Last Updated on September 26, 2022
Are you pursuing a career in fashion? Fashion Design is unarguably a good career. However, attaining success takes a lot of effort and perseverance, and the ability to be successful depends on the type of training you receive. Enrolling in any of the best fashion schools in California can help you discover your true potential in this exciting industry.
We shall consider the top 10 fashion schools in California. Before we get to the list, let’s look at a few things;
Table of Contents
Who are Fashion Designers?
Fashion designers understand the fact that clothes are more than just some form of protection.
They understand that fashion can make you feel confident enough and powerful.
They understand that clothes can be artistic expressions; that which projects the image which you want the world to see.
To be a successful fashion designer, you must have some of these.
- Great deductive reasoning.
- You must have good decision-making skills.
- You must have good communication skills.
- Your coordination must be good enough.
- You must know how to pay excellent attention to details.
- You must be organized and dependable.
- You must be Original, innovative, enterprising etc.
What are the available Fashion Career paths for me?
Fashion education in any of the fashion schools in California prepares you for an exciting career in the fashion industry.
There are so many fashion career paths for you ranging from the designers down to trend researchers are all important.
Here are some available careers just for you.
Fabric Cutters
This group of persons focus on cutting patterns or fabrics. They can do this manually or by using computerized machines.
They prepare materials for sewing by measuring, placing marks, and then cutting the fabric or textile to the required specifications.
Sketchers/fashion Illustrators
The main job of sketchers is sketching new designs. They create sketches, drawings and other works of art that are related to the fashion industry.
They make good use of their drawing, graphics and digital skills. Sometimes they don’t just work with designers, they equally work with editors and as freelancers as well.
Their contents can be used in print, television, social media and advertisement platforms.
Assistant designers
The assistant designers work hand in glove with the lead designers in handling various tasks.
Oftentimes retail companies are always on the lookout for assistant designers. They can occupy entry-level positions in many sides of the fashion industry.
To be successful in this career path, you must have the ability to multitask.
Design directors
The design directors make very creative decisions and sometimes supervise the support staff.
It is a job suitable for people who have a very creative sense of style. They always stay up to date with the latest trends in the fashion industry.
They supervise photoshoots, and above all produce fashionable outfits for department stores, clothing brands and magazines.
Pattern Graders and pattern Makers
The pattern graders take patterns and adjust them to required sizes or adjust them to different sizes of clothing.
Sewers
The sewers do the production work which oftentimes is through the use of sewing machines.
Before now, sewers usually carry out their tasks by hand but in recent times, sewers are now automated.
Hand sewing is invaluable in many applications such as embroidery, beading as well as bespoke clothing creation.
Trend researchers
The trend researchers basically go all out to gather information about the fashion market or the fashion industry, thereby helping the designers plan their fashion collections.
Apart from the career paths listed above, there are career specialities. Here are some career specialities to consider.
What are Career specialties in the Fashion Industry?
In any of the career paths you have chosen, you can decide to customize your fashion career; that is focusing on a particular style or kind of garment.
- Costume design
- Footwear design
- Accessory design
- Children’s clothing design
- Costume design
- Lingerie design
- Women’s wear design
- Men’s wear design
- Sportswear design
- Swimwear design
- Uniform design
Best Fashion Schools in California
Here is the list of the best fashion schools in California:
- Academy of Art University
- Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Los Angeles
- Otis College of Art and Design
- Los Angeles Trade Technical College
- California College of the Arts
1. Academy of Art University
This is one of the fashion schools in California that offers degree options to span the entire fashion career spectrum.
They give their students a thorough knowledge in terms of fashion designing, fashion styling, fashion merchandising, and fashion marketing. They have accreditations from:
- CIDA – Council for Interior Design Accreditation
- CTC – California Commission Teacher Credentialing Accreditation
- NAAB – National Architectural Accrediting Board
- NASAD – National Association of Schools of Art and Design
- WSCUC – WASC Senior College and University Commission
2. Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Los Angeles
This is one of the fashion schools in California that has a transformative educational system. They are accredited, they are specialized and Co-educational.
The college is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
3. Otis College of Art and Design
This is one of the fashion schools in California that has over a thousand students from over 43 states and 24 countries, enrolled in more than a dozen art and design programs.
Otis College of Art and Design offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in visual and applied arts, media, and design, in addition to year-round Extension courses for all ages.
OTIS is accredited by WSCUC Senior College and University Commission
4. Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Los Angeles Trade Technical College can be said to be one of the best fashion schools in California that provides functional Fashion Design and Fashion Technology programs designed to equip students for careers in all areas of apparel manufacturing from assistant designers to production management.
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior College, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
5. California College of the Arts
This is one of the fashion schools in California that develops fashion designers in their conceptual capabilities.
The BFA in Fashion Design is one of the top 10 programs on the West Coast. With small class sizes and individual attention from faculty.
You’ll have the unique opportunity to work alongside experts in carbon-negative fibres, circular systems, sustainability, and other emergent fields
Other Top Fashion schools in California
The following fashion schools in California have programs in fashion designing; they equally have scholarships and financial aid for their students:
| Fashion schools in California | Details |
| Academy of Art University (San Francisco,CA) | • Fashion Design • Large Campus • Urban Setting • $18,360 Tuition Cost • $8,074 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| Academy of Couture Art (Los Angeles,CA) | • Fashion Design • Small Campus • Urban Setting • $19,312 Tuition Cost • Small Class Sizes |
| Allan Hancock College (Santa Maria,CA) | • Fashion Design • Large Campus • Urban Setting • $1,288 Tuition Cost • $1,188 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| American River College (Sacramento,CA) | • Fashion Design, • Fashion Marketing • Large Campus • Suburban Setting • $350 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| Antelope Valley College (Lancaster,CA) | • Fashion Design • Large Campus • Suburban Setting • $1,104 Tuition Cost |
| Butte College (Oroville,CA) | • Fashion Marketing • Large Campus • Rural Setting • $1,104 Tuition Cost • $157 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| California College of the Arts (Oakland,CA) | • Fashion Design • Small Campus • Urban Setting • $38,448 Tuition Cost • $15,624 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards • Small Class Sizes |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Pomona,CA) | • Fashion Design • Large Campus • Suburban Setting • $5,472 Tuition Cost • $4,458 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-Los Angeles (Los Angeles,CA) | • Fashion Design, • Fashion Marketing, • Fashion Merchandising • Small Campus • Urban Setting • $26,660 Tuition Cost • $2,660 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising-San Diego (San Diego,CA) | • Fashion Merchandising • Small Campus • Urban Setting • $26,660 Tuition Cost • $2,778 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| International Academy of Design and Technology-Sacramento (Sacramento,CA) | • Fashion Design • Small Campus • Urban Setting • $15,840 Tuition Cost • $1,200 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| Los Angeles Trade Technical College (Los Angeles,CA) | • Fashion Design, • Fashion Marketing • Large Campus • Urban Setting • $1,218 Tuition Cost |
| Otis College of Art and Design (Los Angeles,CA) | • Fashion Design • Small Campus • Urban Setting • $36,350 Tuition Cost • $11,784 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards • Small Class Sizes |
| The Art Institute of California-Argosy University Hollywood (North Hollywood,CA) | • Fashion Design, • Fashion Marketing • Small Campus • Urban Setting • $18,648 Tuition Cost • $2,218 Scholarship and Financial Aid Awards |
| Virginia Sewing Machines and School Center (Los Angeles,CA) | • Fashion Design • Small Campus • Urban Setting |