The Benefits of Fashion School
If you are the type of person whose train of thought runs along the lines of “I can sketch and sew. I’ve been making my own outfits my entire life. I don’t need to go to a university to learn about fashion”. Well, as talented as you might be, we’re sure that attending college would only enhance the raw talent that already exists.
Fashion school will help you develop your personal sense of style, become aware of trends, and introduce you to different cultures. The right classes and professors will provide a solid foundation, a strong background, and a lot of inspiration. Over the course of your fashion school career, you will build a portfolio, network, and learn from professionals already working the jobs you covet. You will also strengthen your business brainpower -- an integral piece of the fashion pie.
Whether you are the fashion maharishi of your current school or town or not, a degree is an essential part of what designers, boutiques, and manufacturers look for. Without one, you will be overlooked. Yes, fashion is indeed a creative industry but an innate sense of style won’t get you far in a business that thrives on competition.
While in fashion school, one of the most important tasks at hand will be creating your portfolio. The kind of portfolio you build will depend on your major (your concentration of study), but a portfolio is a necessity in many fashion careers. Designers, photographers, and writers should all have a portfolio to show potential employers.
Portfolios are your visual resume. They are the best of what you can offer. Your portfolio should show your ability to be fashion-forward and ahead of the trend. A good portfolio will show diversity, talent, and skill.
Fashion Designer Portfolios
When putting together your fashion design portfolio, you should include sketches showing potential employers that you are able to sketch by hand. Each sketch should be complete with textiles showing your vision for each piece of the collection.
Fashion Photographer Portfolios
A photographer might include 20 to 30 shots showing composition, different lighting sources (artificial and natural), and the ability to work with models. Published photos should be at the front of the book since these images will carry the most weight.
Fashion Journalist Portfolios
Fashion journalist portfolios should include clips from published sources such as a school paper, local news outlets, and the Internet. As with photographers, any published works will be conversation pieces and leave an impression.
It goes without saying that all portfolios should be kept up to date, neat, and organized. In today’s digital age, portfolios can also be created online for free or by hiring a web designer. However, having a hard copy of your portfolio is mandatory (you wouldn’t want to lose your life’s work!).
The best part of the fashion school package is being mentored by people who are already out in the world doing what you dream of. When you choose a fashion degree program, you will work with designers, fashion marketing professionals, and historians. Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame mentors at a New York college, so who knows who your mentor just might be?
