STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Karina · Chanel

Fashion Design Degree

kenzie · Chanel

I would think that you would do better with a Fashion Merchandising(not to be confused with Visual Merchandising) degree if you want to get into a product development position. According to FIDM's website, the following careers are most closely connected to a degree in Fashion Design: Designer, Design Director, Assistant Designer, Technical Designer, Costume Designer, Assistant Costume Designer. I would think that Stylist would also fall under this category.

Incidentally, FIDM has a Merchandise Product Development AA available (obviously, this school is in Cali, but you get the idea of the difference between Design and Merchandising). They also have Merchandise Marketing Degree. I would think that Parsons or FIT would have something similar.

Fashion Design, from my understanding, has a strong artistic and creative bent to it, so you would need to have solid artistic ability (I have no idea where you're at with this). It's more of an art degree as opposed to Fashion Merchandising being more of a business degree.

Not sure if that made sense, but I hope that helps!

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

FIT also has a fashion merchandising program, and a home products program which is essentially the same thing but with home goods, if you're at all interested in that.

lynnie · Chanel

i think fashion design degrees are best if you want to design your own line or work designing another line (DKNY, Polo, all those lines that have many designers behind them). If thats what you want to do, go for it. I agree that its more of a creative/art degree, not really a bus. degree, which is why i think a lot of young designers have a problem getting started!