Fashion Design Schools in Maryland

The clothing you wear, whether at a party, at the gym, or at work, says a lot about you. By becoming a fashion designer and learning about the main concepts of clothing design, you can help people enjoy the clothing they choose to wear every day.

State License Requirements

You can plan on spending about two to four years in a fashion design program, depending on whether you plan on earning an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree.

Education Details

Your curriculum may focus both on theoretical knowledge and practical skills, since you need both to become an accomplished fashion designer!

In the early stages of your education, you may take courses like

• Overview of the Fashion Industry
• Fashion Drawing
• Construction and Sewing of Garments
• Process & Skills of Fashion Design

After finishing your core courses, you may start taking more advanced classes that test your creative skills and give you an in-depth look at the fashion industry. Expect to take classes like

• Color Theory
• Fashion History
• Fashion Design Techniques
• Fashion Portfolio

The fashion portfolio you create may be one of the most important parts of your education. Not only does your portfolio help your instructors properly assess your progress, it can be a useful tool during your job search. You may want to spend extra time on it to ensure that your best work is represented. As you near the end of your curriculum, you may complete a practical experience to round out your education. Whether you have a practicum course or an internship, you can start applying your skills to the fashion industry and building connections in your local community.

License Renewal

Maryland Fashion Design Careers

Overall, job growth in the fashion industry is not expected to change much through 2022, according to O*Net. If you want to make the most of your own personal job outlook, consider living in one of Maryland’s larger cities, where the fashion industry tends to have a larger presence. You may also want to network with other professionals in the industry and ensure that your portfolio is as strong as possible. Fashion Designers in Maryland earn a median salary of $41,710 (O*Net 2016) Your salary may depend on which fashion specialty you work in, how much experience you have in the industry, and how much seniority you gain at your place of employment.

As a fashion design professional, you may work in many different settings and specialties. Some designers work for wholesalers or manufacturers, creating clothing for a wide variety of demographic groups and customers. You may also work for a specialty store or clothing producer, which involves getting to know your target audience very well and targeting them in your design efforts. Designers may be hired by retailers or high-end fashion designers. Typically, you have to work your way up from the bottom in the fashion industry. You may begin by bringing other designers’ creations to life and tweaking them to suit the requests of your supervisors. As you prove yourself and demonstrate your work ethic, however, you may get the freedom to work on your own designs and even your clothing lines. Working in this industry often requires a variety of shifts and hours. When there’s a deadline or fashion show approaching, you may work long hours to ensure that every design is ready to display.

Contact the Maryland State Board of Fashion Design

You can contact the board if you have additional questions about obtaining a Maryland state cosmetology license.