There are always unexplored fields and topics in the world of creative studies like art, cinema, fashion, theatre, and more. When these fields became college courses, they started with basic syllabi that included a variety of subtopics. But today, creative courses like fashion have several degrees under their title, and each explores a different facet of the fashion industry.
A fashion degree is not limited to designing clothes; it covers a range of topics that enable a person to fulfil various roles within the industry. Each degree is like a specialisation for a particular part of the process in the fashion industry.
WHAT IS AN APPLIED COURSE?
Before delving into the various courses in fashion, prospective students should understand what a regular degree is and why an applied fashion course is different? An applied course focuses on the practical applications of the various concepts in fashion. For example, a fashion business course will enable the student to handle a fashion business competently. But an applied fashion business course will help students gain an intrinsic knowledge of the fashion business. These students will understand the fashion business and the holistic process of fashion. But both degrees are equally helpful in starting a fashion business, and it depends on the student’s learning style to decide which suits them better.
GETTING THE RIGHT FASHION DEGREE
With several fashion courses available, prospective fashion students are spoilt for choice with a range of specialisations. Read on to find the right fashion course for each aspect of the fashion industry.
Designing
Fashion design is probably the most well-known fashion course globally, though today, there are several sub-courses within this degree. Fashion design is an umbrella course that deals with all aspects of design for various fashion items. Primarily, this course covers apparel and textile designing, which is creating designs for clothes.
But this course goes deeper than just designing clothes as it also includes the various aspects of designing itself. Students understand the intricacies of designing, enabling them to appreciate the design in everything. There are other specific designing courses like jewellery designing, accessory designing, shoe design, etc.
Business
The fashion business is complex and intricate, and it does require an official course for people to understand it completely. Fashion business degrees detail the various aspects of running a fashion business. There are several fashion businesses, ranging from apparel and accessory brands to designing brands and merchandising. These courses equip students with the knowledge to take up any fashion business model and run it efficiently.
Retail and Merchandising
Fashion retail and merchandising fall under the fashion business but are vast enough to have a dedicated course. These courses cover a range of topics like trend analysis, customer psychology and sociology, and design. These courses enable students to appreciate and critique fashion products to promote and market them efficiently. The retail and merchandising sector plays a central role in propagating trends worldwide. Retailers and merchandisers are also capable of creating demand for fashion products.
Beauty
Institutions offering fashion courses also offer several beauty courses like hairdressing, barbering, etc. Students taking these courses in such institutions have the advantage of taking allied courses from other streams, giving them a holistic education. Beauty courses are majorly practical, enabling students to acquire the necessary skill set for that particular course. Additionally, these courses also offer insights into the industry and its trends, allowing students to establish themselves in the industry.
A fashion degree or fashion education helps aspiring designers, entrepreneurs, and fashion enthusiasts gain unfettered access to the workings of the fashion industry. These courses can help students find their place in the industry and keep up with its ever-changing trends.