Fashion Design Schools in District of Columbia

As one of the major East Coast cities, Washington, DC is a hotbed of fashion design offering great opportunities in design, merchandizing, and related careers for those who seek them. A career in fashion design is high-energy, fast-paced, and demanding, but it puts you in the middle of the current, the trendy, and the happening scene! Politicians and other celebrities in the District of Columbia need to be continually looking their best, and many seek out the stylists and fashion designers who can help them accomplish this.

State License Requirements

There is at least one university offering a degree in fashion design and merchandizing in the DC area: Marymount University. You can study for a certificate, or take programs lasting different lengths of time and leading to associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in fashion. Also, some of the top fashion schools are also on the eastern seaboard and may be possible to attend. They offer certificate and degree programs in all aspects of the fashion industry. And local community colleges may have programs leading to either a certificate in fashion design or an associate’s (two year) degree.

Education Details

In a typical curriculum you would take courses in textiles, draping, sewing, fashion merchandizing, accessories design, color, image consulting men’s wear, ladies tailoring, as well as courses in the business aspects of the fashion industry such as sustainable design, advertising and marketing, and running a small business. While you don’t need a specific license to work in the fashion industry, there are several organizations you may choose to find out about and possibly join to assist you in your career development.

License Renewal

District of Columbia Fashion Design Careers

Fashion designers tend to do quite well in terms of salary. According to O*Net (2016) the average salary for a fashion designer in Washington D.C was $64,030. Your income will vary depending upon whether you work for a major department store, a small boutique, or a fashion design house, and what, specifically, you do. The industry is always looking for the next big talent, so it welcomes newcomers with new ideas.

Fashion design is a demanding field in which you typically put in long hours. If you are preparing for fashion week or a runway show, your hours will be even longer and the pace even more hectic. Fashion designers meet with clients to show them sketches and do fittings, and they also sew, drape, and sketch. A typical first job is as an assistant to a designer, or in a department store. You may work as a personal shopper selecting fashions for customers, or you may merchandise fashions on the showroom floor. The District of Columbia is host to a Fashion Week every year that showcases new designers from around the country. It includes a number of events and concludes with a runway fashion show highlighting some of the newest and most exciting designs. If you love being part of what is the latest trend, a career in fashion design in the District of Columbia just may be a terrific career choice for you!

Contact the District of Columbia State Board of Fashion Design