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Monday April 22nd, 2013

The Top 5 Sustainable Fashion Design Programs in the World
Is Sustainability the New Frontier in Fashion?

The Top 5 Sustainable Fashion Design Programs in the World

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If you’ve been paying attention to the fashion industry the past few years, you know that sustainable design is more important than ever.

Our clothing consumption has reached an all time high, and in response, advocates for mindful, more eco-friendly design are screaming their message louder than ever. And it seems the fashion industry is finally listening: The CFDA recently created the first-ever sustainability committee , Levi’s and Zara have committed to going toxic-free, and H&M has unveiled a series of ambitious sustainable design projects.

The growing trend towards sustainable and ethically designed clothing is not only helping to create a greener planet–it’s created a whole new job market, one where having an education in sustainable design may give you a considerable edge in the industry. Here are the best sustainable design programs out there.

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Published at 6:23 PM

Tuesday December 4th, 2012

Thursday November 15th, 2012

Saturday June 30th, 2012

Monday June 18th, 2012

Our Favorite Looks From SCAD’s 2012 Senior Show
Fashion Shows

Our Favorite Looks From SCAD’s 2012 Senior Show

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A month ago, I had the privilege of attending Savannah College of Art and Design‘s 2012 senior fashion show. Having attended fashion shows all around the world (and never having attending a student fashion show), I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But upon meeting the students, touring the school, taking a mini fashion illustration class (and even riding a horse!), it became clear that SCAD does not mess around when it comes to fashion: Their 2012 senior show was perfectly-produced, chockfull of covetable pieces, and even boasted a killer soundtrack. In short, it exceeded all my expectations.

The show featured designs from some of the school’s most promising students–and with a school so brimming with talent, that meant it ran a good hour. It was without a doubt one of the longest fashion shows I’d ever attended, so it really means something when I say that I was entertained the whole time. Seriously, every minute. From modern garments made out of neoprene-esque fabric, to filmy, romantic dresses, there was something for everyone. The seniors had poured the last six months–or more–into these mini-collections (one student told me she hadn’t had more than five hours of sleep for the past four months), and it showed.

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Published at 3:30 PM

Wednesday June 6th, 2012

Fashion School Confidential: 10 Lessons I Learned as a Fashion Student
Fashion Careers

Fashion School Confidential: 10 Lessons I Learned as a Fashion Student

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For the last several years, our contributor Misty Sidell has braved the sometimes-harsh elements of the fashion biz while simultaneously attending classes full-time as a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Now, the recent grad has done her time and lived to tell the tale–albeit with more than a few sob sessions in Conde Nast bathrooms and paper cuts inflicted by fashion week invitations. And with four years of FIT under her belt, in addition to several internships at Conde Nast and Hearst, she’s got more than a few helpful hints and hilarious anecdotes to share with anyone who’s ever considered swapping ‘real college’ for fashion school. Read on, little ones…

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Published at 6:43 PM

Wednesday May 16th, 2012

Parsons’ MFA Students Are Heading to New York Fashion Week and Launching a Magazine With Help from a Big Name Glossy
Fashion Careers

Parsons’ MFA Students Are Heading to New York Fashion Week and Launching a Magazine With Help from a Big Name Glossy

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Following a blowout celebration for their bachelor program’s senior class earlier this month, Parsons celebrated their MFA graduates on Monday in a raw space deep inside New York’s garment district. Each of the eighteen thesis collections on display were painstakingly detailed, some resembling pleated confections, and others jigsaw puzzles of reworked vintage–they were entirely unique.

“Imagine the best of the bachelors program and then give them two years with everything Parsons has to offer and everything New York has to offer. It’s an intense incubator for talent,” said Parson’s dean of fashion, Simon Collins.

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Published at 5:37 PM

Monday May 14th, 2012

Interns on Internships: Why They’re Really Worth It
Fashion Careers

Interns on Internships: Why They’re Really Worth It

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Internships have been at the center of a growing—and increasingly publicized–storm of malcontent lately, with protesters arguing that they should be paid and hours should be more tightly regulated. One unpaid intern is even suing Hearst. And yes, interns have been asked to pick up dog poop, or worse. But are all fashion internships truly horror stories?

We recently attended the Pratt, Parsons and FIT student designer shows–so what better time to talk internships than with the city’s hardworking design students, some of whom did up to six internships during their schooling.

Here’s what they told us.

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Published at 6:24 PM

Thursday May 3rd, 2012

Friday April 27th, 2012

Thursday April 5th, 2012

The Top 10 Schools for Fashion Journalism, PR, Marketing and More
Fashion Careers

The Top 10 Schools for Fashion Journalism, PR, Marketing and More

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The fashion industry is attracting more would-be employees than ever now. Thanks to more perceived accessibility through (sometimes not-so-realistic) fashion reality shows and the proliferation of fashion related blogs, it’s an industry that’s in high demand. However, it’s also a notoriously difficult industry to break into, so you have to make yourself stand out. One of the ways to do that is to get a stellar education (that hooks you up with stellar internships).

We’ve already listed the 50 best fashion design schools in the world and the 20 best in the US, but we’re well aware that not everyone who wants to be in fashion wants to be a designer (like, say, all of us here at Fashionista). So we’ve narrowed down the 10 best schools to put you a few steps closer to your dream career in fashion–think fashion journalism, merchandising, public relations, advertising, and much more.

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Published at 4:41 PM

Monday July 11th, 2011

The Top 20 Fashion Schools in the US: The Fashionista Ranking
Fashion Careers

The Top 20 Fashion Schools in the US: The Fashionista Ranking

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It’s summertime, and chances are you’re heading to the beach or hanging out with friends. But soon enough it will be September, so you might as well start thinking about your future educational endeavors now. If you have an interest in fashion, whether to design it or take a more behind-the-scenes role, there are tons of amazing school options to consider. For a comprehensive look, you can take a peek at our Top 50 Fashion Schools list, which pretty much covers the entire world. Think you want to stick with US schools? Then you’re in the right place!

We’ve compiled a list of the 20 best fashion schools in the country. As with our previous fashion school rankings, this is not scientific. We looked at data, jobs procured, opinions of people in the industry, and standout program offerings. We also wanted to show you that great schools aren’t limited to NYC–you’ll find colleges located in all parts of the country.

This list is meant to provide an overview of the schools’ strengths and to highlight some of their unique attributes. You’ll find fashion design programs here, but some of the schools listed don’t offer fashion design. Instead, they’ve gained a spot because they offer other amazing programs to prepare you for a career in fashion. We hope it’s helpful as a starting point. (Click here for the full list.)

Tuition prices don’t include fees and housing. And if you see an asterisk (*), it denotes a CFDA-affiliated program. Like our previous rankings, this list includes undergraduate degrees only.

Click through to review the schools and good luck as you embark on a new career!

(*Additional reporting by Sara Shabtai*)

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Published at 3:00 PM