Places to Study Fashion in Canada: Part 2
Places to Study Fashion in Canada - Western Canada edition
Cover Photo by Balázs Kétyi on Unsplash
Interested in a career in fashion but don’t know where to start? You’ve come to the right place! This is a follow-up on our first article on this topic, and this time we’re focusing on the West Coast. There are many opportunities to study fashion across Canada, whether it be on the design side or focusing mainly on the business side. There are many programs that will help students learn fundamentals that will guide them to succeed in the industry. Here are a couple more notable schools that will provide exceptional education and prepare students for the future no matter where their interests lie.
The University of Alberta - Edmonton, Alberta
The University of Alberta offers a different fashion program than other schools. Rather than having a dedicated program or department to fashion, the school gives students who study Human Ecology, a multidisciplinary field that explores the relationships between humans and their environments, a chance to learn various fashion-related subjects. These subjects include material culture, as well as textile and apparel science. Students can obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in the Human Ecology program, majoring in either Family Science or Clothing, Textiles & Material Culture.
If a student was to major in Clothing, Textiles & Material Culture, they’d be able to learn about the design and production of textiles and clothing, as well as current issues in the industry. The program gives students an opportunity to complete a 200-hour field placement for students to gain insight and experience in the professional world. For Canadian high school students, the basic admission requirements of the program require English 30-1 (or equivalent) and a cumulative grade average that meets the competitive average. Possible careers from completing this degree include Sustainable Interior Designer, Marketing Manager, and Exhibit Designer. As this is a more broad degree, finding careers in other fields is also a possibility.
Image retrieved from https://www.ualberta.ca/museums/museum-collections/clothing-and-textiles.html
The school also offers a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Fashion Business Management program, delivered through a partnership with the Alberta School of Business. This program uses business and management to teach students about the fashion industry. It helps prepare students for more management-oriented careers, making them knowledgeable about marketing, buying, selling, and strategic planning and management processes. Students will still learn about topics such as textile and clothing design, production, distribution and consumption from a theoretical, practical, and ethical perspective. The program also offers students the opportunity of participating in internship and co-op programs. Program requirements are similar to those of the Human Ecology program, but may differ from year to year, so it is always advisable to check the website or contact the school. Possible career paths from this degree include fashion marketing or buying, campaign designing or consultation, operations management, global sourcing and supply chain management .
MC College - Edmonton and Winnipeg Campuses, Alberta/Manitoba
MC College has a Fashion Design program offered in both Edmonton and Winnipeg, where students learn a number of skills, such as collection development, clothing line production, and the business of fashion. Students will also get the opportunity to create an 8-look collection, showcased in the school’s annual New Designers Fashion Show. Within this show, students will work with makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers and a modelling agency, giving them a taste of the industry. The program also helps to find an internship for students, which are often individually suited for their specific set of skills and professional goals. A high school diploma is necessary to apply, along with providing a sample of proof of sewing skills, a portfolio, and a market research paper. Those who are unable to sew may be able to complete a sewing class offered by the college. Potential students are asked to illustrate three outfits as part of a wardrobe. The market research paper submitted must be on a Canadian designer or manufacturer. For more details, visit their website here. https://www.mccollege.ca/fashion-design/ Some potential career opportunities include becoming an independent designer, clothing boutique owner, design assistant, etc.
Image retrieved from https://www.mccollege.ca/fashion-design/
Visual College of Art and Design (VCAD) - Vancouver, British Columbia
Located both online and on the Vancouver campus of Simon Fraser University, the Visual College of Art and Design (VACD) offers a number of programs that may interest those looking to study the creative side of fashion. They offer an online Fashion Design program, which teaches students design theory to solve fashion design-related problems. Students will be able to create original garments while learning about relationships between fashion illustration, apparel and product development, among many other things. Completing a high school diploma is required, along with having a competitive average. Some job opportunities that come from completing the program include technical designer, pattern maker, product developer or assistant.
Blanche MacDonald Centre - Vancouver, British Columbia
Located in multiple campuses in Vancouver, the Blanche MacDonald Centre is globally renowned and offers a Fashion Design diploma program and a Global Marketing program to teach valuable skills for the fashion future. In the year-long Fashion Design program, students get a unique opportunity to train with award-winning industry professionals. Students are required to take twenty-two subjects over the year, including courses revolving around career preparation, design collections, fashion awareness, history, promotion and marketing. To apply, students must fill out the application form found on their website, and the Admissions Director will then arrange a time to contact them. Through having these meetings, potential students will be able to discuss and learn information about the program, along with any other questions regarding the program or the industry. A high school diploma is also necessary to meet admission requirements, along with submitting a garment constructed by the student, or attending the school’s sewing course for the Fashion Design program. The program has a couple of standout graduates including designer Adam Fawcett, who is currently working to redefine streetwear. He is the creator and owner of the streetwear brand LineSix, through his knowledge at the school, he was able to learn all the necessary skills for his future despite having no prior design knowledge. Some potential careers from graduating from the Fashion Design program include a career in creative directing, independent design, tailoring, etc.
The Global Marketing program specializes in Fashion and Social Media, with an option for students to add on a co-op. One of the specialties of the program that the school advertises is the opportunities to establish connections and strong career perspectives, with many of their graduates moving on to achieve career milestones. This program is also year-long, and students are expected to complete twenty courses over the year, which includes courses such as ethical and sustainable fashion, content creation, and fashion show production. The admission requirements for the program are similar to the other program, where applicants are required to have a high school diploma and must fill out an online application and have a successful meeting with the Admissions Director. Some standout graduates from the program include Amy Lu, who works as a celebrity fashion stylist who has worked on ad campaigns for large name brands and whose clientele include actresses Nina Dobrev and Selena Gomez. Some other potential careers that can come from this program include public relations, style, working in merchant success, and fashion buying
While this is the second article we’ve published with schools to study fashion, there are still many more across Canada that teach valuable skills for the future of fashion. There are many options when it comes to these programs, and they can open up a world of possibilities for those interested. If you’re looking into fashion programs in Canada, let us know in the comments what you think you need to succeed in the industry. What programs interest you the most?
Tooba is a soon-to-be graduate of Nipissing University and a recent graduate of Algonquin College, majoring in Marketing. She hopes to pursue a career in a creative field, one that may be in the film and media industry or in the world of fashion. In her spare time, she loves to make art, which is usually through drawing, photography or videography.
