<p>Hi All-</p>
<p>I'm currently a rising senior at Duke, majoring in Art History, but would ultimately like to enter the fashion industry. I'm planning on taking a bit of time off to work after graduating, but I was wondering if there are any suggestions out there for good GRADUATE-LEVEL schools in Fashion Related areas...not necessarily design, but fashion marketing-esque degrees.</p>
<p>I would like be in California, but am open to New York (the City) as well.</p>
<p>In terms of qualifications, I am obviously graduating with a humanities major, but have a random slew of courses such as Economics, Financial Accounting, and even Drawing. I've also held jobs in education/education administration and as an intern at a local art museum.</p>
<p>Any suggestions would be great!</p>
<p>Parsons, FIT in NYC?</p>
<p>are you looking to get an MBA with a marketing emphasis? If so ---check out
UCLA or USC schools of business. (Im not really aware of any MFA programs in fashion marketing)</p>
<p>Well, the school someone originally suggested to me was the Academy of the Arts in San Francisco, with their MFA program in Fashion, which seems to be a balance of design and merchandising business, and it was suggested to me because I do have SOME background in more creative aspects, despite not coming from an art/fashion ugrad program. Parsons AAS programs were also suggested so I've been looking into that.</p>
<p>I guess what I'm trying to figure out is if there are schools out there where I can get a creative education as well as some business-savvy. It's just particularly challenging for me to get ANY advice from my university because Duke obviously isn't know for turning out many students into this industry.</p>
<p>Before you decide on grad school you need to narrow down specifically what you want to do in the fashion industry. Buyer, market strategist, design,
??? Find out how professionals in your specific field of interest got there. Have you done any internships in LA or NY in the industry? And have you looked into Otis in LA?(didnt recommend Otis due to no fashion grad program)</p>
<p>I take summer high school courses at FIT and my fashion portfolio teacher actually teaches in this one year program where you can get a fashion design degree, its for people who want to go into fashion but their parents didnt want them to/they wanted to get a diff degree first. She said there are people form all backgrounds like accountants, lawyers, etc.
Maybe you should think about looking into something like that before trying to go to grad school for it? to see what you like, specific interests, build up a portfolio, etc.?</p>
<p>ld, I've worked in fashion -- retail and brand management -- for my whole career, nearly 40 years. My advice is delay the advanced degree and plunge into the industry. Later if you still think you want or need an MBA or some technical skills you can always go back to school. </p>
<p>The apparel industry and the retail industry are huge and multifaceted. It's difficult for an outsider to articulate his/her career goals because there's a lot of overlap in job descriptions and responsibility. What you are describing -- the intersection of art and commerce -- is a very real aspect of retail and brand management, but career skills are for the most part acquired by on-the-job-training. I work with a lot of smart people -- but aside from designers who have gone to design school and financial types who have MBAs -- the merchants and sourcers have diverse educational backgrounds.</p>
<p>The most general entry level position which involves creativity and business acumen is in retail assistant buyer and in wholesale assistant merchandiser or assistant sourcer. </p>
<p>Most of the large retailers and wholesalers have training programs, either formal or ad hoc. Just pick some brands that appeal to you and start applying. Or get yourself to a big city and start pounding the (figurative) pavements. New York has the most choices, followed by Los Angeles, but retail is everywhere -- you'll land plenty of interviews.</p>
<p>You have the basics: An art history degree from Duke, supplemented by some business classes, is an excellent starting place as it implies intelligence, accomplishment and an interest in the arts. You also have real job experience and can presumably come up with positive employer references. </p>
<p>Add to that foundation an interest in product, an elevated taste level, good communication skills, dedicated work ethic and enthusiasm for teamwork and you're all set.</p>
<p>^^super post, thanks momrath</p>