Help me find the perfect fashion design school/location
March 1, 2010 1:03 PM   Subscribe

Help me find the perfect fashion design school/location?

I'm a 22 year old living in Iowa, who gave up on my fashion design dreams right out of high school and fell deep into a rut. After high school, I tried to go the "safe" route, heading to the local community college to get a business degree while working on my sewing skills strictly as a hobby. I got discouraged and slowly started taking fewer classes while upping my hours at my day job. I now work a very demanding investment counseling job 42+ hours a week, while running my own business in my free time. School has been put on the back burner.

I opened the business in January last year, selling simple stuffed animals online and through local shops. I just jumped into it, frustrated with my job, not knowing what I was doing, relying on my instincts more than anything else. Surprisingly, I ended up with a relatively large profit my first year in business and have seen TONS of potential to grow. I have never wanted anything more than to support myself running my own business, even if it means lowering my standard of living. I'm doing great so far, I have no doubt in my mind I can reach that goal, and I know I need the education to turn this into my career.


Here are my concerns/objectives:

1. Iowa has ONE school with a fashion program and the opportunities for growth are limited. I'm looking for an out-of-state school in a city with opportunities as an entrepreneur and historical costumer. I've interned at two local historical sites in Iowa, and I'd love to continue to intern/volunteer at my new location. I'd like to put down roots where ever I attend college, so I'd like to find a school in a city or state where I can eventually settle down, buy a home, and continue to run my business.

2. I do not necessarily need to attend a prestigious fashion school. I'm not in this to get a job at a top fashion design firm, just to improve my own skills so I can grow my business. I'm also not interested in any of the "Art Institutes." Their excessive calling/emailing/annoying made me hesitate going to fashion school in the first place. I'd be happier at a state university with a dedicated fashion faculty and small classes.

3. I did a search on collegeboard.com and came up with a list of schools that fit my criteria, but working as much as I do, I only have the time and resources to visit 3-4 schools at most. It's overwhelming to narrow that list down, so that's where you guys come in.

4. My high school GPA was 3.85, but my community college career has not been stellar. My current college GPA is 2.83. That may determine which schools I can or cannot get into, but my success running my own business as a young person may help where my GPA is lacking.

5. Finally, I'd prefer to relocate to a warmer location (these Iowa winters are killing me) and one with a decent music scene. I have been playing bass in local bands for as long as I've been sewing and love it. Music plays a big part of my life and I'd like to keep playing when I move.

I've never been to the east coast or most southern states, but I've been leaning towards the Carolinas or Texas for some reason. I've heard excellent things about Austin, TX, but unfortunately they don't have an accredited fashion design program. I'm not interested in the big city life in NYC or San Francisco. Let's hear your ideas!
posted by jaynedanger to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (6 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Congratulations for no giving up on youyr dreams!!! Take a look at South Florida and the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Good Luck.
posted by 3dd at 1:10 PM on March 1, 2010


Best answer: Los Angeles has at least three design programs that I know of, all of which get you out of Iowan winters. They are:

1. FIDM - definitely the most prestigious, if that's what you're looking for, but also the most selective about their students. Located just west of the fashion district downtown. Walkable during the day. NOT at night so much.

2. Otis - right by the ocean in Marina del Rey, I have taken some classes here and the instructors are freakin' awesome as far as I can tell. They also have their labs in Downtown L.A. right in the heart of the Fashion district. Very well connected.

3. Woodbury University - this campus is in a gorgeous part of Burbank about 2 miles from the NBC/Disney/Universal studios - also near Nickelodeon. Lots of connections here too. Haven't been here but I wish they would offer some extension classes so I could go. It looks outstanding and the campus looks really pretty. You'd also probably find some fairly inexpensive housing (for L.A. anyway) near the campus.

Lastly, GOOD FOR YOU!!! This is something that I would love to do but I waited WAY too long and now I have a home and commitments and can't go back to school. Do it, do it, do it!!!

If you need more info, feel free to memail me.
posted by Sophie1 at 1:32 PM on March 1, 2010


Oh, yeah, as for the big city life - Woodbury is very suburban...
posted by Sophie1 at 1:33 PM on March 1, 2010


Best answer: University of North Texas has a very good fashion school which is expanding at the moment. You literally won't be able to beat the music scene in Denton, and Dallas/Fort Worth is about half an hour away.
posted by cmoj at 1:39 PM on March 1, 2010


NC State.
I'm guessing that's the place you were thinking of when you said you were leaning toward the Carolinas. I know quite a few people who went to this program and were happy with it. Raleigh's an ok town. I prefer Chapel Hill/Carrboro and Durham, but some people LOVE Raleigh, and it is improving quite a bit. Also, you can't throw a rock in the Triangle without hitting a band, so I'm sure you could find some musicians to play with. There is also a huge craft scene in the Triangle area and the like. You can find affordable housing (in some areas more than others), it's definitely warm (except this winter was apparently pretty snowy, but I just moved to NY from the area and comparatively I say 'p'shaw'). There are also bunches of past askme's that can give you more information about specific areas of the Triangle you might want to live or hang out in.
posted by greta simone at 2:28 PM on March 1, 2010


Not necessarily a warmer climate, but the School of Fashion and Merchandising at Kent State is quite well regarded. Plus its museum has a remarkable costume collection for a university museum.
posted by needled at 4:39 PM on March 1, 2010


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