Fashion Design Schools in Louisiana

Fashion design: an exciting, fast-paced, constantly changing field that demands hard work and considerable creativity. Does this sound like you? Then consider a fashion design program in the state of Louisiana. Fashion moves quickly, and what was in fashion yesterday is old-hat today. Fashion designers design items of apparel for men, women, and children, as well as accessories such as shoes, handbags, hats, and scarves. In addition, in Louisiana, special “fashion” designs are needed for the annual Mardi Gras celebration held in February of every year, making Louisiana a special place in which to design fashions!

State License Requirements

You can work as a fashion designer in Louisiana without any formal education. However, employers often look for training at the Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree level. In addition, having experience in sewing, design programs, and portfolio development can be helpful in building your career. Look into attending an undergraduate fashion design program to get relevant training and develop a portfolio.

Education Details

There are three accredited fashion design schools in the state of Louisiana. There are Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Unitech Training Academy West Monroe. In these programs, you can earn anything from a certificate requiring less than a year of study (Unitech), to a Bachelor’s (four year) degree, (LSU and UL). Of course, it is always possible to attend a program out of state, and there are excellent ones in New York City, the fashion capital of the world, and in California. All the programs in Louisiana offer basic courses in areas such as textiles, sewing and pattern making, manufacturing, merchandising, and marketing, and running a small fashion business. If you are studying at one of the universities, you will also study a broad range of general education courses in addition to those specifically for your fashion major. There are no specific licenses you need to acquire to work in the fashion design industry. However, several professional organizations cater to individuals working in the fashion design industry who wish to stay abreast of issues and get ahead in the field.

License Renewal

Louisiana Fashion Design Careers

The average yearly wage earned by Louisiana fashion designers is $64,030 according to O*Net (2016) indicating that those working as fashion designers tend to do very well. While the predicted rate of growth for this job is steady, Louisiana is always in search of what is new, what is hot, and fresh young talent.

People with training in fashion design work in many aspects of the fashion industry. There are department stores and boutique shops that need trained people to sell apparel. Some shops utilize the services of personal shoppers, who function as stylists for individual customers, creating looks for specific occasions. Merchandisers arrange the clothing on racks and shelves to look maximally appealing to potential customers. Stores also employ buyers, who travel the globe in search of the next hot fashion to reproduce for their shop. You may work as an assistant to an established fashion designer, meeting with clients, sketching fashions, and doing tasks such as sewing, pattern making, and fittings. In a career in the fashion design field, you need to be versatile with both people skills and technical skills. Louisiana is well known for its spectacular mardi gras celebration held every February. In it, people dress up in elaborate costumes and ride on beautifully decorated floats designed to awe and inspire the crowd. Fashion designers have a special place in designing these wonderful had fantastical costumes every year. In addition, New Orleans is home to an annual Fashion Week featuring runway shows, pop-up boutiques, networking opportunities and social experiences. Fashion has become an important contributor to New Orleans culture and is celebrated along with the city’s legendary food, music, art and film.

Contact the Louisiana State Board of Fashion Design

E-mail: steve.young@la.gov