think of the time and labor saved for something of high importance, like a wedding dress. If a bride could see her specific body shape and silhouette in the dress digitally, a huge amount of time and labor (#$$) can be saved. 3DLook, an online fashion retailer, is one example of this technology coming to life. 

“At 3DLook, we’re able to capture 86 different measurement points on the body. This allows our shoppers to peruse our collection using a customized electronic version of themselves, which cuts down the need for excess shipping and returns. This helps people buy clothes that they know will actually fit and look good, even when there's not a fitting room in sight.”

A great example of a truly immersive fashion portfolio is one that brings designs to life through 3D scans. An example of an immersive portfolio is the April 2021 collaboration between Cappasity and Victoria Andreyanova. The collection “Snow Maiden’’ was fully digitized in 3D, and Victoria Andreyanova became the first brand in Russia to present a new collection in the immersive format.

For students, technology has become integral in their education. Digital technology is used throughout the entire process, from inspiration and design all the way through manufacturing and marketing as seen here…

Which Software is Best for Fashion Design?

First, let’s identify the difference between an application (or app) and software. An app is built to perform a single function, whereas software is built to perform multiple tasks. In fashion design, the two most-used software programs are Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. Because they are more affordable and user-friendly, many high schools across the country offer classes to teach the basics to their students.

Most of the fashion design process is done in Illustrator, from sketching to coloring and repeating pattern design to presentation boards. Illustrator is used to create a variety of digital and printed images, including charts, diagrams, graphs, logos, and illustrations. Illustrator allows a user to import a photograph and use it as a guide to trace an object in the photograph. Illustrator is so important in fashion design, that a quick search on StyleCareers.com (the largest fashion-only job listing site) details that every single job listed mentions proficiency in Illustrator as a requirement. Illustrator is also an essential tool for creating and maintaining a digital portfolio.

Photoshop is a tool for any type of image editing, from touching up photos to creating high-quality graphics. Using Photoshop, fashion designers can recolor textiles, create textile design repeats, clean scanned images, assemble CAD presentations, render sketches, and add dimensional shading. 

The growth of fashion apps is astounding. Designers have more than 4 million software options, browser extensions, phone and tablet options available. Here are a few of the top recommendations that make fashion work easier, faster, and more profitable.

WGSN is a consumer trends forecasting company. By combining trends with data science and consumer insight, the technology is able to pinpoint consumer behaviors, interests, and tastes to shape how people live, work, and play. WGSN is used by 43,000 product designers and thought leaders in 32 global markets. Companies, brands, designers, and retailers use their fashion platform for trends in consumer behavior, retail, marketing and business strategy, and in-depth analysis across 14 fashion product categories. Its forecasting is highly influential in shaping future designs.

Fashion is universally considered a form of art. A key place for inspiration for designers is other more traditional art forms. Designers use the Art Authority app as a key source of inspiration. It allows people to browse more than 100,000+ paintings and sculptures by 1,500 of the world’s leading artists from ancient times to today. This easy-access archive is an incredible visual library to inspire every designer.

Created by the world’s leading fashion publisher, Vogue Runway provides images from 12,000 fashion shows and more than 1 million runway photos all the way back to 2000—a significant, indispensable archive. It also offers unlimited access to the world’s latest collections with options to watch videos of top runway shows or view images of each collection. 

The optimum digital mood board and a hugely popular resource for designers, Pinterest allows designers to pin (e.g., collect) and save images to use as reference. Users can create their own boards full of looks that inspire them, or browse other people’s boards for inspiration. With more than 602 million boards on fashion and 21 billion fashion ideas, Pinterest is a vital tool for exploring new ideas and trends.

What Apps are Best for Fashion Illustration?

Although we already touched on the importance of Adobe Illustrator to the fashion world, there are other apps available for fashion illustration. Here are two:

There’s never enough time to draw technical sketches from scratch for every project. Apps like Repsketch allow designers to repurpose and customize existing sketches created by the community of top technical fashion designers.

Select from a variety of styles from casual tops to gowns, and modify to create a new look. 

Quickly change a neckline or sleeve style.

Download, embed, or share a public link of designs with the world in web-friendly format. 

Simply put, Pret-A-Template is a digital sketchbook. It allows designers to sketch designs on an iPhone or iPad. They offer more than 500 templates, including a wide variety of body types and specific details, like shoes. Users can select from predefined skin, hair, and makeup color pallets that complement their look.

Tech packs (or specification sheets) are blueprints of a design. They document the design, the materials, and the construction—-everything a garment needs for production. Traditionally, these spec sheets are a time-consuming task. Fashion designers despair the endless frustrations of creating flat sketches that include condensing words to fit in a format, making changes, and repeated data entry to fix errors.

Techpacker makes tech packs much faster and easier to create. The app translates tech packs into cards, so the process of creating them becomes more visual, collaborative and up to 70% faster. The advantage of cards is that designers can copy, move, reuse, and connect them. They can invite manufacturers onto the app and integrate it with other apps to make it super powerful.

A tech forward 3D software, CLO3D allows designers to visualize sketches through the use of avatars that serve as dress forms in all shapes and sizes. The app enables people to import their own patterns or draw directly in CLO. They can add fabric choices and see it all come together in 3D format, and even finetune their design in real time.

With the wealth of apps and the challenges of communicating between them, here are two options that make it easier: Zapier (designed for web) and Workflow (designed for iPhones). For instance, Zapier allows designers to connect with thousands of apps so that they can work faster and more efficiently. Workflow uses a simple drag-and-drop interface allowing designers to mix and match hundreds of actions, create quick shortcuts, manage media, and share content. There are thousands of available workflows that can be added to Dropbox automatically.

Once the garment is designed and the prototype is created, it’s time to produce it. Sourcing the right fabric and finding the right manufacturer are the next steps.‌

Finding a reputable manufacturer specific to a product category is difficult. Finding a good one is even harder. For those specifically looking for a manufacturer in the U.S., Maker's Row is useful. With roughly 3,900 apparel and accessories-related makers that are clearly sorted by categories and rating, designers are able to review in-depth factory profiles to find the perfect manufacturing partner.

Unfortunately, manufacturing in the U.S. isn’t always a viable option for up-and-coming designers. For those looking to lower manufacturing costs by looking outside the U.S., a greater number of manufacturers can be found through Global Sources, a global company with a whole host of manufacturing options from around the world. People prefer Global Sources as they put a lot of effort into listing factories that meet higher standards than their competitors.

‌Swatchon is a wholesale fabric platform based in Seoul, South Korea. It ships to 52 countries and has 100,000 fabrics to choose from online. This platform works with brands of all sizes, allowing them to place an order as small as 3 yards, or up to 500,000 yards.

‌Higg Co is a technology company that focuses on building tools that power sustainability measurement. Higg Co helps brands reduce energy use, combat audit fatigue, and safeguard those who work in the supply chain. Higg Materials Sustainability Index allows designers to create custom materials and understand their environmental impact.‌

As noted on the infographic, the last stop on the fashion journey is “Marketing,” but that requires consumers and businesses to know where they can find a specific fashion line. There are apps that make it easy to attract buyers. Here are a few:

Shopify is an ecommerce platform that allows people to set up an online store to sell merchandise. People can customize their storefront, accept credit card payments, track and respond to orders—all with a few clicks—to power more than 350,000 businesses.

"Today, digital has found its way into most nooks and crannies throughout the world of fashion. From inspiration and design to manufacturing and marketing, digital tools have changed the scope of what an education—and career—in fashion looks like."

High school students aiming for a career in fashion design, need to know these key stages of fashion design and the apps and software that support each stage.

Apps and Online Tools for Fashion Design

A bachelor’s degree in fashion design is a requirement for most mid-level design jobs. While it might seem tempting to speed up your schooling by getting a 2-year associate’s degree instead of a 4-year bachelor’s degree, you’ll likely limit your career choices by doing so. Plan to get at least a bachelor’s degree, and if you feel like you need a master’s degree to acquire the right skills and get you enough connections, plan on another 2-3 years. 

Getting a degree might seem like something to just check off your to-do list, but remember that your degree program can set you up for career success later down the road. Internships you complete as part of your major may lead to job offers, professors may become mentors as you branch out after college, and the skills you learn can set you apart from other job applicants. A bachelor’s degree in fashion design isn’t just a stepping stone to a great design job; it will qualify you for a job and teach you everything you need to know to be a good designer and a good employee.

Before you get your first job as a fashion designer, you’ll probably have to work for 2-3 years as a design assistant. This isn’t a bad thing—you’ll still get plenty of exposure to the fashion world, and you can use this time to improve your skills and make connections. You’ll probably be helping with lots of administrative tasks, preparing for fashion shows, merchandising, and, yes, designing. How much of which tasks you’re assigned depends on the company you get your first job with. But wherever you’re working and whatever tasks you’re doing, make sure that you take advantage of every opportunity presented to you. If your boss needs more helpers at a fashion show, sign up. If you can work a few extra hours each week and assist a designer one-on-one, do it. You’ll gain incredible experience and learn so much from your time as a design assistant if you do more than the bare minimum. 

Make connections. Remember that everyone you meet in the fashion industry—professors, mentors, bosses, other fashion students, you name it—could help you with your career down the road. Develop friendships wherever you can and go out of your way to connect with higher-ups in the industry; the more exposure you have to fashion professionals, the better you’ll be able to market yourself in the future. 

Get as much experience as possible. While you’re still in school, whether you’re working on your undergraduate or graduate degree, get as many internships as possible. The more hands-on experience you have in fashion, the more valuable you’ll be as a future hire. Not to mention, you’ll develop more connections the more roles and companies you connect with.

Develop design skills. This might seem obvious, but being a skilled and hard-working employee will get you promoted. If you notice a skill—be it CAD, working with merchandisers, predicting fashion trends, or planning fashion shows—that you need to work on or that would help your company, work hard to develop that skill. That will show your employers that you’re willing to put in the time to improve yourself and it will make you a more valuable employee.

Though you probably want to start your career as a fashion designer as soon as possible, keep in mind that most designers don’t get their first fashion design job right out of high school, or even college. It takes a little time to get situated in the fashion industry, and it might be several years before you get your first fashion design job. There are two things that you’ll probably need to do before landing a good design job: first, get a degree in fashion design, and second, work for a few years as a design assistant.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Fashion Designer?

Fashion Buyer / Purchasing Agent: For those who know what’s hot and how to sell it

Fashion Merchandiser: For those with an eye for capturing customer attention

Fashion Inventory Planner: Got a head for numbers? Like to predict with statistics?

Fabric Researcher & Developer: Not about new designs but what the fabric is made of—especially important in the age of sustainability

Fashion Product Developer: For the person who must deliver the product on budget

Fashion Designer: Here’s the glamor job—you design the look, create the trend, and see your name go up in lights

Fashion Graphic Designer: In this role, the graphic designer is responsible for creating promotional materials that captures the soul of the brand

Fashion Stylist: In this job your set the scene for both individuals and ads, whether on a photoshoot or a runway

Fashion Journalist: This is a role for any writer who wants to concentrate on fashion

Fashion Marketing Manager: The masterminds behind advertising and social media campaigns

Fashion Market Researcher: a job for the data freaks who predict trends and develop marketing strategies

Fashion Public Relations Specialist: Keeping the media entranced with your brand

Fashion Social Media Manager: Draws eyeballs, gets clicks, and creates buzz

As our list reveals, those who love clothes will find a career path that is both lucrative and gratifying. Whether you’re a left-brain or a right-brain fashion lover, there is a way to put your passions and talents to practical use in this diverse industry.

Once again, fashion is more complex than just designing apparel. The industry welcomes all kinds of skills, from the visionary designer to the nerd on the computer projecting sales. Remember, fashion is as much a business as it is an art. And the relentless pressure that brands contend with is their vulnerability to change. So, what are some of the skills needed to advance your fashion career? Creativity, vision, market and customer analysis, a willingness to collaborate, as well as the flexibility and agility to evolve.

Earning Potential in the Fashion Industry

As noted above, there is a broad array of career options to choose from—each with its own range of salaries. But earning potential in the industry is highly competitive. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for fashion designers is just north of $75,000, with high earners making nearly $150,000. This doesn’t take into account the Tom Fords of the world. Fashion marketing managers average over $100,000 a year, and market researchers near $80,000. The salaries vary according to where you work, whether or not you have ownership in the company, and your level of experience. The point is, if you love fashion, you can make a generous living in the field.  

Most retail companies (think Bloomingdale’s, DSW, and Urban Outfitters, along with smaller boutique stores) don’t design all of the clothes they sell. Instead, they purchase them from third-party vendors. That’s where fashion buyers come in: buyers select products that are on-brand and in-style to be sold by the retail company they work for. 

Buyers have to be in-the-know about current fashion trends so they select pieces that customers will buy--that means going to fashion shows, meeting with designers, and even doing some data analysis. They need to be able to negotiate with designers and manufacturers to get products at a price that will allow the retail company to make a profit and sell products at a price the target customer won’t balk at. Buyers often begin their career with jobs in retail, as sales associates or store managers, which helps them understand what products a store’s consumers are interested in buying.

The key role of the fashion merchandiser is to ensure profitability. This is done in a number of ways. The job can entail working with retailers to guarantee that enough stock is available. They also work with designers on in-store displays to attract buyers, and they have a say in pricing, searching for that sweet spot that aligns with both profit, consumer desirability, seasonality and enticing offers. For instance, this is what Back to School and Black Friday promotions are all about. What skills are required? Fashion merchandisers have a nose for trends and a head for numbers. 

In short, inventory planners are data experts who can forecast how much product will be required throughout the retail marketplace. This can include both brick-and-mortar retailers and ecommerce providers. When the market is predictable, the job is simply understanding demand and availability. But in today’s world of supply chain disruptions, forecasting can be precarious. It takes someone who has the diligence to read the tea leaves of economic events and plan accordingly.

Any material on any piece of clothing or furniture you see has been developed by meticulous research and lots of trial and error. People working in the field of fabric research and development develop new textiles based on a number of criteria, including environmental footprint, ease of production, comfort, and performance. If working for an athleisure company like Lululemon or Athleta, for example, fabric researchers and developers might be charged with creating a textile that doesn’t retain moisture, doesn’t stretch out, and wears well over time. Fabric researchers and developers would be able to create a textile that meets all the specified criteria and can then be implemented into the company’s clothing designs.

What kind of preparation do you need to enter the field of fabric and texture design? Many top design schools offer both undergraduate courses and master’s degrees in this area. If this is truly your wheelhouse, you may want to do some online search and see what design schools in your area have to offer. Adding a course to your resume will put you in good stead for the future.

Fashion product developers are like movie producers, but instead of blockbusters or indie flicks, they bring great fashion to life. Fashion product developers oversee the process of creation, from the idea in a designer’s mind, to a piece of clothing on the rack. They choose the factories where the garments are made and coordinate the manufacturing process with their clients. They source fabrics, devise timelines, and are key players when it comes to quality control. To sum up their complex duties in a phrase: fashion product developers bring in apparel on time, on budget, and “on standard” — i.e., meeting the quality consumers demand.

To become a fashion designer, you will need a degree. The best places for this are top fashion design schools such as Parsons School of Design. Of course, New York City is considered the center of fashion in the U.S., but London, Paris, and Milan are other major centers of education for fashion. Regardless of where you get your degree, internships at major fashion houses are also a great way to get hands-on experience. Keep in mind, they are most likely to consider students who are currently enrolled in fashion degree programs.

Where do you get your ideas? That too is part of the fashion design education and advancing your fashion design career. You’ll be expected to present your ideas, be fluent in the technologies for creating digital renderings, and be able to sew, drape, communicate your ideas, and demonstrate a knowledge of your target consumer.

Graphic design is taught in many colleges. But fashion design is its own specialty. While many with degrees in graphic design work in advertising agencies, fashion graphic designers are typically employed by fashion brands where the focus is on apparel and accessories. They must have a talent for drawing and illustration. Plus, they must be trained in CAD software. 

Typography, used in logos, is an important part of designer brands, and how they appear on clothing is the job of the fashion graphic designer. Think of the iconic Nike swoosh. It is used on everything from shoes and workout apparel to shirts and dresses. Even designer fabrics require the artistic eye of a graphic designer.

Runway shows, fashion photoshoots, movie sets, and style consultation—these are all situations that demand a fashion stylist. If you have a passion for creating a complete look, from head to toe, or setting a cohesive scene so that it evokes a mood, the job of fashion stylist is right for you. A fashion stylist can work on runway shows, photoshoots and movie sets. Celebrities also have their own personal fashion stylists. 

The leading design schools typically offer exposure to this discipline, and internships are a great way to learn. Fashion programs offer workshops that give upcoming fashion stylists the skills to balance commercial success with creative practice, in order to generate beauty and meaningful appearances for changing societies. 

Anything you read or see about fashion in the news, on a blog, or in fashion publications was created by a fashion journalist. Fashion reporters, critics, photographers, and bloggers are all fashion journalists; their job is to create media about fashion. Fashion magazines and websites hire experienced writers and photographers with an eye for fashion to document current fashion trends, events (like the Met Gala and runway shows), and news. 

Fashion journalism is a major way in which current fashions are documented; if you’re an avid journal-writer or Instagrammer with a strong interest in fashion, fashion journalism could be a good fit for you. And remember: you don’t need to start out as a reporter for Vogue. Starting a fashion blog and posting #ootd pics a few times a week is a great place to start.

People working in fashion marketing are in charge of building a brand for their client and advertising that brand to potential consumers. Every logo, Instagram picture, and ad you see has been created by a company’s marketing team with the intention of creating hype and developing a particular aesthetic for their brand. Their entire focus is on how their brand is perceived by the media and by consumers. This sometimes means organizing celebrity sponsorships (like Brooke Shields with Calvin Klein, Steph Curry with Under Armor, Keira Knightley with Chanel, etc.) and, when necessary, rebranding. 

Did you know that Banana Republic started out as a safari-themed clothing store? Over time, they’ve rebranded and worked to shift their image to fashion-forward professional clothing. That was all the work of Banana Republic’s marketing team; they did research to find out what was and wasn’t working for their brand, and they pivoted accordingly. Fashion marketing managers need to stay on top of fashion trends and use that info to make decisions about future styles.

The work of a fashion market researcher is behind every product’s design, price, and placement in a store. Based on previous data about what products have sold — when, for how much, and to whom — retailers and designers employ fashion market researchers to predict upcoming trends. When fashion market research shows that a particular product is popular, retailers and designers can use that information to inform their next purchases or designs. These specialists can be found in clothing subscription companies like StitchFix; fashion market researchers create algorithms that, with the help of stylists, determine what clothes to send you. 

An ability to identify trends and analyze research findings are essential skills for a fashion market researcher. These skills are also ideal if you aspire to be a brand strategist, a media planner, or someone who forecasts trends. To prepare for a job in this field, look for courses such as: 

Public relations specialists create and maintain a brand’s public image. This exciting career also includes planning events that raise awareness and interest in the brand and product. A fashion public relations specialist is also responsible for developing media kits and handling media inquiries. If you seek a career that is fast-paced, exciting and ever-changing, then fashion public relations specialist is perfect for you!

A typical career path leading to a job in fashion public relations might include courses specifically in this field. You will learn how to make a pitch to the media, how to earn coverage through social, digital and traditional media platforms. You will also get training in writing skills, so important in a career that requires excellent communication skills.

The social media manager of a fashion company controls the company’s social media presence. That usually includes a fair amount of work creating a social media strategy that coincides with the company’s overall marketing strategies and planning content for channels such as Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Pinterest. The posts need to be varied, original, and relevant; it’s often as appropriate to post about major world events and holidays as it is to post about a Labor Day 50% off sale or a new fall collection. 

Social media is also used as a way for customers to connect with brands they love, and social media managers are usually the ones to manage these relationships; that means tracking customer engagement with social media content and providing customer service by responding to customer comments and messages.

If you’ve ever aspired to a career in the fashion industry, you might have the impression that this is a business all about glamor, design, and style. But the truth is more down to earth. Fashion is a field that relies, not just on dreams, but on a healthy dose of realism. In other words, this three trillion dollar industry depends upon people who know, not just about trends, but how to market style and make it profitable. Here are just some of the careers the fashion industry offers:

Careers in the fashion industry offer much more than just fashion design. Read on to learn about your fashion career options.

Top 13 Careers in the Fashion Industry - Precollege Programs

Parsons School of Design, a college of the New School, has two campuses: one in New York City, the other in Paris. These two design hubs provide students with international connections and the ability to immerse themselves in both the American and French fashion worlds. Parsons offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in fashion, all of which emphasize the importance of collaboration with different disciplines. Students can choose from a large number of minors, from foreign languages to environmental studies, all of which are designed to give students a wider world view and even more material to draw from as they exercise their creativity. Parsons alumni regularly make it onto Forbes’ 30 under 30 list, and its partners include companies like J.Crew, Vogue, and the New York Times. Parsons is a very highly regarded design school, and is ranked the best art and design school in the United States by Format, QS World University Rankings, and others.

Miami International University of Art and Design 

MIU is one of the Art Institutes, a cohort of design schools spread out across North America. Its diverse Miami location provides students with the opportunity to explore other cultures and take advantage of the resources a metropolitan campus has to offer.

Pratt is a design and communications university with a Brooklyn and Manhattan campus. Its mission is to produce creators that contribute responsibly to society, which it does by teaching students the skills, knowledge, and foundation for judgment necessary in today’s world.

CCA is a private, nonprofit college that emphasizes ‘learning through making.’ It has two California Bay Area campuses: one in Oakland, the other in San Francisco.

Also located in NYC, FIT is a public institute associated with the State University of New York. In addition to clothing-related undergraduate fashion programs, FIT has programs centered on more niche areas of the fashion industry, such as cosmetics, accessories, and exhibition design.

BS International Trade and Marketing for the Fashion Industries

BS Production Management: Fashion and Related Industries

LIM, which stands for the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising, is a fashion-specific university in Midtown Manhattan. It partners with fashion companies in NYC to give students experiential learning and internship opportunities.

Drexel’s Westphal College of Media Arts & Design is located in downtown Philadelphia, and its programs are almost entirely studio-based. Students are encouraged to participate in extracurriculars such as fashion show organization, producing for Drexel’s television station, or working on Drexel’s lifestyle magazine.

Academy of Art University is the largest private art and design university in the United States. It was founded in 1929 in San Francisco, and its hands-on curriculum is designed to lead students to jobs in their industry of choice.

Jefferson is the result of a merger between Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University. Its multiple campuses are located throughout Philadelphia proper and its surrounding suburbs. Because the future of jobs and the job market is yet to be determined, Jefferson’s goal is to prepare its students for the jobs of the future, not just the jobs of today.

Cornell is an Ivy League University with its main campus located in Ithaca, New York. Its fashion-related programs combine design with science, and associated outreach programs include water quality assurance, pesticide protection, and apparel-related programs.

If you’re considering pursuing a career in fashion, it’s a good idea to start out by getting a bachelor’s degree in fashion. There are a lot of different schools that offer a variety of degrees in fashion, and it can be hard to sort through them all--especially when you’re not sure exactly what major to choose. This list, while not exhaustive, covers ten universities that offer fashion bachelor’s degrees and lists some of the different fashion-related programs offered at each.

Do you see yourself with a career in fashion? Have you always loved creating your own clothes or unique looks, even perhaps as a child? As you plan how this passion might become a career, know this—a fashion design portfolio is an absolute necessity. 

As with any creative field, fashion design utilizes portfolios to showcase skills. It can include illustrations, fabric swatches, photos, and artwork, but above all it needs to tell a story. A portfolio is a must, whether you are a designer already in the field or a student who seeks entry into a fashion design school. In essence, the portfolio is your visual resume.

Business of Fashion recommends that your portfolio demonstrate originality and knowledge of fashion markets. It should have a signature style and a narrative. Most important today, your portfolio needs to highlight your ability to use nontraditional skills and digital tools, such as Adobe Illustrator.

Digital Fashion Portfolio vs. Tangible Fashion Portfolio

We live in the digital age. A digital fashion portfolio is not only necessary, but practical. With the assumption that your portfolio needs to be shared with multiple schools or businesses, a digital version allows for easy sharing and updating. Plus, you may require multiple versions of your portfolio, each tailored specifically to the audience who will review it. 

Although this idea may seem daunting to someone applying to fashion schools, there are numerous online digital platforms with all the tools you need. According to a recent post, basic skills in Illustrator or Photoshop will serve you well. Photoshop is the most common editing program in the fashion industry. After you scan your image, Photoshop allows you to play with the colors, draw new lines, add text, and crop and collage images together. It’s a powerful tool for endless amounts of creativity. If you haven’t taken a Photoshop class, many high schools offer Photoshop as part of the curriculum. It’s worth looking into.

However, a tangible portfolio is also important. Being able to see the colors and fabrics firsthand elicits a certain response. Also, more traditional design professionals may prefer the hands-on experience that a tangible portfolio provides. One word of caution, however—never leave your portfolio with someone else. It’s too valuable to you. 

Creating a Fashion Design Portfolio for College Admission

To this question, we turn to the experts. Parsons School of Design is a leading educator of fashion designers. To qualify for admission, students must create a portfolio that meets specific standards:

Freshman and transfer applicants must submit a portfolio of eight to 12 images.

Portfolios can include a range of media such as drawing, painting, sculpture, fashion design, animation, performance, graphic design, or sketchbook pages.

Portfolios must show experimentation and breadth, but does not need to specifically address the major to which a student is applying.

The portfolio must be completed online only.

It is smart to show that you are up on the latest trends, such as sustainability. According to Green Dreamer, “sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in ways that are environmentally friendly.” This is a hot topic as the fashion industry has been criticized for ‘throwaway products.’

Finally, choose a color palette for your portfolio. One recent report states that purple is the “fashion color” of 2022.

What should be in a fashion design portfolio?

There is no “one-size-fits-all” portfolio!

For high school students considering a career in fashion, individuality and demonstrating what sets you apart is essential in such a competitive field. The portfolio should communicate the applicant’s personality and viewpoint. It should be personal and conceptual, rather than generic. In other words, take chances. Much like the personal essay, a student portfolio introduces you to the admissions committee. 

Does this work represent my point of view or tell a story?

Are my explorations extendable to other mediums, such as film or painting?

Does the portfolio reflect my process of ideating and creating my work?

Does the work include areas where I have taken artistic risks or stretched to meet a challenge?

Does this portfolio look like I made the work? (Or does it look like a collection of assignments similar to my peers in class?)

While there isn’t really a formula on the length of a portfolio, it’s vital to include a wide range of items that demonstrate your skills—it’s about quality not quantity. Be thoughtful in what you include and break it down into sections, including:

An eye-catching cover: The first impression people will have of you starts with the cover. Entice your reviewers to investigate more by creating a cover that speaks to who you are as a designer. One creative designer even used Youtube to share her first portfolio, which she designed as a purse. Learn how this set her apart. 

All about you: Include a contact page with an introduction to who you are, your ideas, your personal goals, and the process you used to create the portfolio.

Ideation: Hand sketches to show the evolution of your work.

Inspiration: Concept mood boards to explain what inspires you—remember to focus on your chosen color palette.

Photos: Do you have any photos of completed looks? This could easily be just you standing against a white background.

Technical pack (called a tech pack in the industry): this is a blueprint or step-by-step guide to how a garment was made. Although this isn’t necessary for a student portfolio, it will be necessary for those in the industry. The tech pack should include sketched silhouettes, fabric swatches, digital Illustrator examples that are accessorized, and any vital instructions to creating the look.

Don’t be afraid to include other creative work that you’re proud of. Fashion is, at its core, an art form and creativity comes in many forms. Showcase any other relevant skills that set you apart from the competition, such as drawing, sculpture, or photography.

How to Present Your Fashion Design Portfolio

When it comes to presenting your fashion portfolio digitally, there are many options from which to choose:

PDFs and Powerpoint: This is the simplest of options, using a scanner to upload images and convert them to PDFs. From there, you can create a Powerpoint presentation showcasing your work. 

Digital Flipbook: This allows you to showcase conventional digital PDFs and display content left to right with a page flipping animation, as opposed to the scrolling nature of a PDF. Some digital flipbooks also allow you to embed your voice. Then, you can talk the viewer through your ideas. By telling the story of your collection in your own voice, you are in fact making a personal connection—sharing your story and your personality. 

Website: If you’re lucky enough to know how to design a website (or have a friend), this is a great option. Although, hosting a website costs money and may not be the most frugal choice.

Free Online Portfolio Host: There are sites available to host your portfolio for free, such as Carbonmade and Styleportfolios. 

If you are presenting a tangible portfolio in person, start with your introduction as described above and talk through the thinking behind the look, the process you used to get there, and the story behind your work.

A simple Google search leads to a multitude of portfolio examples. Pinterest is also a fabulous resource to glean ideas, including “48 of the Best Student Fashion Portfolios,” according to the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Remember, fashion design is a highly competitive business. And it starts with getting into design school. Your portfolio must set you apart immediately, so be creative. Make your portfolio a personal story about how you landed on the main idea, the process you use to expand your collection, and the audience you are trying to reach. Be current with trends that matter, such as sustainable materials. The more you’ve researched your designs, the better your chances to achieve your goal—entry into the world of fashion.

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” ~Rachel Zoe

We provide tips and advice to help prospective fashion design students start or improve their fashion design portfolio.

How to Make a Good Portfolio for Fashion Design

Drawing: It’s true, initial designs are usually done by hand. You should be able to sketch both the human body and clothing items (or accessories, or shoes, etc.) in a way that will accurately represent the product you’re designing. Often hand-drawn designs take on a stylized aesthetic—the model in a drawing might not be perfectly proportional, for example, and have super long limbs—but a fashion designer should make these stylistic decisions consciously, not because he or she isn’t able to draw the human figure accurately. 

Adobe Suite: As is the case with most industries today, the fashion world is going digital. Most fashion design jobs today require that applicants have experience with Adobe Suite. A fashion designer might initially sketch out a design by hand, but any type of technical illustration is generally done in Adobe Illustrator. Being proficient in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign is also a must for fashion designers, since, depending on the size of the company, they may have a hand in photoshoots or layout design in a magazine or ad. 

Teamwork: Because you’ll likely be working on a design team with several other designers, you’ll have ample opportunity to interact with other people as a fashion designer. Working on designs together requires patience and flexibility, along with good communication skills and willingness to listen to others’ ideas even when you might not completely agree. 

Presenting/Public Speaking: You should be comfortable presenting in front of a group. Fashion designers need to be able to sell their ideas to the rest of the design team, the company’s creative director, the sales team, and other groups in the company in order for their designs to be approved for production.

Garment Construction: Though fashion companies generally have an entire team devoted to clothing construction, you should still have a solid grasp on how clothing is created. This will allow you to design clothes reasonable from a construction standpoint, design with the proper fabrics in mind, and create design prototypes.  

Understand Trends: Fashion design is more than designing what you think looks good; it’s about designing what the market wants. Understanding fashion trends and being able to forecast future trends will allow you to create designs that customers will buy. 

Microsoft Office: Being able to use PowerPoint and Excel is a requirement for most design jobs in the fashion industry. PowerPoint will help you present your designs effectively, and Excel will help you create a tech pack, which is a document designers create to communicate specs and other information to product manufacturers.

Knowledge of Color and Print: Selecting on-trend colors and prints for a collection can make or break the success of a fashion designer’s designs. You can forecast what colors will be in-style for a certain product and select coordinating colors for your collection accordingly.

When you think of a fashion designer, you might think of a chic black-clad professional who sketches all day. But in reality, a fashion designer’s job is a lot more dynamic than that, and they need a lot more skills than just illustration. If you’re considering becoming a fashion designer, here are some of the skills you should start developing:

Learn everything you can about the industry.

Read everything you can get your hands on. Fashion publications like Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar are great for learning about current styles, how fashion has evolved, and how fashion is used to voice opinions about politics, social issues, religion, etc. In addition to reading publications about fashion itself, you should also learn as much as you can about the business of fashion. Websites like Business of Fashion, WGSN, and WWD can teach you about what goes into creating a fashion brand, predicting trends, and how fashion companies operate, which is important info if you’re serious about becoming a part of this industry. Keep up to date on fashion news and know what types of products are in stores.

What type of fashion career interests you? Whether it’s fashion journalism, fashion design, fashion marketing, or fashion merchandising, it’s helpful to know early on what direction you’d like your career to take. That way, you can focus your research efforts and be well-informed about the steps you’ll need to take to get your first job.

Starting a fashion blog can help your fashion career in a couple of ways: first, it will help you hone your writing and/or photography skills so you’re even more prepared for a career in fashion. Second, it’s something to show your future employers. If you’re applying for an internship in fashion journalism, for example, your interviewer might ask to see a writing sample. It would be great to have something fashion-related (and published!) to show them instead of an essay on Romeo and Juliet from your eleventh-grade English class. Sometimes personal blog-writing can even lead to freelancing opportunities for fashion publications, so work hard to pump out lots of content and get noticed! Be mindful, though, that you’ll need to find a niche; writing “about fashion” won’t set you apart from other blogs. Base your blog around a smaller component of fashion that interests you, like capsule wardrobes or eco-friendly textiles. Create a social media profile to coincide with your blog and post regularly, linking to your blog posts and posting other relevant social media content.

Writing a blog or starting a fashion instagram can help with this, but it’s also never too early to create a LinkedIn profile and start sharing your interests with the business world. This can lead to valuable connections and even job offers. Make sure your family and friends know that you’re pursuing a career in fashion so if they hear of any opportunities that would fit your interest they can let you know.

Get any job in fashion that you can, even if you start out by working retail at Old Navy. You’ll gain customer service skills, get a sense of what products sell, and learn the ins and outs of a retail store. You can also consider taking classes in clothing construction, business marketing, or fashion design at your local community college or through your community’s parks and rec department. Doing everything you can to gain skills and pad your resume is going to help you in the long run, even if it seems insignificant at the time.

Identify some companies you’d like to work for.

Come up with a list of fashion companies that impress you. These could include fashion publications, corporate headquarters for a retail store, designers, or branding companies. Next, learn everything you can about each company, including when and by whom they were founded, who the lead designers are, what the companys’ goals are, what changes the companies have made in recent years, etc. If a company offers internships, consider applying for one! If not, it’s not a bad idea to email a company and ask to meet with someone whose job title interests you. Depending on your availability and their availability, you could either ask for an informational interview (phone or in-person) to learn more about the company or ask to shadow someone for a day.

Almost all jobs in the fashion industry require at least a bachelor’s degree, and some require a master’s. Depending on the type of career you’re planning on, you might get a college degree in marketing, studio art, statistics, PR, English, or journalism. Look at the qualifications for jobs you’re interested in and plan your major (and, if necessary, master’s program) accordingly.

Most people working in the fashion industry didn’t start their careers as editors at Vogue. As with most careers, you shouldn’t expect to get your dream job without doing some serious work first. If you start learning about and participating in the industry early, though, your chances of getting a job you love quickly go way up. Read on for a few things you can do now to jumpstart your career in fashion.

Degrees in the business of fashion are perfect for creative people with a sense for business and interest in fashion on a large scale. Once a garment is designed, it’s fashion business professionals who take that design to production and distribution. You might not be designing clothing, but you will be analyzing the market to predict future trends, creating and implementing marketing campaigns, selecting products to be sold by the company you work for, and pricing items appropriately for the market, among other things vital to the success of fashion companies. Degrees in the business of fashion can be good preparation for any job in the fashion industry, and you’ll likely get some hands-on experience as part of your degree in the form of internships and field learning experiences. Depending on your program, you might also be required to create a portfolio that proves you understand the demands of the market and that you’re up to date with the latest trends. If you’re a go-getter with a knack for style, consider majoring in fashion business.

Degrees in fashion design prepare you for a number of jobs in the fashion industry—not just fashion design jobs!—by giving you a foundation of art history, garment construction, pattern creation, and trend analysis. They’re usually Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees focused on project-based learning and creative exploration, and as part of your degree requirements you’ll create a portfolio of designs that you can use to apply for jobs when you graduate. You’ll learn how to move a garment from concept to finished product, and you’ll likely have opportunities to put your new skills into practice in design internships with established companies.

Bachelors degrees in textile design teach you to select and create appropriate textiles for products, including clothing, accessories, and furniture. But instead of focusing solely on the aesthetics of a clothing item, textile designers study fabrics and other materials to determine how they’ll hold up against stresses and changes such as washing and stretching. Because of this, sometimes degrees in textile design are more science-based than other fashion-related degrees. You’ll learn how to design with current color, fabric, pattern, and production process trends in mind, and you’ll get hands-on experience through internships. Textile programs usually require you to create a portfolio of textiles you’ve designed so that you have something to show future employers.

What fashion degree to get depends on your fashion career goals. If you want to work in the design side of fashion, a degree in textile or fashion design would set you up for your first job. If you want to get a job in the business side of fashion or fashion media, you could potentially market yourself well with a fashion design degree or fashion business degree, like fashion merchandising. But these degrees aren’t your only options; depending on where you decide to go to college, there may be other fashion programs available to you, too. Here’s a list of some other fashion degrees to consider:

Whatever you decide on as your major, be sure to do it with your post-college career in mind. The fashion world requires portfolios and internship experiences that coincide with the jobs you apply for, so you’ll want to make sure you choose a degree that will set you up for success after graduation.

If you’re thinking of pursuing a career in the fashion industry, it’s a good idea to start out by getting a degree in fashion. This will not only teach you about the industry and give you valuable skills, but it will give you connections and experience that will set you up for success in your first job after your undergrad. There are multiple degree options in the fashion world, but you can best ensure your long-term success by starting out with a bachelor’s degree in fashion. The internship and field learning experiences that will come along with your bachelor’s degree are some of the most important reasons to choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in fashion; that being said, it can be tricky to determine which fashion major is right for you. Some of the most common fashion-related degrees are the business of fashion, fashion design, and textile design. Check out the explanations of each degree below to decide which is right for you.

Business: If your high school offers a business class, take it! The world of fashion is so much more than just clothing design; if you work in the business side of fashion, you’ll be in charge of making sure designs are produced large-scale and marketed to customers effectively. High school business classes will teach you about supply and demand, the makings of a good marketing campaign, whether it be social media, print, or film, business principles and terminology, and finance management. Keep in mind that even if you decide to pursue a career in the creative side of fashion, you’ll likely have some connection to the business/marketing side of fashion.

Marketing: High school marketing classes, while not offered at every school, are a great way to start preparing for a career in fashion. In a high school marketing class you’ll learn advertising and marketing principles, how to market to different sets of consumers, and how to set up and execute an effective marketing campaign. Being comfortable with each of these topics and knowing how to make companies and products attractive to consumers will make you extremely valuable in whatever subset of the fashion industry in which you work.

Art History: Even if your art history class doesn’t include much about the history of fashion (though if it does, awesome!), by observing the evolution of other types of art you’ll be able to get a sense of different style trends. Trend analysis is a big part of the fashion industry, and seeing how art has changed over the years can help get you in the mindset for analyzing former and future fashion trends. Not to mention that because art and fashion are influenced by the same cultural, political, and environmental factors, there will probably be some overlap in what’s popular in art and fashion.

Studio Art: Having a good eye for color and design is important for anyone in the fashion industry--not just the designers. By taking a studio art class you’ll learn different design techniques and how to recognize when a design or pattern needs edits. That will transfer well to when you’re designing, buying, marketing, or writing about fashion in the future.

Photography: For much the same reasons as why studio art can help your fashion career, taking a high school photography class can be good not only if you plan on being a fashion photographer, but also if you want to be a designer, marketer, stylist or journalist in the fashion industry. Being able to style a photo shoot, recognize what makes a good picture, and edit photos will allow you to have a hand in many different parts of the fashion industry. Good photography can be the center of a marketing campaign or magazine spread, and it can make or break how a design is perceived by others.

English: So much of the fashion industry is based on collaboration and communication. Designers communicate their ideas to marketers and merchandisers, marketers communicate the brand to customers, and journalists communicate news and updates to consumers, just to name a few. High school English classes are full of exercises to help you improve your written and spoken communication skills. Being able to articulately present an idea in speech or writing can help you establish designs and communicate clearly to customers and other fashion professionals.

If you’re in high school and you already know that you want a career in fashion, congratulations! Getting started early can make it significantly easier to get a job in the fashion industry. For example, you can decide on a college major and apply for internships that will propel you towards your desired fashion career instead of having to backtrack after having worked in a different industry for a few years. And starting to follow fashion trends now can only help you later as you start working a job that requires extensive knowledge of past and future styles. But knowing what career you want to go into now, while you’re still in high school, might feel frustrating too; you might feel impatient to get started and pursue your dream. But consider this: many of the classes offered in high school can do a lot to prepare you for a career in the fashion industry. Here’s a list of six classes that, if you take them seriously in high school, can give you a head start on your fashion career.

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