Traditionally an innovator in education, the Fashion Design Department is part of Pratt’s School of Art and Design, enabling the department to offer interdisciplinary studies with other creative design areas.


Only at Pratt Institute can students combine their studies in the fashion field with courses such as jewelry design, printmaking, and photography, utilizing all areas of the School of Art and Design to explore its full range of creative interests.


The Fashion Design major prepares students to design apparel for various markets by emphasizing both the technical and creative aspects of the industry. Professional viewpoints are fostered through field trips, museum study, and consultations with designers who serve as critics. The department’s faculty members, all active in the fashion field, encourage professionalism.


Students receive a sound background in pattern drafting, draping, construction, and sketching. Techniques in sportswear, eveningwear, and lingerie are emphasized. Notably, students are required to take a computer-aided fashion sketching class, where they learn the latest technology used in the fashion industry. Electives in special fields of design, such as children’s wear, menswear, knitwear, wearable art, accessories, millinery, theatrical costume design, fashion editorial/magazine publishing, and advanced pattern making and draping are also offered.

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Traditionally an innovator in education, the Fashion Design department evolved out of a unique program started in 1888 when Pratt's Women's Department offered courses in fashion design and needlecraft. This tradition was upheld when, in the 1940s, Pratt became the first school in the U.S. to grant a degree in fashion design. In 1971, the fashion program moved to the School of Art and Design, a change that has enabled the department to offer interdisciplinary studies with other creative design areas.

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highlighted courses

• FASH-111 Textiles I
• FASH-113 Sketching I
• FASD-133 Construction Techniques
• FASH-169 Experimental Crafts
• FASD-217 Apparel Design I
• FASD-233 Tailoring Techniques
• FASH-280 Internship I
• FASD-309 Creative Draping
• FASD-321 Advanced Patternmaking
• FASD-342 Accessory Design
• FASD-350 Millinery
• FASH-480 Internship IV

 

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B.F.A. in Fashion Design

134 total credits required


• semester 1
• semester 2
• semester 3
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• semester 5
• semester 6
• semester 7
• semester 8

4 Design Studio I FASD-301
4 Studio Methods III FASD-319
2 Computer-Aided Fashion Drawing I FASH-385
3 Social Science/Philosophy
2 Studio Elective
3 Liberal Arts Elective
18 CREDITS

Accessory Design

FASD-342

Provides students with a hands-on, working knowledge of the design and execution of fashion accessories. Lectures cover many areas of accessories, including shoe design, bags, gloves, umbrellas, hair ornaments, and glasses. Students choose three of these areas in which to complete finished projects.

2.00 credits

Millinery

FASD-350

Offers the student a chance to experiment with millinery design. Techniques in millinery construction using felt blocks, fabric, straw, and veiling are studied. Students produce several hats during the course of the semester.

2.00 credits

Internship IV

FASH-480

All fashion juniors and seniors in good standing are required to complete this internship. The internship experience gives the student practical training and work experience in her/his chosen area of the fashion industry.

4.00 credits

2 Light/Color/Design II FASH-108
2 Textiles II FASH-112
2 Sketching II FASH-114
2 Fundamentals II FASH-118
2 Survey II FASH-142
3 Introduction to Literary & Critical Studies I ENGL-103
3 Survey of Art II HA-116
16 CREDITS

2 Light/Color/Design I FASH-107
2 Textiles I FASH-111
2 Sketching I FASH-113
2 Fundamentals I FASH-117
2 Survey I FASH-141
3 Introduction to Literary & Critical Studies I ENGL-101
3 Survey of Art I HA-115
2 Construction Techniques FASD-133
18 CREDITS

Advanced Patternmaking

FASD-321

Focuses on specialized patternmaking techniques that will speed up the patternmaking process and add to designing. Patterns include halters, strapless bodices, gussets, various pant designs and asymmetrical styles.

2.00 credits

Creative Draping

FASD-309

Advanced draping techniques used in the fashion industry include projects such as jackets, specialized sleeves, and collars.

2.00 credits

Internship I

FASH-280

Students who successfully complete the required internship may do an additional two credits of internship in a related field or a different area of the industry than the original work experience.

2.00 credits

4 Design Studio II FASD-302
2 Apparel Design III FASD-318
4 Studio Methods IV FASD-320
3 Math/Science
2 Studio Elective
3 Liberal Arts Elective
18 CREDITS

4 Design Studio III FASD-401
2 Portfolio Development FASD-441
3 World Civilizations I CH-300
4 Studio Elective
4 Liberal Arts Elective
17 CREDITS

4 Design Studio IV FASD-402
4 Internship IV FASH-480
3 World Civilizations II CH-400
2 Studio Elective
13 CREDITS

2 Sketching IV FASD-214
2 Apparel Design II FASD-218
4 Studio Methods II FASD-220
2 History of Costume FASH-208
2 Textures FASH-253
2 Survey of Art: 20th Century HA-216
3 Social Science/Philosophy
17 CREDITS

Textiles I

FASH-111

The study of fibers and their properties, the production of yarns and fabrics, dyeing, printing, and finishes are studied in this course. Students develop a familiarity with the application of fabrics in the apparel field.

2.00 credits

Sketching I

FASH-113

Students work from nude and clothed models and develop finished sketches in various media. They learn the development and importance of a well- proportioned sketch.

2.00 credits

Construction Techniques

FASD-133

Fosters the development of professional skills and techniques required for the construction of apparel. Industrial techniques are emphasized, as is the use of specialized industrial machinery.

2.00 credits

Experimental Crafts

FASH-169

An experimental approach is applied here to mixed-media crafts providing an introduction to batik, rug making, soft sculpture, weaving, screen-printing, air brushing on fabrics, and direct and indirect discharge fabric printing.

2.00 credits

2 Sketching III FASD-213
2 Apparel Design I FASD-217
4 Studio Methods I FASD-219
2 Tailoring Techniques FASD-233
2 Survey of Art: 19th Century HA-215
2 History of Costume Design HD-207
3 Math/Science
17 CREDITS

Tailoring Techniques

FASD-233

Students are introduced to a variety of tailoring and finishing techniques. Price points and construction methods are compared as the students complete several projects.

2.00 credits

Apparel Design I

FASD-217

This course helps students to develop creative talent and abilities through disciplined designing within the various markets in which fashion designers work. There is emphasis on designer requirements at various levels of production, economic specifications, and consumer requirements.

2.00 credits

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