Fashion Design Schools in New Jersey

From the major cities of New Jersey to smaller communities that dot the shore, fashion is a big part of life in this state! Many New Jersey residents enjoy wearing the hottest new styles and being trendsetters. If you study fashion design in New Jersey, you may be able to create exciting new styles that get worn by people all over the world.

State License Requirements

Fashion design, though it has a lot in common with cosmetology, has far fewer licensing requirements than other beauty careers. You do not need any type of license, certification, or registration to start working as a fashion designer. However, you may find that professional training in this field may help you during your job search. You can learn more about undergraduate fashion design programs to find out which type of degree is right for you.

Education Details

Fashion design is one field that demands a lot of training and education. As a result, you may wish to earn a Bachelor's degree in fashion design. With this degree, you can spend lots of time in the art studio developing your designs and working on your portfolio. A Bachelor's degree often takes about four years to compete. Some of the classes you take may be based in the theory used by designers every day.

You'll likely take classes like

• Color Theory
• Fashion History
• Digital Fashion Design

By learning about the past of fashion design and the techniques used, you can help shape the future of this exciting industry. However, hands-on skills are obviously an essential part of this program! By the time you reach your final semester of school, you should feel comfortable creating designs, sketching them in an industry-approved manner, and sewing a mock-up of a design.

To this end, you may take classes like

• Patternmaking
• Sewing for Fashion Design
• Fashion Sketching
• Fashion Techniques

License Renewal

New Jersey Fashion Design Careers

Thanks to a promising job outlook, New Jersey fashion designers may have quite a few opportunities to consider. Between 2012 and 2022, O*Net expects an 8% increase in job openings for fashion designers. This is impressive, considering that they report a decline in job openings across the country (O*Net, 2016). The salary you earn as a fashion designer may depend on what type of fashion design you specialize in, the company you work for, and how much responsibility you have at your company. O*Net reports that the average salary for a New Jersey fashion designer is $59,120 per year. (O*Net, 2016). Though you do not have to worry about licensure in this state, there are organizations and events that can help you become a part of the state fashion community. New Jersey Fashion Week gives up-and-coming designers the chance to show off their designs. The American chapter of the International Association of Clothing Designers and Executives is located in New Jersey.

The fashion design industry is very large, so there are many ways that you can put your skills to use. You may work for a wholesaler, which involves coming up with designs and sending them off to major clothing brands. In addition, you could work for a large manufacturer, retailer, or clothing line. The opportunities that are available to you depend on your connections in the fashion industry, the strength of your portfolio, and your performance in school. Your job duties may include sketching, sewing, revising, and marketing your designs. If you work underneath senior designers, it's likely that you'll have to take lots of guidance from them and work in their style. More freedom often comes with more experience and seniority. In addition to your standard work duties, you may have to take part in fashion events to keep pushing your career forward. NJ.com reports that Jersey City Fashion Week brings in creative designers from all over New England. Designers are expected to put forth their most innovative and daring designs to make an impression. As you work more in this industry, your confidence will grow and you can find a style all your own.

Contact the New Jersey State Board of Fashion Design