Fashion student walking down runway in front of audience

Fashion

The fashion industry is ready for innovators, and El Camino’s programs are tailored to your interests. With a welcoming space that invites you to blend your creativity with technical skills, we offer access to real-world experiences. There are many ways to pursue an exciting career in the rapidly expanding field of fashion.

Our Fashion Associate in Science (AS) degree takes up to two years to complete. Enroll in a certificate program and finish in just a few months.

Fashion courses cultivate your creativity as you also learn about the business side of the industry. There are many opportunities in this field. We’ll help you see what’s out there.

$2,208
Approximate cost for an El Camino College AS degree in fashion.
2.6%
Career opportunities for this program are expected to grow 2.6% nationwide from 2016 to 2026.
$66,000
Careers associated with this program have a salary range from $30,000 to $135,000 with an average salary of $66,000.

Choose a Degree or Certificate Program and Start your Career or Transfer

Many El Camino fashion students want to begin their careers as soon as possible. Others wish to continue their education. We can help you reach either goal.

Fashion Design and Production Associate in Science (AS) Degree

This degree prepares you for a job in fashion design and production. El Camino is a great place to start if you want to learn about the industry and find entry-level jobs in your areas of interest.

  • Discover various clothing construction techniques and then build fundamental skills in design, sewing, and patternmaking.
  • Create and design garment sketches by hand and using computer illustration software.
  • Learn the history of fashion and important periods of costume design, including fashion’s relationship to the political, social, and economic conditions of the times.
  • Develop insights into the process needed to mass produce a garment or accessory.
  • Work on projects designed to develop the next generation of fashion industry professionals.

Fashion Merchandising Associate in Science (AS) Degree

This degree prepares you for an entry-level job in fashion merchandising. You’ll learn about different options in this area and prepare to pursue your chosen career.

  • Gain insight into planning, selecting, selling, and promoting fashion merchandise.
  • Learn about fashion merchandising as it relates to tracking fashion trends.
  • Discover clothing construction techniques.
  • Build fundamental skills in design, sewing, and patternmaking.
  • Analyze the societal importance of apparel and personal appearance and how fashion defines and reflects political, social, and economic issues of the times.

Certificates

Prepare for an entry-level job in fashion design and production.

  • Learn about applied design in fashion presentations, including media methods and visual communication.
  • In a design room environment, learn to design, produce, and advertise a product.
  • Practice draping techniques to create original garment designs.
  • Build fundamental skills in design, sewing, and patternmaking.
  • Analyze the importance of apparel in society and its influence on lifestyle and culture.

Prepare for an entry-level job in fashion merchandising.

  • Learn about planning, selecting, selling, and promoting fashion merchandise.
  • Track fashion trends and their effects on merchandising.
  • Build fundamental skills in design, sewing, and patternmaking.
  • Analyze the importance of apparel in society and its influence on lifestyle and culture.

Prepare for an entry-level job as a fashion stylist.

  • Learn creative sketching and illustration techniques.
  • Practice alterations and repair of clothing and make alterations to commercial patterns.
  • Build fundamental skills in design, sewing, and patternmaking.
  • Analyze the importance of apparel in society, as well as wardrobe planning, apparel quality and clothing care, fit, and purchasing.

Pursue an Entry-Level Job in Fashion or Further Education

As an El Camino fashion graduate, you’ll be ready to work in the fashion industry or transfer to a bachelor’s degree program at another school. We can help you gain the knowledge, skills, and experience to be successful in any path you choose.

  • Work as a designer, trend forecaster, stylist, merchandiser, buyer, marketing, merchandise display, window trimmer, or production manager, or in other positions relating to fashion.
  • El Camino graduates have landed jobs in costume design for movies and theme parks, clothing production companies, modeling agencies, and are also employed as fashion design instructors.
  • Learn all aspects of the fashion business from critical sewing and design skills to the production/marketing involved in mass-producing garments.
  • Careers associated with this program have a salary range from $30,000 to $135,000 with an average salary of $66,000.

Find Opportunities Outside of the Classroom

As an El Camino fashion student, you become part of a creative, collaborative community dedicated to creating inspiring wardrobe items.

  • Join the very active Tailor Made Fashion Club, which encourages teamwork and awareness of the changing, global, and fast-paced fashion industry.
  • Participate in the annual fashion show, a longtime annual event where the planning, directing, financing, and coordinating are entirely run by students.
  • Find networking and internship opportunities with industry professionals.
  • Seek certification as a stylist after just one semester in the program.
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Academic Details

Learn about course requirements and more about Fashion AS degrees and Fashion Design and Production, Fashion Merchandising, and Fashion Stylist certificates in El Camino’s online catalog.

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Fashion Program Maps

Find semester-by-semester plans that chart your path to a Fashion Design and Production AS or Fashion Merchandising AS degree or Fashion Design and Production, Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Stylist certificates on El Camino’s Guided Pathways site.

Questions? Contact Us

El Camino College Fashion Department