Fashion (FASH)

In this studio course, students are introduced to professional standard sewing techniques and apparel construction. Through assignments, the fundamental techniques are applied and explored to study proper garment construction and execution.

This course introduces students to the qualities and properties of fashion fabrics. By investigating the fibers, quality, construction, care and finishing of textiles, students learn the basics of fabric identification and specific uses in the fashion industry. The course requires studio projects and provides demonstrations of basic methods of textile design development, weaving, printing and dyeing.

This studio course addresses the basic elements of fashion design. Assignments introduce the design processes of trend and fabric research, storyboarding compiling, color story, design innovation and the 2D to 3D development of creative ideas.

Tailoring represents a foundational discipline within fashion design, distinguished by its sophisticated construction techniques and structural precision. This course advances students from introductory pattern analysis to the execution of fully realized garments using industry-standard methodology. Through rigorous application of traditional machine and hand-tailoring methods, structured canvas construction, and correctly sequenced assembly, students develop the technical expertise required for professional-grade garment execution.

This studio course focuses on advanced garment construction. It explores the development of basic level apparel styles through the application of pattern drafting principles. Students draft and execute professional standard patterns through flat pattern methods, measurements and rub-off. Students study the full process of garment construction from initial design through prototyping and finishing.

This course introduces fashion sketching techniques to communicate the ideas, concepts and details of garments by visually interpreting fashion apparel, including the body proportions and garment fit used in basic fashion sketching.

From design materials to manufacturing and distributing processes, the life cycle of a garment must be examined to ensure proper ethically, economically and socially responsible stewardship. In this course, students investigate current sustainable practices and explore new strategies for tempering the fashion industry's impact on the environment.

This course presents a visual history of fashion from ancient Egypt to the present, with particular emphasis on recent history from the mid-19th through the early 21st centuries. Students discuss and analyze historical periods and their influence on contemporary fashion.

This course is directed toward the commercial and professional elements of fashion. Students are expected to analyze all aspects of merchandising and marketing within fashion and its related industries.

This studio course focuses on a more advanced approach to garment construction. Students conceptualize complex apparel styles through the study of draping principles and processes.

This course introduces a fashion drawing technique to communicate the ideas, moods and details of garments by visually interpreting fashion apparel, including the body proportions used in basic fashion drawing. Drawing techniques integrate the use of croquis and the concept of flat specification. As students create various croquis bodies for individual portfolios, they are expected to develop their own personal style and flat specification drawing skills.

This course explores many aspects of fashion illustration, from drawing basic fashion figures to producing finished professional illustrations in color. The course addresses fashion illustration from the perspectives of both fashion designers and fashion illustrators and examines the role of fashion illustration in different areas of the fashion industry.

This course provides the opportunity for students to integrate their fashion design development with computer- aided systems. The emphasis is on fashion innovation and concept design exploration enhanced by computer applications.

In this course, students are introduced to the technological foundations of industrial knitting machinery and the role of knitwear within contemporary sustainable fashion production. Students utilize flat-bed construction, stitch structures, shaping methods, and gauge development while analyzing yarn behavior and knitted fabric structure. Through swatch experimentation and structured design processes, students translate technical exploration into a cohesive knitwear mini-collection. They also utilize emerging AI-assisted tools to support research, concept generation, and knitwear design development, culminating a technically resolved body of knitwear design work suitable for an industry-level portfolio.

This studio course explores the fashion menswear market. Focus is on trend identification, silhouette and style, portfolio presentation of trend boards and design developments.

Students in this course learn how to create and analyze styled outfits that communicate ideas, trends, and themes within fashion images. While researching contemporary styling icons, students explore both commercial and personal styling techniques applicable to the industries, fashion, film and television, photography, advertising, and more.

This course is for students who are interested in the concept of innovative menswear design. Students gain a clear understanding of the construction and cutting skills that inform the designer while acquiring the skills necessary for the construction of menswear blocks and patterns.

This course is for students who are interested in the concept of innovative design. Students acquire a clear understanding and the necessary experience of generating, developing and realizing a wide variety of creative menswear ideas.

This required junior year course prepares students for the rigorous Senior Collection I, II and III series. The course enables students to develop a personal design ideology through exploration, experimentation and problem-solving.

Performing a variety of functions in the organization, storage and retrieval of patterns within a CAD system, students in this course are introduced to and develop skills for the application of current CAD/ CAM technologies for apparel production, including computer-aided design for apparel patternmaking, pattern alterations and made-to-measure patterns.

The next generation of designers are key in developing new and efficient methods of production for the fashion industry. This course introduces students to the robust 3D simulation engine that allows designers to organize countless layers of intricate design details and complicated pattern pieces into a sustainable design process. Students utilize complex software to review changes to colors, textures, and finishing details for refinement before fabric finalization.

Fabric draping allows designers to push the boundaries of fashion design. Students in this course analyze fabric properties and master the art of draping to create diverse and experimental designs. Students showcase their creativity and proficiency in manipulating fabrics to produce innovative fashion concepts..

This course introduces students to the skills and discipline of the specialized area of evening wear. Researching occasions for the different applications of formalwear, students develop a series of designs suitable to tailoring techniques and select fabrics that explore color, texture and pattern. Students conceptualize a collection of suitable evening garments for professional review. Results may range from the traditional to the avant-garde.

This is the first in a three-quarter sequence of courses in which the student focuses on conceptualizing an original 2D collection specializing in a major area of design. Students explore identifying customer profiles, researching major areas of specialization, sources of inspiration and fabrication selection. The student develops portfolio-ready technical sketches, illustrations, flats, storyboards, color storyboards and fabric swatches in preparation for the Senior Collection II course.

This course gives students the opportunity to develop a personal portfolio of creative work. Students identify their specified career goals and prepare their portfolios accordingly.

Students enhance their 3D software skills with the advanced practice of 3D surface technology. Through the exploration of digital processes, new materials and textiles are developed to improve the quality of designs for the future of fashion. Students use critical decision-making techniques to solve fabric challenges and construct finished prototypes.

Leveraging an expansive and evolving menswear market, students learn to generate an array of concepts to support an original menswear collection. Students develop portfolio-ready technical sketches, illustrations, flats, storyboards, and fabric swatches. Researching customer profiles and fashion trends, students construct a professional presentation that articulates their design direction and process for a modern fashion menswear market.

Fashion-forward menswear requires innovative creativity and a memorable brand identity to thrive in the marketplace. In this course, students hone their drafting and draping skillsets as they translate 2D menswear designs into runway-ready garments. Students gain fluency in the brand identity, promotion, and marketing techniques that illuminate their inventions.

With the successful unification of history and sustainability, denimwear has evolved with style. In this course, students explore contemporary denim production as they learn its cultural significance and understand how to navigate technologies and manufacturing process that create ethical, eco-friendly fashions. Students design their own collection alongside entrepreneurial approaches that promote their vision.

In this course, students explore all aspects of denim product development, from conceptualization to fabrication to presentation. Students extensively research the industry as they produce ethical denim designs that meet customer needs and sustainability expectations. Students learn how the visual identity and presentation of their denimwear leads to fashion with an impact.

Students in this course develop skills necessary to create advanced sample garments. The emphasis is on the production of the first sample muslin or prototype through the application of advanced draping and pattern drafting techniques. Students work with fit models to learn the various fitting procedures used in the industry. Pattern alterations and manipulations are demonstrated in class to show how alterations are processed and corrected on the paper pattern. Presentation of final muslins is critiqued prior to the development of final garments.

In this course, students are immersed in the highly specialized, multi-billion dollar bridal and eveningwear industry. Students examine historic and contemporary silhouettes while taking a deep dive into structure, draping, and tailored fits. Students learn how to identify market shifts in order to create design concepts and prototypes that respond with elegant innovation.

Bridal and eveningwear fashion expresses individuality with pomp and flair. Students in this course evolve their techniques to design and transform muslin prototypes into radiant runway looks. Through brand research and analysis, students understand how to identify opportunities for their own creative expansion.

In this course, students advance their technical and conceptual understanding of knitwear through industrial machinery, multiple gauges, and double-bed knitting techniques. Students develop engineered knit fabrics, rib structures, and professional garment finishing while working with contemporary digital tools used in the knitwear industry. Using 3D garment prototyping, fabric drape simulation, and digital fitting environments, students visualize and refine knitwear designs prior to physical production, enabling the digital development of whole garments, precise stitch placement, and performance testing before knitting. Through advanced swatch experimentation and concept-driven research, students produce an innovative knitwear collection and a professionally finished garment, resulting in a technically resolved body of work that reflects contemporary industry practice.

In this course, students apply the advanced machinery and digital technologies explored in previous courses to realize a concept-driven knitwear capsule collection. Emphasis is placed on design realization through complex knit structures, engineered fabrics, and professionally constructed garments developed using industrial and computerized knitting systems. Students integrate digital knit development tools to refine structure, silhouette, and garment performance prior to production. Students create a fully realized knitwear outfit and cohesive capsule collection presented through a professional photoshoot and a technically resolved, industry-level portfolio.

The future of fashion serves all. In this course, students explore the principles of inclusive fashion design and the responsibility of fashion designers to create with inclusivity in mind. Through evidence-based research, students conceptualize and present an original collection of inclusive fashion designs and functional solutions.

From concept to construction, students design garments with consideration for inclusivity in material, form, and function. Students research and address design challenges, utilize innovative technology, and produce inclusive and adaptive designs. Students thoughtfully develop and successfully communicate their human-centered design solutions that make fashion more accessible and functional for all.

Now more than ever, the fashion industry needs qualified leaders to address systemic issues. In this course, students explore issues in product life cycles, sustainable practices, and a circular economy. Examining wasteful resource practices, manufacturing pollution, and unethical treatment of workers throughout the supply chain, students learn how to shift toward ethical and environmentally-responsible practices.

Sustainable fashion is necessary to minimize the environmental impact of the industry. In this course, students expand their sustainable strategies, incorporating their research into environmentally-responsible designs. Considering material sourcing, manufacturing techniques, distribution logistics, longevity of use, and responsible disposal, students develop a portfolio of sustainable construction samples.

This is the last in a three-course sequence where students produce a final collection in selected fabrics. Industry-standard construction techniques are applied in the execution of the student’s final collection. Portfolio-quality presentation boards support the collection.

Internships offer students valuable opportunities to work in a professional environment and gain firsthand experience to help them prepare for careers. In an approved internship setting, a student typically spends one quarter working with an on-site professional supervisor and a faculty internship supervisor to achieve specific goals and objectives related to the program of study.

This course gives incoming graduate students an understanding of the creative process of design development as it relates to the fashion industry, and includes projects focused on ideation, visual research and communication skills, sketching, and design presentation.

This course both explores and evaluates the student’s understanding of how sketching is used to communicate ideas, concepts and details of garments and accessories by visual interpretation through drawing and illustration. It includes proportion, fit, technical representation, fabric and surface rendering, and professional portfolio development, as used in the fashion apparel and accessory design industries. Students work in various media and explore communication and drawing techniques.

This course is directed towards the global fashion marketplace. Students analyze business practices and market trends. Aspects of marketing and merchandising within the fashion industry are explored.

Based on feedback from departmental faculty, this course is necessary to address the additional need for technically-focused preparation for our incoming graduate students. This additional opportunity to hone skills in apparel realization will enhance the quality of work produced in all successive graduate courses for M.A. and M.F.A. fashion students.

The transformation of ideas into refined products forms the foundation of advanced fashion practice. In this course, students investigate the synergy between creative intent and industrial viability through advanced construction, 3D draping, and both manual and digital patternmaking. Through the development of a capsule collection, students integrate technical design principles, including material sourcing and product specifications, preparing them to navigate contemporary production with craftsmanship and industry awareness.

Building upon foundational construction principles, students advance their mastery of complex garment structures through the synthesis of 3D draping and multi-platform pattern engineering. Students navigate the full technical design lifecycle from initial drape to digital pattern digitization, grading, and production-ready marker making. By troubleshooting structural challenges in both physical and virtual environments, students refine their ability to translate high-design concepts into industrially viable products. This advanced studio practice emphasizes technical precision, sustainable production workflows, and professional communication standards essential for the contemporary global fashion landscape.

Drawing is the essential interface between a designer’s vision and the tangible world. In this course, students advance their ability to see, think, and communicate through the mastery of hand and digital illustration as well as advanced visual communication techniques. By synthesizing analog craftsmanship with sophisticated digital rendering pipelines, students evolve from literal observation toward professional design interpretation. Through iterative sketching and hybrid digital workflows, graduate students build a cohesive voice, establishing a professional visual identity that serves as the foundation for concept development, digital asset creation, and final high-fidelity communication.

This course explores the frontier of digital fashion through the lens of virtual simulation, AI-supported design workflows, and immersive world-building. Moving beyond basic construction, students leverage advanced digital tools to investigate the intersection of technical precision and experimental fashion storytelling. Through the creation of high-fidelity virtual garments and environments, students develop a sophisticated visual language that integrates 3D simulation, generative design tools, and innovative visual communication. This rigorous practice prepares graduates to navigate future industry scenarios, transforming conceptual frameworks into cohesive digital narratives that redefine how fashion is experienced, documented, and presented.

Fashion design develops through the integration of concept, craft, technology, and industry awareness. In this studio, students engage in collaborative design processes that reflect contemporary brand and industry challenges. Emphasis centers on creative vision, cultural research, and narrative development as foundations for innovative design concepts. Students investigate material experimentation, construction strategies, and emerging digital design approaches that expand the relationship between concept, form, and garment realization. Through critique, collaboration, and presentation, students strengthen professional communication and problem-solving skills while translating conceptual ideas into cohesive design outcomes aligned with contemporary fashion practice.

The global fashion landscape undergoes constant transformation driven by shifting consumer behaviors and creative market dynamics. In this course, students examine the methodologies used to identify, analyze, and predict emerging trends within the apparel and lifestyle industries. Through rigorous research and data synthesis, students develop the ability to anticipate cultural shifts and translate these insights into actionable strategies for professional design and merchandising contexts. By mastering the art of forecasting, students position themselves as forward-thinking leaders capable of navigating the complexities of an evolving marketplace.

As one of humanity’s most enduring cultural languages, fashion serves as a profound expression of the human experience, transcending aesthetic appeal to operate as a complex system of power, identity, and belonging. By investigating theoretical frameworks through sociological, anthropological, and psychological lenses, students interpret the symbolic meaning of dress and its role in shaping individual and collective selfhood. The curriculum explores the origins of adornment—from early ritual practices and the ornamental displays of the natural world to contemporary phenomena like avatar culture and digital identity construction. Through critical reflection and the study of key theoretical thinkers, students develop deep intellectual frameworks that inform their creative practice, branding, and consumer analysis within the global fashion industry.

This course furthers the students’ research into visual media through the conceptualization and realization of multimedia presentations. Projects are formatted to encourage the cross-disciplinary exploration of advanced applications, such as drawn media, computer-based techniques, photography and film.

Personal aesthetic identity develops through the integration of concept, craft, technical skill, and awareness of contemporary fashion contexts. In this studio, students refine an individual design voice while responding to evolving cultural, technological, and industry conditions. Emphasis centers on translating research, experimentation, and material exploration into resolved design outcomes. Through iterative prototyping, critique, and the integration of emerging digital approaches, students advance silhouette development, fabrication strategies, and construction methods. The course culminates in the creation of a focused multi-look collection that demonstrates conceptual clarity, technical proficiency, and alignment between personal design language and professional fashion practice.

In this course, students examine the synthesis of high-level narrative and advanced technical engineering within the bridal and eveningwear sectors. Students investigate the complex internal architecture, corsetry, and artisanal finishing required for luxury occasion wear. Through rigorous brand analysis and market differentiation strategies, students identify specialized opportunities to evolve their creative identity into a distinct professional brand. The curriculum emphasizes the transformation of sophisticated prototypes into runway-ready couture, balancing expert draping with the precision of made-to-measure standards and sustainable luxury practices.

In this graduate studio, students integrate machine knitting techniques with textile experimentation and digital technologies to investigate the creative potential of knitted textiles. Through iterative sampling and research, students develop original engineered fabrics and garment forms within a contemporary fashion context. By combining physical knitting processes with digital visualization, students critically analyze knitwear structures to formulate innovative textile strategies and a unique design perspective. Students produce a professionally resolved body of work and a cohesive portfolio tailored for industry presentation.

The contemporary menswear landscape requires a sophisticated balance of tradition, innovation, and market relevance. In this course, students design and prototype original apparel concepts that address the evolving aesthetic and functional needs of the modern male consumer. By exploring advanced construction techniques and silhouette experimentation, students develop a signature design language suitable for a chosen market sector. This rigorous creative process prepares students to launch impactful collections and lead design initiatives within the global menswear industry.

In a global marketplace, a fashion brand is more than a product, it is a meticulously constructed universe that bridges the gap between creative authorship and consumer experience. Positioned at the intersection of design and industry engagement, students investigate how a designer’s signature style is articulated across both analogue and digital platforms. Through the integration of emerging AI-assisted image-making, digital storytelling, and hybrid communication strategies, students develop a recognizable brand universe. The curriculum emphasizes the translation of identity into high-fidelity experiential outputs, including creative direction, digital publication formats, and spatial contexts, ensuring that every technical and visual asset contributes to a cohesive, industry-ready brand language.

The final project represents the culmination of authorial voice and technical expertise positioned for a global industry context. In this course, students advance their work toward high-fidelity execution, producing a comprehensive M.A. body of work that demonstrates applied mastery within their specific area of focus. Through iterative milestones, students utilize strategic visual communication to refine a professional portfolio ready for engagement within contemporary fashion and the cross-disciplinary landscape. [This course may be taken up to two times for credit.]

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students in this course undertake a teaching assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

The initial phase of the graduate thesis requires a rigorous synthesis of contextual research, market analysis and creative experimentation. In this course, students explore a specialized area of study by integrating theoretical research with intensive studio practices. Participants design a comprehensive thesis collection and produce initial prototypes to test silhouette, volume, and construction. This foundational stage ensures that creative concepts align with current industry expectations and professional standards.

The transition from concept to realization demands technical precision and a deep understanding of material behavior. In this course, students finalize prototypes and select specialized fabrications that reinforce their established design narratives. Through the initiation of final garment construction, students bridge the gap between contextual research and high-level physical execution. The resulting works demonstrate a mastery of craft while remaining responsive to identified market needs.

The culmination of the Master of Fine Arts experience focuses on the professional presentation and academic defense of their thesis body of work. In this course, students finalize their market-ready collections and implement creative communication strategies to showcase their vision to a global audience. Parallel to the physical output, students complete formal documentation that chronicles the research, methodology, and evolution of the thesis journey. This final phase prepares graduates to enter the industry as articulate, innovative leaders with a proven ability to manage complex creative projects.