North Carolina Fashion Design Programs

Do you spend a lot of time choosing the perfect outfit, knowing that the clothing you choose tells others a lot about you? Perhaps you’ve spent hours looking for the ideal shirt for an outfit or trying to find a dress for a party, only to come up empty-handed. If you think that your creativity and work ethic can contribute to the field of fashion design, it’s time to get out your sketch pencils and jump into fashion design in NC!

One of the benefits of working in the field of fashion design is the many specialties that exist for fashion professionals. For example, the News Observer reports on the bridal industry in North Carolina, which has led brides to spend thousands of dollars on their wedding gowns each year. There are also quite a few professional opportunities for people in this field, like a local fashion show that features Petty-inspired designs.

Now is the time to find out if a career in fashion design is right for you. Learn more about degree options in this field and contact schools using our school listings.

Fashion Design Programs in North Carolina

Fashion design programs come in many different lengths, focuses, and objectives. Discover what fashion design students in NC learn so you know what to expect when you start this degree program!

Though North Carolina is home to both two-year and four-year fashion design programs, most fashion design schools cover the same outcomes and topics. You simply have to choose which type of degree meets your needs and career goals. While a two-year program may prepare you for an entry-level career in fashion, a four-year degree may offer more practical experience.

Early in your program, you may cover the basics of the fashion industry and build a foundation that you can build on in later courses. Core courses may include Fashion Sketching for Design, Industry Sewing, Basic Draping Techniques, and Pattern Drafting.

Later courses in your curriculum may offer more in-depth skills that you can use in your career. For example, many programs require courses like Creative Design Applications, Computer Pattern Drafting, History of Costume, and Textile Science. The end of your curriculum may also include a practicum or internship, both of which can help you gain important real-life experience in fashion design. This experience may also give you connections that can prove valuable during your job search.

Beginning a Career in Fashion Design in North Carolina

One of the benefits of beginning a career in fashion design is the variety of events and organizations that support this industry. This can help you establish yourself as a new designer and start making a name for yourself in the fashion design community. The Raleigh Fashion Association is one of the largest fashion organizations in North Carolina, bringing design professionals to the large city of Raleigh. Charlotte International Fashion Week offers an annual opportunity for designers to show off their skills to the fashion community of North Carolina. On a larger scale, you may consider joining the International Textile and Apparel Association.

Though O*Net expects job openings for fashion designers to decrease through 2022, you may be able to tip the odds in your favor by getting experience and building connections within the community. Fashion designers in North Carolina earn a wide range of salaries. The average salary for a fashion designer is $51,900 per year, with the top 10% of designers earning more than $94,200 per year (O*Net, 2013).

As a fashion designer in North Carolina, you may have the power to influence what people wear and how they express themselves. Learn more about earning a fashion degree by contacting local schools!