With its booming tech industry, Boston is a great place to study fashion. Students looking to break into the fashion world can find everything they need in the city, from fashion supply stores and boutiques to museums dedicated to art and design.
When it comes to fashion design, Massachusetts is home to some of the best colleges in the country. With a wide variety of degree tracks and facilities, these fashion schools offer students everything they need to succeed in the industry.
This list covers the best fashion design schools in the state of Massachusetts, based on the schools’ placement in the Niche Fashion Design list. The Niche Fashion Design list is based on the number of fashion design schools and the number of students who major or minor in fashion design.
Lasell University
With programs in fashion merchandising and apparel design, Lasell University gives students a practical perspective on the field.
In the fashion merchandising bachelor's degree program, students gain an understanding of the commercial side of the fashion world, learning how to sell, market, and promote clothes and accessories. Through courses in fashion marketing, retail management, and e-commerce, students gain the knowledge they need to succeed in the business side of the fashion world.
Those interested in the design side of fashion will find plenty to explore at Lasell. Through the apparel design bachelor's degree program, students learn how to create the beautiful clothes so central to the industry.
Through this program, students gain knowledge of the fashion industry and how to make clothes. Courses in this track include design foundations and history, as well as apparel construction.
At Lasell, students have the opportunity to put their knowledge to use through the school's Fashion Show. Each year, students from the apparel design program design and make the clothing worn by the Fashion Show models. Students in various design-related courses get to judge the models and clothes, then vote on their favorites.
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Established in 1963, the Fashion Merchandising and Design major at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is one of the oldest and most respected programs in the country.
As one of the few schools to offer a BFA in Fashion Merchandising, UMass Dartmouth gives students the opportunity to study every aspect of the fashion industry. Those looking to enter the fashion industry directly after college can focus on areas such as merchandising, retail management, and fashion marketing. Those looking to go into couture or fashion design can take an alternative route towards that end, beginning with an introductory class in 2020.
Along with a flexible curriculum, UMass Dartmouth offers its Fashion Design and Merchandising students some of the best facilities in the country. The Fashion Design Studio, home to the Fashion Merchandising and Design major, features top-of-the-line sewing machines and a collection of designer fabrics. The Studio also boasts a professional-grade photo studio and a color correction room for digital photography.
Thanks to an extensive collection of books and periodicals, the UMass Dartmouth library is a hub for Fashion and Costume Studies research. The collection includes over 2,000 books and periodicals related to fashion and costume studies, as well as a collection of couture and ready-to-wear garments.
Massachusetts College of Art & Design
The Massachussetts College of Art and Design (MCAD) is an art and design college that was founded in 1873. It has more than 2,000 students and offers more than 30 degree programs.
As part of the Massachussetts College of Art and Sciences, MCAD is home to the MassArt Art Museum. The museum was founded in 1877 and has more than 70,000 works in its collection.
The school prides itself on its collaborative approach to learning. The MassArt Museum and the school work together to provide learning opportunities for students of all majors.
Students in the fashion design program have the opportunity to work with the MassArt Fashion Institute's design and production facilities.
Through the MassArt Fashion Institute, students have access to professional-level sewing studios, a pattern making studio, a fabrication workshop, and a presentation studio.
Fisher College
As a private college founded by the Universalist Church in 1841, Fisher College prides itself on being a leader in diversity.
One of their most unique programs is their Fashion and Apparel Design major. Students learn the basics of sketching, pattern making, fabric identification, and sewing construction as they gain hands-on experience.
Through the program, students have the option to participate in an international internship or graduate-level fashion design courses.
Under the guidance of Fisher's faculty, which includes fashion industry professionals, students gain experience working in companies such as Ralph Lauren, Gap Inc., and L.L. Bean.
Another unique program at Fisher is the Fisher Film Institute, which was founded in 1995 as a way to teach media production in a liberal arts context.
Through the institute, students learn the theory and practice of film, video, and media production, all while learning how to tell stories that resonate with an audience.
Bay State College
Bay State College is a small school dedicated to preparing students for successful futures with an Associates in Arts degree.
But even with that limited scope, the school still offers an impressive selection of majors, including fashion design.
Through the associate degree in fashion design, students gain the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a career as a fashion designer.
With this degree, students learn about color theory, pattern making, and the history of fashion. They also gain experience with software such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.
Through courses such as fashion illustration and textile construction, students gain the practical knowledge they'll need in their future careers.
At Bay State College, students don't just learn about the history of fashion and its design aspects. They also have the chance to participate in fashion shows and other on-campus events.