Fashion Design Schools in Kansas

Are you in tune with what is new – the latest fashions, hair styles, cosmetics, and more? Are you a hard worker with stamina and energy who is willing to work late hours to build a career in the fast-moving world of fashion design? Fashion designers create clothing and accessories such as footwear and jewelry for men, women, and children, usually for casual and business wear, although some designers still focus on the traditional evening wear. Stylists style the “look” for a particular individual, selecting clothes and accessories for different occasions and for every day flattering the client’s body size and shape, as well as hair, skin, and eye coloring.

State License Requirements

You don’t need to be licensed to work as a fashion designer or to hold any other job in the fashion industry. But you may want to consider looking into professional and trade organizations that people in the fashion industry belong to, as these may benefit your career in multiple ways.

Education Details

There are many directions your career can take in fashion design. You may work in wholesale or retail, you might merchandise apparel and help customers make selections. Buying is a particularly glamorous job in fashion. You get to travel to exotic places and see shows by the hottest designers and pick the fashions that the store you represent will sell in the upcoming season. There are two accredited fashion design schools in the state of Kansas: The Art Institutes International in Kansas City, and Kansas State University. These programs lead to a four year degree in apparel, textiles, and interior design. The curriculum focuses on fashion design, textiles and textile preservation, production of clothing and apparel, history of fashion, merchandising and marketing strategy, product development, business practices, sewing, draping, pattern making, and more. If you wish to pursue the field beyond the four year bachelor’s degree, Kansas State University also offers master’s degree and doctoral degree programs. You may choose to attend a fashion design school out of state. New York City is home to Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Parson’s School of Design, offering fashion design and related majors. There are also several degree programs in fashion design at universities in California. Both coasts boast distinctive fashion styles and you will be there to see it firsthand!

License Renewal

Kansas Fashion Design Careers

According to O*Net (2016), Fashion designers in Kansas earn an average salaryof $49,010. You may earn more based on your job experience and employment setting. While the growth rate may be slower across the United States, Kansas is always looking for inspring and talent designers to make a difference in the fashion industy!

Fashion design is both physically and mentally demanding. People who work in the industry work long days, especially around Fashion Week and showings of new collections. Fashion is a fast moving industry and yesterday’s hot items seem old and passé today. Fashion designers must always be thinking about the future and looking to spot the up and coming fashion trend. You will need to be able to switch back and forth between different tasks. You may need to make patterns and sew, and, later in the day, meet with a client to show him or her some sketches. You may start your career as an assistant to an established fashion designer, fitting their clients and helping to realize their visions. Merchandisers arrange inventory to catch the eye, and the pocketbook, of the consumer. One way to get a start out in the industry is as a personal shopper/stylist in a department store, shopping for clothing and apparel for individual clients. Personal shoppers/stylists often have long-term clients who call upon you to shop for them for different occasions and different seasons. It is essential to have good listening skills. Buyers travel to see new offerings by important designers in the major fashion centers of the world. They pick the styles and designs that their stores will reproduce and sell the following season.

Contact the Kansas State Board of Fashion Design