How long is fashion school?

Fashion design. Students in a fashion design program focus on developing concepts. They do this through:

• Creating 2-dimensional sketches

• Uses sewing and tailoring methods

• Learning visual design concepts

• Understanding fashion research

• Using specific software programs in the field of fashion

Certain colleges also allow students to specialize further within this concentration. Examples include knitwear design, textiles, footwear, and accessory design.

Fashion styling. This concentration sees students learning to act as fashion consultants and producers. Students study different fashion trends, current and past, and gain presentation skills. The main goal is to build a professional portfolio while in the program.

Costume design. This fashion major concentration is for those students wanting to work in the entertainment industry. The courses involved heavily focused on construction, draping, and costume design. Students also learn a wide variety of sewing techniques.

Product development. This concentration focuses on the fashion industry's development process, from conception to marketing and sales. Other courses involve forecasting fashion trends and understanding how to source, develop, manufacture, and market a specific fashion line.

Fashion business management. Fashion business management can have several different options in terms of courses. Some might focus on sustainability in fashion, while others focus on microeconomics and merchandising.

Students in this major get a comprehensive education on retailing, wholesaling, and communication and technology methods in the industry.