Fashion Design

*Domestic applicants include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, protected persons and Convention refugees.
Fashion Design is a three-year co-operative Ontario College Advanced Diploma program providing professional career-directed training in the development, production management and marketing of apparel design. Through classroom theory, lecture, lab work, field trips and work term experience, skills are applied. Networking with industry professionals promotes future employment opportunities. Emphasis is placed on design analysis, apparel manufacturing and technology, and design communications and marketing.
You’ll develop skills in creative design, visual communication, business marketing and apparel production technologies. You’ll also learn practical skills like fashion illustration, computer aided design, pattern-making and draping and garment construction. The third year of study culminates with a capstone project, where students concept, produce and present a final collection.
Apply your skills throughout the program in a combination of lab work, field trips, and working semester experiences, as well as in a variety of research opportunities. Our faculty are committed to research opportunities through industry and community partnerships that move the industry forward. With these experiences, you’ll graduate with a professional portfolio and the skills to work in a variety of jobs in the fashion and apparel industry.
Skills such as fashion illustration, computer-aided design, pattern-making and draping, and apparel construction techniques are taught, and supported by studies of textile technology, historical research, manufacturing processes and applied computerized technology in the fashion industry. The program fosters creative and independent problem solving in students, preparing them for a future in the various sectors of the rapidly changing fashion and apparel industry.
The Fashion Design program offers a cooperative education component, which provides students the opportunity to gain invaluable first-hand workplace experience in their chosen field. Here are some co-op jobs that have kick-started the careers of some Fashion Design students before even graduating!
Assistant Designer
Aide in the creation of an apparel line through illustration, cutting, stitching and pattern tracing.
Production Assistant
Assist in the quality control and efficient production of products.
Sewer/Tailor
Custom garments according to client needs. Repurpose something vintage, or simply alter a piece for continued wear.
For more information regarding co-op, please check out our co-op site or contact the Co-op Office at coop@fanshawec.ca to connect with a consultant.
With a passion for fashion and an eye for design, graduates of Fanshawe’s Fashion Design program can make that quote come alive in a rewarding career working in positions of:
● development production
● production in apparel manufacturing
● designers
● assistant designers
● technical designers
● computerized fashion illustrators
● pattern makers
● graders
● quality controller technicians
● CAD aided design technologists
● independent designers or consultants
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Fashion Design program:
Technical Designer
Set up, maintain and update style summaries, create technical sketches for design, track and relate all changes and modifications from fit meetings to suppliers.
Fashion Designer
Manufacture, produce, market and sell streetwear.
Seamstress – Bridal and Special Occasion Wear
Complete flawless alterations including hems, bustles and custom requests.
Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | Level 1 | Level 2 | *Co-op (see below) |
Year 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | *Co-op (see below) |
Year 3 | Level 5 | Level 6 | *Co-op (see below) |
* Two co-op terms in the summer (May to August) after Year 1, 2 or 3.
Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1 | n/a | Level 1 | Level 2 |
Year 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Co-op 1 |
Year 3 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Co-op 2 |
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to
Leigh-Ann Waller
Test | Score |
---|---|
TOEFL iBT | 79 |
IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands |
CAEL | Overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands. score of 80 in listening |
PTE Academic | 53 |
Cambridge English | Overall score of 169 with no language skill less than 162 |
ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9, or 70% in Level 10 |
Duolingo | Overall score of 105, with no score lower than 95 |
Level 1 | ||||
Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
WRIT-1036 | Reason & Writing 1-Art & Design | 3 | ||
This course introduces students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
DRAF-1057 | Pattern Making 1 | 3 | ||
In this course, the student is introduced to the fundamental skills of pattern making. Areas of concentration will be skirt and pant pattern development. Students will also learn the role of the master pattern (block) in developing design concepts. | ||||
ARTS-1024 | Fashion Drawing & Theory | 2 | ||
This course introduces the student to the fundamental skills of fashion drawing for the fashion designer. These include the use of line, space shape, texture and colour. Further studies include the application of proportions, balance and movement to the fashion figure. Students will be introduced to a variety of medium to encourage their drawing skills. The students will become acquainted with the use of a designer croquis as a fashion drawing tool. Students will complete final fashion composition presented and mounted in a professional manner. | ||||
DESG-1062 | Sample Room Production 1 | 3 | ||
The focus of this course is to teach the students the theory, processes, and the quality standards behind the construction of the designer's first samples. Students will learn to sew and produce various samples that will support the production of their Design Studio 1 skirt prototype. | ||||
FASH-1003 | Design Studio 1 | 2 | ||
An introduction to fashion design literacy, visual communication and engagement with sustainable design communities. Design studio 1 explores the creative design process through the study of the elements and principles of design with a series of innovation workshops. Students will apply and practice the design process through the development of a fashion designer's inspiration sketchbook. Students will explore a variety of research methods, digital online platforms, 2 D & 3 D creative problem solving processes to express innovation in sustainable design. | ||||
FASH-1005 | Fashion Industry Analysis | 2 | ||
This course provides the students with an introduction to the principles in which the fashion world revolves; and the role of economic, sociological and psychological elements in the fashion cycle. The course includes an overview of the fashion industry focusing on design, product development, manufacturing, marketing and retailing. Students will research contemporary fashion designers and examine their roles and influences on current fashion trends. |
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.