WHAT TO MAJOR IN TO WORK IN

WHAT TO MAJOR IN TO WORK IN FASHION

JENNA LEGGE

If you have a passion for fashion, you may be considering a career in the fashion industry. To achieve this, it is crucial that you acquire the necessary skills and training to become an expert in your chosen section of the industry. To gain this knowledge, you may decide that university is the place for you. Now, there is just one thing left to decide, what major should you choose to best prepare yourself for your future career. This is a huge decision as the skills you learn in university will greatly impact your ability to land your dream job! Here are just some of the options you can pick from when choosing a major to work in the fashion industry.

FASHION DESIGN

FASHION JOURNALISM

FASHION MERCHANDISING

MEDIA STUDIES

FASHION BUSINESS / MANAGEMENT

Let’s start with perhaps the most obvious major to choose, fashion design. If you grew up watching project runway and dreaming of becoming a designer, then this is the major for you! When studying fashion design, you will learn the whole process of making clothing. This includes design development, drawing, garment construction. You will also have the option to specialize in menswear, womenswear, sportswear, and more. This major will also teach you about the fashion industry as a whole and will improve your communication skills.

If you love nothing more than to flip through the glossy pages of a fashion magazine and daydream about working for VOGUE, then you should consider going into fashion journalism. With this major, you will learn about many types of media including print, online, social media, and broadcast. In addition, you will also learn about different writing styles, reporting, video journalism, and communication.

If your interests are more in line with the business side of the fashion industry, then consider going into fashion merchandising. This major will introduce students to everything from supply chain to sales and more!

Media studies looks into media culture, history and theory. Each university will have their strengths, but if you are interested in working in television, radio, newspapers, magazines, or internet-based publications, this program could be the right fit for you.

This degree will merge business training into the world of fashion, teaching students what it takes to run a business in the fashion industry. This is the perfect major for anyone looking to open their own business (perhaps for styling or a retail brand) or looking to work for a fashion company.

COMMUNICATIONS

A degree in communications can be extremely useful for many jobs in the fashion industry. If you plan on working in PR for a fashion brand, this major is a perfect choice. Communications students will learn the essentials of dealing with clients, marketing, and more!

BUSINESS

If you’re not in an area where many fashion programs are offered, you can always go into a business program that is available. A business degree is very useful in the fashion industry and you can always take a more creative minor!

ADVERTISING/MARKETING

ENGLISH

ART HISTORY

FINE ARTS

TECHNICAL DESIGN

FILM AND TV COSTUME DESIGN

ILLUSTRATION

Are you up to date on all the latest trends? Was your favorite activity as a child playing dress up with your dolls? Perhaps you were the go-to friend to help pick prom outfits. If this sounds like you, joining a fashion styling program might just be for you! In this program students learn about trends, how to execute ideas into finished looks, and ultimately everything you need to elevate your styling career. Those enrolled in a fabric styling program will take a large variety of courses including fashion history, business, and textile construction.

This degree may not scream fashion to many people, however, majoring in advertising can take you far in the fashion industry. The industry success would be close to nothing without those who can effectively advertise brands and their products. This major is all about learning the best ways to promote and sell products, meaning you will take classes in sales, consumer behaviour, art, and psychology.

Having English as your major sets you up to be able to do jobs in the fashion industry like editing, copywriting and freelance writing. If your school doesn’t have a journalism program but you are interested in this side of the industry, English is a good choice for a major!

An Art History degree is very transferable. Art History is the study of human expression. This major could lead you to the business or creative sides of the fashion industry.

If you are interested in the hands-on, creative side of the fashion industry a fine arts major could be a good base for you. The mediums offered will vary depending on the university but most will offer courses for photography, painting, sculpting, sketching and graphic design. Fine arts can also help you get into writing.

This program helps you develop your creative, technical and business skills. You’ll be able to master technologies used for pattern corrections and details. Technical designers make sure the product has the right size and fit while meeting industry standards.

This program is for any fashion designer that specifically wants to work in film or TV. You will learn about interacting with working professionals in the industry, building and designing costumes, and how to make creative and practical decisions within a set time frame.

This is an innovative program within the visual arts section where you will learn techniques and strategies to enhance your skills. In this program, you will be encouraged to express your individual creative voice while examining the world around you.

PHOTOGRAPHY

If you would rather take the editorial photos for a magazine than write the content, majoring in photography is the write choice. If you choose to specialize in fashion photography, you will learn different shooting locations, digital photo and video production, and how to develop your creative side to capture that perfect photo for any advertisement or editorial shoot.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

This, like many fashion programs, is a major that is highly creative. With this major you will learn things such as computer art and design, color theory, communication skills, and how to use many multimedia applications. This major will allow you to work behind the scenes at fashion magazines, websites, and ad campaigns to create digital masterpieces.