Overview: Fashion design courses provide beginning and advanced fashion design students the opportunity to have a behind-the-scenes look into the world of Italian Fashion Design. Practical hands-on courses in fashion illustration are complemented with information on how the industry functions in general, and more specifically in Italy. In both The Italian Fashion Industry and Introduction to Textiles for Fashion Design courses, students will be introduced to the industry in a very direct way through field trips and site visits.  Hands-on courses in textiles design, garment construction, weaving and fashion illustration complement the lecture courses and give students an opportunity to hone their practical skills.

Courses: Lecture courses such as The Italian Fashion Industry and Clothing and Society introduce students to the cultural, historical and conceptual framework of the fashion world.  Studio courses in Fashion Illustration, Garment Construction and Textile Design provide students with the practical skills to work in the field.

Instruction & Class structure: Lectures, video presentations, readings, and research projects introduce students to the theoretical concerns of the fashion industry, while practical demonstrations and creative studio projects guide students in the development of  creative and technical skills.  Frequent group critiques and class discussions further enrich students' knowledge of the subject by comparing projects and opinions.  Visits to museums, exhibitions, fairs, studios and stores help students cultivate aesthetic sensitivity and a first-hand knowledge of the fashion industry.

Facilities: In addition to the classrooms used for lecture courses, fashion students have access to the textile studio at Fuji Studio, which has facilities for batik, silkscreen printing, sewing and weaving.  These include textile printing tables, sixteen looms of 4 to 6 harnesses of various widths, ten sewing machines and two industrial sewing machines, cutting tables, a darkroom with enlargers and a vacuum screen exposure unit, a compressor and washout unit, large sinks for screen cleaning and dyeing processes, hundreds of metal screens of various sizes, and a water cleaning system to process and clean the water used in the textile processes.

Course fees and lab information

The course fee for these courses covers some of the general supplies provided to each student including printing inks and paper for printing.

• Digital Cameras:Though there are digital cameras available for students to check-out.students are encouraged to bring their own digital camera.Students bringing a digital camera should also bring a card reader for downloading images.
• Jump Drive.Students are encouraged to bring a jump drive (mini hard drive) to save images and work done on the computer.These can be purchased for about $50.
• Lap Top computers.Students with lap top computers are encouraged to bring them. Students will be able to connect to the inter-net though wire-less airport or through Ethernet connection.

Courses

Clothing and Society

Fashion Illustration I

Fashion Illustration II

Garment Construction I

Garment Construction II

Millinery: Hats and Beyond