Fashion design specializations
Core fashion design
General Fashion Design
Broad fashion design programs covering concept, drawing, pattern cutting, construction and collection development without a single named specialization.
442 verified programs
Womenswear Design
Programs that name womenswear as the design focus: ready-to-wear and made-to-order collections for women.
7 verified programs
Menswear Design
Programs that name menswear as the design focus, including tailoring-led and streetwear-led approaches.
7 verified programs
Childrenswear Design
Programs with a named focus on designing clothing for babies, children and teens.
1 verified program
Knitwear Design
Hand and machine knit design, yarn and stitch development and knitted garment construction.
18 verified programs
Sportswear and Activewear Design
Performance apparel, sportswear and activewear design with attention to technical fabrics and function.
4 verified programs
Lingerie and Intimate Apparel Design
Lingerie, corsetry, swimwear and intimate apparel design and construction.
2 verified programs
Bridal and Occasionwear Design
Bridal gowns, eveningwear and occasion garments, with emphasis on fine construction and finishing.
2 verified programs
Haute Couture and Couture Techniques
Couture techniques: hand finishing, advanced draping, embroidery and made-to-measure atelier practice.
1 verified program
Costume Design
Design and making of costume for stage, screen and performance.
10 verified programs
Product and material design
Textile Design for Fashion
Woven, knitted and printed textile design developed for apparel and fashion applications.
36 verified programs
Fashion Print and Surface Design
Print, pattern and surface decoration for garments, including digital print, dye and embellishment.
3 verified programs
Footwear Design
Design and making of shoes and boots, from last and pattern work to production.
2 verified programs
Accessories Design
Fashion accessories including millinery, belts, gloves, scarves and soft accessories.
10 verified programs
Leather Goods and Bag Design
Bag and leather goods design, pattern cutting and craft, including saddlery-based skills.
No verified program yet. A dedicated page is published once research finds one.
Jewelry Design for Fashion
Jewelry design where the program documents a connection to fashion. Pure jewelry-making courses are not included.
No verified program yet. A dedicated page is published once research finds one.
Technical and digital
Pattern Cutting and Pattern Making
Flat pattern cutting, grading and pattern development as the program’s named focus.
102 verified programs
Garment Construction
Sewing, garment making and finishing techniques as the program’s named focus.
52 verified programs
Tailoring
Bespoke and ready-to-wear tailoring: jackets, trousers and coats, with canvas and hand-finishing skills.
8 verified programs
Draping
Moulage and draping on the stand as the named focus of the program.
36 verified programs
Technical Fashion Design
Technical packs, specification, fit and garment engineering for production.
8 verified programs
Fashion CAD
Computer-aided design for pattern making, grading and technical drawing in fashion.
22 verified programs
3D and Digital Fashion Design
3D garment simulation, virtual prototyping and digital fashion design.
20 verified programs
Fashion Technology
Apparel manufacturing technology, wearable technology and engineering approaches to fashion.
21 verified programs
Apparel Product Development
Taking an apparel product from concept to production: sourcing, costing, specification and quality.
29 verified programs
Sustainability and research
Sustainable Fashion Design
Programs whose stated focus is designing fashion with environmental and social responsibility.
14 verified programs
Circular Fashion
Repair, reuse, upcycling, remanufacture and circular business and design models in fashion.
1 verified program
Fashion Materials and Innovation
New and bio-based materials, textile innovation and material-led fashion design.
1 verified program
Fashion Design Research
Research-led and practice-based fashion design study at master’s and doctoral level.
9 verified programs
Related fashion studies
Related study, not fashion design education. Listed separately so a business or marketing degree is never mistaken for a design degree.
Fashion Communication
Fashion media, branding, photography direction and communication. Related study, not design education.
3 verified programs
Fashion Styling
Fashion and personal styling, image-making and wardrobe work. Related study, not design education.
3 verified programs
Fashion Business
Fashion management, entrepreneurship and marketing. Related study, not design education.
12 verified programs
Fashion Merchandising
Buying, merchandising and retail planning in fashion. Related study, not design education.
22 verified programs
Luxury Fashion Management
Management and strategy for luxury fashion houses. Related study, not design education.
No verified program yet. A dedicated page is published once research finds one.
Fashion History and Theory
History, theory, curation and criticism of fashion and dress. Related study, not design education.
4 verified programs