Fashion Design and Marketing
Major
What is Fashion Design and Marketing?
The fashion and apparel industry is
an exciting, but highly competitive one, whose scope includes
apparel design, production, distribution and retailing.
Study in this field encompasses the knowledge and skills
associated with the design, patternmaking and construction
of high quality, high demand apparel. Graduates may work
for large retailing firms or they may branch out by creating
their own labels.
Students with an interest in fashion
design and merchandising and marketing, have a variety
of career opportunities. The fashion industry requires
people who with creative insight, technical skill, and
a firm knowledge of their products. They need to exhibit
high levels of enthusiasm and energy and have good business
judgment. The fashion industry professional needs skills
to design apparel, produce and market fashions, analyze,
think critically, solve problems creatively, utilize computers,
and demonstrate business marketing and communications
talents. Fashion design and marketing graduates must be
aware of market trends, know how to design for specific
market segments, and possess an expert knowledge of pattern
drafting, fit, sewing, and costing. They must work with
in-house production people as well as with contractors.
They buy and make merchandise that anticipates styles
and trends, while meeting the need for fast transitions
in style and pricing.
Students are exposed to equipment such
as: industrial straight sewing and specialty machines,
sergers, steam irons, vacuum presses and fusing machines.
State- of-the-art computer systems are used for designing,
for creating specifications drawing, for organizing buyers'
and media kits, for costing, and for manipulating patterns.
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What Types of Students Take This
Major?
General or liberal education electives,
English, marketing, business, and communications courses
which students will take as part of the degree will expose
them to a breadth of study which enriches students as
designers. Writing and making presentations are important
elements of the program.
Students in Fashion Design and Marketing
should have great enthusiasm in fashion. They should be
able to generate new, saleable ideas for clothing and
other apparel. They need to be flexible in dealing with
new materials, rapidly changing trends and new production
equipment. They need to be able to envision not only what
a product should look like, but how to produce that product
in the context of current equipment capabilities. Clearly,
artistic talent is critical. One needs an excellent sense
of line, color,and form, a sense of balance and proportion,
and an eye for detail. A high degree of self-initiative
is needed, along with an ability to organize and implement
a project from start to finish. Verbal communication skills
and complex problem-solving abilities are also important.
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What Courses Do Fashion Design and
Marketing Majors Take?
The required and elective courses you
would take for majors vary considerably among institutions.
Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth
of topics you are likely to experience were you to major
in this field.
Creative
Fashion Design |
The
Apparel Industry |
Drafting
and Sewing |
Microcomputer
Applications |
Fashion
Retail Internship |
Textile
Science |
Fashion
Sketching and Drawing |
Fashion
Marketing |
History
of Costume |
Computer-Aided
Pattern Drafting |
Fashion
Show Production |
Wardrobe
Development for TV and Film |
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What Types of Positions do Fashion
Design and Marketing Majors Take After College?
These professions and professional organizations
illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for
if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly
related to employment than others, however. You should
consider the likelihood of employment after graduation
carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work
in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work
in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you
should determine what the prospects are for this or any
major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by
the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment
in second major or in a minor.
Patternmaker |
Clothing
Production Assistant |
Designer |
Fashion
Stylist |
Fashion
Illustrator |
Apparel
Buyer |
Textiles
Artist |
Apparel
Salesperson |
Retail
Store Manager |
Are you interested in detailed information
about the forecasted demand for a particular profession?
Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions
are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you
to search on a particular job, whether listed here or
not, to give you this information.
Bureau
of Labor Statistics
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Related Links
If you are interested in learning more
about what professionals in this field do and what kinds
of activities they engage in, check out some of the following
links. You might also want to check out web sites for
university or college departments offering this major.
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University Departments to Consider
The following institutions are the featured
institutions on MyMajors because they support MyMajors
and you in your search for the best major available. They
offer excellent curriculums in well-rounded programs for
you to consider.
Other fine institutions offering this
major offer excellent programs to consider.
| For information on options
available to campuses wishing to see their majors
listed on MyMajors, contact: admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Two-Year College Curriculums to
Consider
Suggest to your two-year college
advisor that their institution's majors be included
to show you their course requirements and unique
resources. Two-year college representatives should
contact admin@mymajors.com for details. |
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Want
More Information? Look at major descriptions prepared
by university academic advisement staffs.
More on Choosing Your College Major 
