Fashion Design Overview

From that first spark of an idea born as an illustration, to fabric choice and the drape on a dress form, fashion design is an imaginative problem solving activity that brings a vision to an artistic creation. When you major in Fashion Design at CCAD you work to achieve a balance of trend-setting innovation and an intelligent sense of style.

We offer both design and technical skills, with a curriculum that leads you through all aspects of garment design and construction, whether your vision is more traditional and functional or untried and edgy. Courses in the program include pattern making, surface design, and tailoring. And because highly successful designers must also meet the wants and desires of the retail culture, CCAD provides students with experience in merchandising methods and sales psychology.

Each year Fashion Design seniors design and build their own collection, which they unveil at the senior fashion show. Presented on a professional runway, this is one of CCAD's most popular annual events for the public and for professionals in the fashion industry. Many of our graduates are independent designers, while others work for well-known companies such as Limited Brands, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor, Tommy Hilfiger, Nautica, and Pepe Jeans of London.