Fashion schools in Boston offer degrees specifically for students looking for a lifelong career in the fashion design business. They often offer several unique majors or specializations.
Fashion schools in Boston prepare students for a career as a fashion designer. This builds a solid foundation of core skills such as technical design, pattern making, personal styling, product coordination, product development, research and development.
Students study both the creative and technical aspects of the fashion design process and gain skills in areas such as advanced fashion design techniques
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Are There Fashion Schools in Boston?
In the Boston area, you will find several colleges that offer degrees in fashion design and related fields. Most schools offer fashion design as part of a liberal arts education.
At the cheapest fashion schools in Boston, students spend at least $10,000 per academic year, including tuition and housing. Meanwhile, students at private institutions spend up to $50,000.
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How Much Do Fashion Schools Cost in Boston?
Massachusetts has many different fashion design programs, including certificates, associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees.
There are 13 schools in the state and the average tuition is $16,896. However, you may be eligible for scholarships and grants; the average scholarship in Massachusetts is $6,316.
If you want to earn a certificate in fashion design, you may need to complete between 18 and 30 credits. You can graduate in about a year.
The next step is the Associate degree, which includes 60 credits and lasts two years. If you decide to pursue a bachelor’s degree in fashion design, plan to complete about four years of study because most schools require between 120 and 130 credits.
Some of the courses you may be required to take include Principles of Apparel Design, Fashion Industry Studies and Consumer Textiles. If you get a master’s degree, you can complete the required 30 credits in two to three years.
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What Are The Requirements For Fashion Schools In Boston?
To apply to one of these universities, you may need proof of English proficiency. There are several standardized English tests you can take to prove your English level.
Such tests include PTE (Pearson Test of English), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), CAE (Cambridge Advanced English) and IELTS (International English).
Test System offered by the British Council and IDP. IELTS is the most popular of these tests, with the British Council offering over 500 test locations and accepted by over 9,000 organizations worldwide.
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What Are The Best Fashion Schools In Boston?
Framingham State University
The university offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in two majors in fashion design as part of a liberal arts education. The Fashion Design program prepares you for a career in fashion design.
This builds a solid foundation of core skills such as technical design, pattern making, personal styling, product coordination, product development, research and development.
Students study both the creative and technical aspects of the fashion design process and acquire skills in areas such as advanced garment construction techniques, computer aided design software, and flat pattern design.
The Fashion Merchandising program prepares you for careers in corporate strategy planning, retail analysis, retail/wholesale purchasing, retail management, international product sourcing and visual merchandising.
Students develop an understanding of retail operations from an industry perspective and gain skills in areas such as business plan development, buying office functions, consumer behaviour, fashion promotion, global production systems, costume history, international cultures, market research and trend forecasting.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
MASSART offers a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in fashion design, as well as postgraduate certificates.
The Fashion Design program teaches students to create fashion with a global perspective and develop an understanding of the fundamentals required to be a designer in the fashion industry.
Students design unique and ready-to-wear clothing, accessories and theater costumes using traditional and non-traditional materials.
The program teaches time-tested design methods along with advanced computer-aided design technology as students complete ensembles in a variety of clothing categories while considering marketability, cost, care and comfort.
Laselle College
Lasell College offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in three different areas of fashion design. Fashion Design and Production and Fashion and Retail Merchandising – This program focuses on fashion design, retail and visual and advertising design techniques.
Students learn all relevant techniques such as fashion design and use the latest computer aided design (CAD/CAM) equipment in their fashion courses to create production markers and engineering samples for optimal use of materials.
Lasell fashion degrees include a strong foundation in both liberal arts and business courses. Fashion Communication and Promotion – This program focuses on actual fashion promotion and students will learn the fundamentals and importance of fashion journalism and communication.
Courses cover a variety of fields, including mass media, public relations, advertising, fashion marketing, and more.
Paris Fashion Institute
Founded in 1976, Paris Fashion Institute provides a beautiful, safe and stimulating environment for students to learn all aspects of the fashion industry – design, marketing, production, merchandising and retail.
All courses are taught in English and they welcome students from all over the world to learn from legendary designers and industry professionals.
In addition to an intensive course of study, students will enjoy visiting major museums, a day at Versailles, and attending Paris fashion shows in season.
Students learn the inner mechanics of fashion, an overview of the design industry and how a design studio works.
Participants will learn how a collection is created from color to silhouette, how to forecast and report on trends, fashion terminology and the true value of clothing.
ET Fashion
Founded in 2017, ET is a fashion platform that helps fashion enthusiasts and professionals grow both locally and internationally.
ET fashion is growing incredibly and organizes fashion shows and hundreds of fashion trainings and events.
They trained models, most of whom had no previous experience to perform at a professional level, and provided numerous high-quality runway opportunities such as PFW, VOGUE, New York Super Model Competition, International Elite Model League Competition, Miss Teen USA, USA Miss Asia, etc.
ET Fashion has also opened the door for many fashion enthusiasts to understand fashion and use fashion to improve their personal and social lives.
In Stitches Sewing And Design Studio
This is an effective creative outlet for any age. For more than 20 years, In Stitches Sewing & Design Studios has been offering sewing workshops for both children and adults. Their goal is to give free rein to everyone’s imagination and revive their sense of style.
They have a large and bright studio with well-maintained equipment to help you learn at your own pace.
Plus, with qualified instructors who care about the well-being of all students, they are dedicated to teaching sewing in a fun way, not in your typical old-fashioned sewing school.
With In Stitches Sewing & Design Studio, people of all ages can now learn all about the art of sewing.
Bay State College
The Bay State program immerses students in both the art and science of fashion – the creativity and discipline, the glamor in front of the camera and the business behind it.
Particular attention is paid to retailing theories and methods and their constant evolution in an increasingly digital world. Bay State College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE, formerly NEASC).
The New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE) accredits schools and colleges in six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont).
Membership in one of the six regional accrediting associations in the United States indicates that a school or college has been thoroughly evaluated and recognized as meeting standards agreed upon by qualified educators.
Bay State College is authorized to award the following degrees from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, and Bachelor of Science.
How Much Do Fashion Designers In Boston Earn?
According to O*Net (2016), fashion designers in Massachusetts earn an average salary of $73,510. There are many other related careers you can pursue in the fashion industry, such as retail sales, merchandising and purchasing.
People new to the industry are likely to earn less than people with years of experience. Fashion design is a broad field and there are many directions you can go.
If you have your heart set on fashion design as such, you will most likely start as an intern (paid or unpaid) or assistant at a well-known company.
You will be called upon to provide everything from draping and fitting fabrics and garments to sketching ideas and meeting with clients.
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How Do I Become A Fashion Designer In Boston?
People in the fashion industry work hard, often starting as an intern and doing whatever they are asked or asked to do.
They work long hours, especially when preparing for shows or fashion week. But it’s a fascinating, sometimes fascinating world.
At the upper levels, it consists of celebrities and famous design stars, as well as socialites and other famous personalities associated with the glamorous world of fashion.
Would you like to be a part of this world? Well, it is possible! Fashion design programs vary in emphasis among schools, but most teach the basics.
Textile history and chemistry are some of the subjects commonly taught alongside fashion design, fashion manufacturing, fashion history, merchandising and marketing strategy, product development, business practice and consumer behaviour.
Many schools now emphasize sustainable practices and socially conscious production methods.
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Best Paying Fashion Design Jobs in Boston
You can start your fashion career after you get your degree. Although your specific options depend on your degree, you can find job listings from retailers, marketing firms, and design companies.
Some of the largest fashion employers in Massachusetts include USTrendy, JC Penney, Urban Outfitters Inc. and Alton Lane. Massachusetts’ economy has been steadily improving, with the unemployment rate recently falling to 7% (BLS, 2013).
Salaries vary significantly between professions. Your salary is likely to increase as you gain relevant experience in the field.
Fashion designers earn an average salary of $69,510 per year, while merchandisers earn an average salary of $32,740 (BLS, 2012). Marketing professionals earn an average salary of $68,580 per year (BLS, 2012).
Best Fashion Schools In Boston FAQs
You can find programs in and around Boston at 2- and 4-year schools and can earn a Fashion Design Certificate in 2 years part-time, or an Associate’s degree in 2 years full-time. You can also complete a 4-year BA in fashion design at a local art and design college.
Fashion design graduates in Boston may not function as style creators, but rather may be involved in various parts of the design business, such as retail, creation, deals, and style promotion.
Fashion design doesn’t have any certification or licensing regulations, giving you more freedom as to when you’re ready to start your career as a fashion designer. Although licensing and formal training are not required in this field, completing a fashion design program can benefit your career. A bachelor’s or associate’s degree program gives you a chance to build a portfolio and gain contacts in the field.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in fashion, you can find programs in and around Boston at 2- and 4-year schools. You can earn a Fashion Design Certificate in 2 years part-time, or an Associate’s degree in 2 years full-time.
You can also complete a 4-year BA in fashion design at a local art and design college. Applicants can also enroll in an associate degree program in fashion merchandising, which requires 60-64 credits to complete. Some of these programs may include an additional internship.
References
- educationplanetonline.com – Fashion Schools In Boston
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