Study Fashion Design Abroad
Clothes make the man – and fashion designers make clothes. Nothing works without imagination and creativity. But they also have to master the tailoring trade in order to later send models with their own collection down the catwalk. In the subject of fashion design, students learn to design fashion and to technically implement their designs . Most universities also teach business administration content so that they can assert themselves later in the international fashion circus .
An overview of the fashion design course
In the first semesters of the bachelor’s degree , students primarily learn the basic technical knowledge they need to design their own items of clothing. You will practice drawing, get to know materials and shapes, discuss different types of color perception and study clothing from bygone eras. They learn the technical craft in courses such as pattern design or manufacturing technology. Working with computers and computer-aided design programs is also very important.
In the higher semesters , the focus is then increasingly on practical work . The students design and tailor their own collections. Business subjects such as fashion management or presentation English should also prepare them for the less creative aspects of their later professional life. The course usually ends with the presentation of your own graduation collection .
Those who want to continue their education after completing their bachelor’s degree can join a master’s degree. At most universities, the focus is on practical work. In addition, the students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in individual work areas such as marketing or collection development.
Studying fashion design: requirements
In Germany, only nine state universities and a number of private fashion academies currently offer fashion design. With the private providers, caution is sometimes advised: studying there can be expensive and not all schools are state-approved.
Almost all universities hold entrance exams . This includes, among other things, the presentation of a portfolio with your own sketches and drafts and aptitude tests lasting several days. A pre-study internship in the fashion industry is often one of the requirements for admission. In any case, applicants need a lot of talent, creativity and manual dexterity in order to successfully master the admission procedure and the course.
Professional fields for fashion designers
According to microedu.com, most graduates aim to work in the clothing industry . The big fashion companies are particularly popular as employers. Graduates work, for example, in the model studios or as assistants to the chief designer. Activities in the area of product management for clothing companies are also possible. Some graduates take the step into self-employment immediately after university or after a few years of professional experience and set up their own label .
Aside from the fashion industry, graduates find employment opportunities in theaters or in film and television . There they advise directors on the equipment or work as costume designers. A career as a fashion journalist, fashion consultant or illustrator is also conceivable. Master’s graduates are also free to embark on an academic career and take up teaching at universities.
Studying abroad: advantages for fashion designers
The fashion industry is international. Trends appear first in the major metropolises of London, Milan or New York and the major international fashion shows also take place there. Anyone who wants to make a name for themselves as a designer cannot avoid stays abroad . It is advisable to spend one or more semesters abroad during your studies. There you can already make important contacts, get to know the international fashion industry and improve your foreign language skills at the same time.
