Fashion Design Schools

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I was in a specialty fashion design program in high school and loved it. However, I started college at a more academic university doing product design, mostly because I was enticed by a very nice scholarship package. I didn't love it, and I've decided it's worth it to go back to fashion and am trying to decide the best places to apply to transfer. The two I am looking at most right now are SAIC- love the overall atmosphere of the school- and FIT- great education, great price. Obviously I'll apply to these along with numerous others and see where I even get in, but I would love to here more information about these or other schools.</p>

<p>From what I hear, SAIC's program is very conceptually based, which I love, but I wonder a little bit if it lacks technically or in connections since it is a bit of a smaller program and I wonder if that is a good career move. On the flip side, FIT is all about technical skills and has great connections (and a pretty price point) but I seriously wonder if I would miss the art aspect there, since they seem to be the most technical/businesslike of the programs. I worry about this especially since wanting a more artistic approach is one of the main reasons I am leaving my current program. </p>

<p>I have friends at both Pratt and Parsons in the fashion program, and what I hear Pratt sounds like a solid design education, but I have heard mixed things about Parsons- both that it is great, but that it is impossibly hard, that the program rests on it's laurels a bit, etc, etc from multiple sources. </p>

<p>I am also curious in RISD, but I know fashion isn't their strength, and honestly don't know too much about that program. I looked at SCAD a lot coming out of high school, but when it boils down to it, I really don't want to be in Savannah. I also considered Academy of Art in SF, but I was really put off by how they feel like more of a business than a school.</p>

<p>Anyone with any opinions or information would be great! Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I worked in the apparel industry for decades. My observation is that designers from SAIC and Parsons have the most intellectual approach to design, those from FIT the most practical. (I don’t think I ever knew a designer from Pratt.)</p>

<p>In selecting your school you have to think about what kind of designer you aspire to be; what kind of clothes you want to create, what kind of company you want to work for. Fashion is at the intersection of art and commerce. At large companies the process is highly collaborative. At small studios it is more independent. </p>

<p>Unless you intend to run your own business, you will find that the interaction between design and the other parts of the company (e.g., the merchants, production, leadership) is the most difficult part of making the transition from design school to real life fashion design. It’s intuitive business acumen that makes good, creative designers into great, rich designers. You need strong communication and presentation skills, an understanding of your customer, an elevated taste level and a willingness to work crazy hours.</p>

<p>Technical skills are critical. Being able to conceptualize and sketch beautifully is a plus, but what makes a really successful designer is a thorough understanding of garment construction, fabric construction, sewing, draping, tailoring, pattern making. Sure, there are designers who skip this step and manage to have other people implement their concepts, but I wouldn’t count on it, especially for an entry level position.</p>

<p>To me, the key to success in the industry is making good connections, securing internships, finding mentors who will help you move up the ladder. Studios tend to hire design talent from the same schools that their senior designers attended, so it might be helpful to research some of your favorite brands to see where their creative head studied.</p>

<p>The New York schools have a distinct advantage here because of the vast number of local design opportunities. FIT and Parsons have excellent placement and networking systems. Prominent industry players are on the faculty.</p>

<p>Chicago always seemed to me like a strange place to go for fashion design, but I’m sure SAIC has worked around their geography. I would look at the kind of internships that their students take and again, see if these are companies that appeal to you.</p>

<p>I like RISD because of its relationship with Brown, but I think its fashion program is more textile than garment driven.</p>

<p>Another idea would be to continue at your current school and along the way seek summer internships in the industry. After you have your degree in art or design you could do a two year fashion course. I believe having a liberal arts degree would enhance your value in an increasingly complex industry.</p>

3

<p>My D went to precollege at Pratt, and she is now a freshman at SAIC. She will be applying into the fasion program at the end of this year (freshmen do a foundation year first).</p>

<p>What we kept hearing at the time she was applying to college was that fewer fashion schools are still teaching construction skills. This is why she didn’t apply to Parsons. She really enjoys pattern making and construction.</p>

<p>She was accepted to RISD, Pratt, and FIT, but she chose SAIC for 3 reasons: she likes the interdisciplinary approach at SAIC; she can do the core fashion program classes but also classes in fibers and material arts and newer technologies, like 3D printing; she really likes Chicago; and SAIC offers decent merit scholarships with the real potential to earn more. SAIC has been a great fit for her so far. Although she is not yet officially in the fashion program, she is taking an elective there, and it is rigorous and technical, yet also conceptual. The instruction and feedback she has received has been very productive and valuable.</p>

<p>I think you do have more ease in getting internships if you choose a school in NYC.</p>

<p>I don’t know a whole lot about RISD. It was my D’s dream school, but it was ultimately unaffordable for us. Two comments kind of made it less painful for us, however: one of the profs at RISD questioned why she would even go there if she wanted to major in fashion; and at Accepted Students Day, the only employers they mentioned that recruited there were J Crew and The Gap (I’m sure there are many more). That would actually be fine for me to know my daughter would potentially work for a big corporation like that, but it wasn’t what she was looking for.</p>

<p>I suggest you look at the fashion program web pages for the schools you’re interested in to see what kinds of courses they offer, where their students get internships, that kind of thing. Thank you, momrath, your post was really informative to me.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>@GrnMtnMom, Interesting to hear about your daughter’s experiences at SAIC. One company I worked for hired most of its design talent from SAIC. They were the brainiest bunch of designers I ever met. They definitely belonged in the creative end of the product spectrum, not mass market. </p>