Fashion Design
Fashion Design Program at Fisher College
Welcome to Fisher College's Fashion Design Program located in the heart of historic Boston and only moments away from some of the most famous designer boutiques worldwide. If designing your own fashions is your career goal, then join us to begin exploring all aspects of this exciting industry. Here you will learn the steps to creating a successful garment from sketching your original ideas to the actual drafting of patterns. Assembling your creations in your Clothing Construction and Draping courses will provide you with the skills you need to build a career in this fulfilling profession. In two years, as a Fisher Fashion Design student, you could earn an Associate in Science Degree. If you would like to expand your interests even further in fashion merchandising and management, you may continue your education and earn a Bachelors Degree in Management with a Concentration in Fashion Merchandising.
As a member of our Fashion Design Program, you will be given the opportunity to acquire technical skills that enable you to take a basic garment and transform it into a whole new look with your own signature styling. To develop your creativity and inspire you to seek individuality, we provide you with current fashion news and access to the latest trend information. We occasionally step outside of the fashion lab and take you on field trips that include visits to top firms in the Garment District of New York City, meetings with local fashion designers here in Boston, and shopping excursions to find that perfect fabric for your latest design. On some sunny fall days, you just might find your instructor leading your class to Newbury Street to see firsthand what the world's top designers are up to. We also bring design experts directly to you as guest speakers who will share their experiences and show you their work.
Each of you will be guided throughout your education by our dedicated fashion faculty and your own personal advisor who will listen to your future plans and place you in courses that allow you to reinforce the necessary skills that will enhance your progress. Throughout your education, you will be developing and collecting examples of your work to compile in a portfolio as evidence of your abilities.
| First Year | Credit hours | |
|---|---|---|
| EN101 | English I | 3 |
| EN102 | English II | 3 |
| FM160 | Clothing Construction I | 4 |
| FM161 | Pattern Making I |
3 |
| FM170 | Clothing Construction II |
4 |
| FM171 | Pattern Making II | 3 |
| FM201 | Fundamentals of Apparel Design | 3 |
| FM205 | Fashion Illustration | 3 |
| MA106 | Elementary Algebra* | 3 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
| Second Year | Credit hours | |
| FM105 | History of Costume | 3 |
| FM225 | Textile Science | 3 |
| FM280 | French Draping | 3 |
| FM281 | Tailoring | 3 |
| FM290 | Knitwear Construction & Pattern Making | 3 |
| Computer Science Elective | 3 | |
| Fine Arts Elective** | 3 | |
| Humanities Elective | 3 | |
| Math/Science Elective | 3/4 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30/31 | |
| * A higher level of math (MA107, MA109, MA110, or MA121) may besubstituted. | ||
| ** At least three credits must be taken from FA101, FA102, FA103, FA111 or FA112. Minimum credits required for graduation--62. |
||
Graduate Competencies
Skills
Upon successful completion of this program, the students will be able to:
- Fabricate and construct the following garments from flat patterns that they have drafted:
Skirts
Shell tops
Blouses
Trousers - Adapt foundation patterns into a variety of styles and sizes, and apply knowledge of current industry sizing.
- Fabricate and construct a complete ensemble using the French draping method.
- Apply basic tailoring techniques to selected garments.
- Illustrate original designs for portfolio presentation.
- Illustrate designs into flat pattern pieces (flats) so they can be interpreted by a skilled pattern maker.
- Describe all the processes involved in the production of textile materials and apparel.
- Select suitable fabrics for apparel designs.
- Define the primary careers related to the fashion design industry.
- Qualify as a trainee in fashion design and/or pattern making positions.
- Matriculate to a four-year baccalaureate program in fashion merchandising.
Credentials
- Associate of Science Degree after two years
- Bachelor of Science in Management Degree with a Concentration in Fashion Merchandising after four and one-half years
Technologies
- Computer skills: Microsoft Word; Excel; PowerPoint
- Operation of the following industrial machines:
Jiki Lockstitch
Dansai Coverstitch
Bernina Industrial
Juki Overlock
Potential Careers and Earnings
Industries
- Apparel Manufacturer
- Apparel Alterations
- Textile Retailing
- Custom Dressmaking
Occupations
- Assistant Patternmaker
- Custom Dressmaker
- Altering Clothing
- Sales Associate - Fabrics
Earnings *
- Assistant Patternmaker
(Entry-level): $30-35,000 annually - Custom Dressmaker: $15 Hourly
- Altering Clothing: $15 to $20 Hourly
- Sales - Designer Apparel: $12 to $20 Hourly
- Sales - Piece Goods: $12 Hourly
Jobs Reported by Alumni
- Assistant Patternmaker
- Custom Dressmaker
- Altering Clothing
- Interior Decorating
Ashley Ellis, Associate of Science Degree, Fashion Design Major, Class of 2007
Fashion is so much more than a hot outfit or simple clothes just for kickin' it. Fashion design courses, especially Pattern Making and Clothing Construction, have taught me not only to be more observant with every aspect of my life, but also to be more selective in spending my money (quality is most important). I have the skills to create garments seen on clothing racks and have gained knowledge about history of costume and textiles. By having a solid foundation in my fashion courses at Fisher, I am confident that I will retain more information while using what I have learned in my career endeavors.
Fashion Design Faculty
Professor Teresa Howe, Program Director of the Fashion Institute
There really isn't any aspect of fashion that doesn't capture my interest. In fact, I consider fashion to be the most exciting form of creative expression. Maybe that's why when planning my future I chose to major in fashion design at Mass College of Art where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. At the time of my graduation, I was offered a position as an instructor in a fashion program. That gave me the opportunity to combine fashion with another of my favorite interests, teaching. And so the journey began. After several years of teaching, I enrolled in a graduate program at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Here I was permitted to select courses that strengthened my skills as a fashion educator. It was a wonderful way to earn my graduate degree, and it gave me the chance to experience the spirited environment of RISD.
Throughout much of my career I have balanced teaching with business endeavors, one of which was developing a line of private label cosmetics. This was a valuable experience that commanded many skills from product development to marketing and all of the demands of operating a small business. Another one of my professional interests is serving on the Board of Directors of the Fashion Group International of Boston. Through this organization I am in contact with many influential fashion specialists in the Boston area. Networking within this group has been a valuable resource in establishing numerous successful fashion internships for my students.
For more than a decade, I have had the privilege of being the Director of the Fashion Institute at Fisher College. Fortunately, this position allows me to continue to teach in the classroom where I have met many wonderful young people with whom I can share my love of fashion. I enthusiastically look forward to meeting many more on their journey into the world of fashion.
Industry Web sites
Industry Publications
- Women's Wear Daily
- DNR, Daily News Record (Men's Wear)
- Sportswear International, Sport & Street
- Apparel Industry Magazine
- Apparel Manufacturer
- California Apparel News
Fisher College has kept the half-century old tradition of the Spring Fashion Show alive. Exciting and energetic, the show provides the perfect forum for Fisher students to showcase their creativity and talent for design.
Each year a production team works to build emphasis on the given theme. All students are able to take part in the show-whether it be through production, modeling, or hair and makeup design. This year's show will take place on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 1:00pm. A President's Reception in the Trustees Reading Room at 3:00pm will directly follow the show. Tickets are $5.00 may be purchased through the Office of Student Activities or online. Seats are limited, so please respond no later than April 1, 2010 to reserve a spot. Catch a seat by the runway!
View some selected photos from last year's Fashion Show in the online photo gallery.