James Brown asked:


Seemingly endless fame and fortune equate the biggest names in the fashion world. They are being looked up to and consulted for fashion tips by people whom even they look up to! Heard of prime ministers and country presidents without their own personal stylists? Hardly ever, for sure.

Fashion designers, particularly couturiers, have a way of seeing the best fitting outfits to almost anyone. They have the eye to determine what looks hot and what looks not. Experience teaches the better part of fashion designing, but admittedly "it's innate; a gift," a famed Hollywood designer once said.

While it takes more than gained knowledge, most of the world's greatest fashion designers have attended some kind of school. Some designers are known to take fashion courses at fashion schools outside their countries which they believe can provide them the best training. Fashion hops globally, after all.

Probably the most well known fashion training centers worldwide is London. Most notable is its Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, where its alumni include Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Hussein Chalayan and Stella McCartney. Some others in London are London College of Fashion, The University of Westminster and The Royal College of Arts. Its famous alumni are Christopher Bailey, Stuart Vevers and Vivienne Westwood.

In America, Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) and Parsons, The New School for Design both in New York City are highly commended. Similarly, Drexel University and Moore College in Philadelphia and The Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts are popular fashion design schools. In the Los Angeles area, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and A.I.U. in Los Angeles once had Uriel Saenz and Ashley Paige as students. A more specialized school, particularly in the posh French Haute Couture method, is the Academy of Couture Art in West Hollywood.

Recently, a U.S. News annual survey revealed that The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has shifted up as the top U.S. school for fashion art programs. After several changes since its inception, The Art Institute has transferred to an iconic location along Michigan Avenue, which maintains its spot as the biggest and most famous museum-school in the United States. Cynthia Rowley, Halston and Gemma Kahng used to study in these institutions to further their craft.

In the Indian subcontinent, the National Institute of Fashion Technology is known to be the best fashion design school, which offers fashion technology curricula, from which a three-year course in fashion design for apparel can be acquired. The Pearl Academy of Fashion, with a center in UAE tucked under its belt, is also noted for its approach toward fashion studies.

Fashion school insiders relate that professional instructors educate on the technical and artistic aspects of the fashion subjects. A few related courses even include one year of working for the fashion business, as immersion and exposure to the industry. Fashion houses are also visited abroad as part of the program.

Most of the time, people who want to become top designers will work with other designers and gain hands-on experience.

According to statistics, most fashion designers earn an average of $13,000 to $93,000, depending on how in-demand their products are. Apparel, notions and price goods industries employ the largest numbers of fashion designers.

So if you want to end up in the fashion business, bear in mind that it's not just about luck, but about hard work and a whole lot of dedication.

John kary asked:


Fashion Design Schools

Find fashion schools offering online fashion merchandising, fashion design, fashion marketing, and other programs that can help you develop the skills you need to get your foot in the door of this stylish career. Find schools in top fashion destinations like New York City, Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, across the US and beyond.

The field of fashion and fashion marketing is a demanding yet rewarding path. Are you ready to combine your creative talents and marketing savvy into an exciting career? Some career paths include: Fashion Buyer, Product Developer & Retail Manager. You will work closely with account executives and store managers to select appropriate merchandise to sell in stores. You are knowledgeable about current and future trends and travel to national and international fashion markets to study them.

Following schools offer online fashion courses and degrees

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX ONLINE

• Fashion Design/Marketing

BAKER COLLEGE ONLINE

• Bachelor Degree in Web Development

• Certificate in Web Design

THE ART INSTITUTE ONLINE

• Residential Planning – Diploma

• Digital Design – Diploma

• Web Design – Diploma

• Graphic Design – Associate Degree

• Multimedia & Web Design – Associate Degree

• Advertising – Bachelor Degree

• Culinary Management BS Degree Completion Program – Bachelor Degree

• Interior Design – Bachelor Degree

• Game Art & Design – Bachelor Degree

• Graphic Design – Bachelor Degree

• Multimedia & Web Design – Bachelor Degree

CAPELLA UNIVERSITY

• Graphics and Multimedia

• Web Application Development

AMERICAN INTERCONTINENTAL UNIVERSITY ONLINE

• Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communications

WESTWOOD COLLEGE ONLINE

• Graphic Design and Multimedia

• Visual Communications

• Animation

• Web Design & Multimedia

• CAD Courses

American InterContinental University

Fashion Design School

The fast-paced fashion industry is rich in career opportunities for individuals with an eye for color, line and texture, a keen business sense and a bold creative vision. AIU fashion school students are on the career track well before they graduate. They create a portfolio highlighting their best work for presentation to employers. Study tours to fashion centers like New York City, Paris and Milan are a great chance to network with the big names in the business. In addition, our students gain valuable experience as interns with designers, manufacturers and fashion houses.

The AIU Fashion Design School program helps new designers acquire the necessary skills to develop their personal style. Students also become familiar with the business and marketing side of the apparel industry.

Associate Degree in Fashion Design

Associate Degree in Interior Design

Associate Degree in Media Production

Associate Degree in Visual Communications

Bachelor's Degree Fashion Design

Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design

Bachelor's Degree in Fashion Design & Fashion Marketing

Bachelor's Degree in Media Production

Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communications

Request Information – Atlanta (Buckhead), GA

International Academy of Design & Technology

Campus programs

The International Academy's Program in Fashion Design is demanding, technical, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art. Students are given a solid foundation in fashion illustration, pattern drafting, design, draping, clothing construction, textiles, fashion history and production techniques. All of the instruction is presented using industrial grade equipment in spacious and comfortable facilities built for optimum fashion design. Students are encouraged to realize their potential with inspiration provided by visiting designers and artisans with local and/or international reputations who conduct special lectures and workshops.

Associate of Science Degree in Web Design

Associate of Science degree in Computer Animation

Associate of Science Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing

Associate of Science Degree in Interior Design

Associate of Science Degree in Graphic Design

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing

Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design

Brooks Fashion Design College

Associate degree in Fashion

The Fashion Design program at Brooks College provides academic and specialized practical instruction to prepare the student to enter an ever-changing and exciting world of fashion. In this growing industry, there is a constant demand for technical knowledge and creative talent. Brooks College's Division of Manufacturing Education (D.O.M.E.) is the on-campus manufacturing facility where the major portion of the second year program is taught. Graduates of the program are qualified for the following: Designer and Assistant Designer, Fashion Stylist, Fashion Design School, Production, Pattern maker, Pattern Grader, Fabrications and trim Buyer, as well as, Fashion Illustrator and Textile Artist.

Associate of Science Degree (Graphic Design)

Associate of Arts Degree (Fashion Design)

Associate of Arts Degree (Interior Design)

Associate of Arts Degree (Fashion Merchandising)

Associate of Science Degree (Animation)

Associate of Science Degree (Multimedia)

Katharine Gibbs School New York (New York, NY)

Fashion Design School and Merchandising

Students are trained, practically and academically, in all aspects of the fashion industry. Topics include: fabric printing and print design, sketching for the designer and illustrator, industry-standard pattern drafting, showroom and retail sales, fashion design school. Through the course of the program, students will be developing their own fashion portfolio.

Associate Degree Visual Communications

Associate Degree – Fashion Design.

PCDI – Professional Career Development Institute

The Professional Fashion Merchandising Program

Have you ever wondered why certain clothes show up in fashion advertising and still others never sell? Would you like to be able to plan and produce a successful fashion show? Do you want to know how consumer fashion trends are set? Are you interested in getting in on a fast-track field by taking a fashion merchandising course? If so, you've come to the right place!

PCDI's nationally accredited home study course will teach you about fashion merchandising, and much more. You'll Receive 17 clear, beautifully illustrated lessons. First, we'll teach you about consumer style preferences and purchasing habits. Next, we'll take you "behind the scenes" to Find out what retail buyers, department heads, store managers, fashion directors, visual merchandisers, and sales associates do. Then, we'll show you the secrets of staging fashion shows; planning special events; becoming a personal shopper; tracking fashion trends; and going for that first career position.

Key advantages of our school:

No campus attendance, no commuting, no deadline pressure

All exams are open-book/open notes

Learn at your own pace; graduate in as little as six months after taking the fashion merchandising courses!

Graduate with a nationally accredited diploma

Enroll any time and enjoy affordable, interest-free tuition

There are no educational prerequisites or experience requirements to enroll. Convenient, practical home study fashion merchandising courses and training from PCDI makes learning fashion merchandising easy and fun!