Fashion Techniques and Design Program (F113)

Program Description

Program Overview

The Fashion Techniques and Design program prepares you for careers in garment-manufacturing design rooms. This is a women's wear program that focuses on pattern drafting and sewing skills. You will use industrial machines and learn the essentials of technical illustration, pattern making, pattern grading and clothing construction. Additional core subjects include textiles, technical specifications and history of costume.

Full Description

The Fashion Techniques and Design program prepares you for careers in garment-manufacturing design rooms. This is a women's wear program that simulates, as closely as possible, the industry's standards, practices and facilities. You will use industrial machines and learn the essentials of technical illustration, pattern making, pattern grading and clothing construction. Additional core subjects include textiles, technical specifications and the history of costume. Program electives allow you to select specific related subject areas, such as fashion show development, portfolio development, draping, lingerie, men's pattern drafting, leather apparel, knitwear and bridal and evening wear. Computer skills in Adobe Illustrator, pattern drafting and pattern grading are included as core and elective courses and are continually upgraded to meet industry needs. This program covers introductory methods to more advanced concepts in the second year.

An annual fashion show and portfolio event highlight successful student projects. You have the opportunity to network with industry, participate in numerous competitions, work on applied research projects, volunteer and attend industry events.

Note: This program requires extensive sewing; manual dexterity and good vision are assets. Both sewing experience and access to a sewing machine outside of the campus facilities are expected.  Students who begin the program in January will study through the spring/summer semester and continue into the September academic year.  For January students, the program is condensed to 1.5 years by studying through the spring/summer period.

At the School of Fashion and Jewellery, the learning environment is as diverse as our students and there are many extracurricular activities to take advantage of.

Program Requirements

The Fashion Techniques and Design program requires students to have access to a personal laptop or desktop computer, printer and reliable Internet for classes.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

This program is ideal for individuals with a love of fashion and a desire to be involved in the industry at various stages of creating a fashion line, from initial design concept to final product.

Graduates typically become members of a team in roles that might include:

  • pattern drafting or construction
  • drafting and construction specifications
  • product development

Graduates have had successful careers as:

  • assistant designers
  • technical designers
  • patternmakers
  • samplemakers
  • assistant apparel technicians
  • graders
  • marker makers
  • technical illustrators
  • product developers
  • stylists
  • design, trend and style consultants
  • social media

Workplaces range from small design studios to large manufacturing companies. In the last 40 years, graduates have also developed into entrepreneurs in design, sewing and fashion service bureaus.

Educational Pathways

Graduates of this program with a minimum program GPA of 2.7 are eligible for admission to George Brown postgraduate programs.

Students who successfully complete this program with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher may be eligible for admission into fashion programs at other post-secondary institutions.

For further information, see Transfer Guide.

In the beginning, when you launch a business, there are so many expenses. Being able to do a lot of these things myself, whether it was pattern drafting, sewing, grading — I saved so much money because I learned these skills at George Brown.

-Premier's Award nominee, recent graduate category, 2023. Learn more about Emefa's success after graduation.

Emefa Kuadey
Ontario College Diploma

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