As parents, we always want the best for our children and, according to society at large, the ‘best’ is typically tied up in their academic strengths. So, what happens if they come to you with a dream of pursuing a more off-track creative career like fashion?
Well, for one thing, your heart will probably falter a little, not because you don’t believe they can do it, but because you’ve had years of conditioning to tell you that this isn’t the right path. It’s a risk, and risk is something you’ve been avoiding ever since you were born.
However, there are steps you can take to ensure a viable fashion career that keeps your child happy and secure. Fantastic courses, which should ideally consider both the business and creation of the fashion world, are key to unlocking this career path. And we’re going to consider the top five options across Australia here.
ICMS – Best for Fashion Marketing
A lot of your concerns as a parent probably stem from worries about the viability of a fashion career, so you’ll want to look out for a course that tackles the technical stuff, as well as leaning into your child’s creative tendencies. Luckily, this is precisely what you can find from the International College of Management (ICMS), a higher-education facility with campuses in Sydney’s business district, which provides a well-regarded Bachelor of Business in fashion and global brand management. Here, your child won’t just learn how to design garments – they’ll be at the forefront of learning about viable marketing and business essentials. That’s useful whether they want to design and sell their own clothes or work for an established fashion brand.
ICMS’s thirty-year history makes it a fantastic place to study, with benefits that include a 92% employment rate amongst past students, and a strong leaning towards work-integrated learning (WIL), which means your child can start putting their knowledge to practical use long before they enter the job market. That’s not something you can say for every institution, and it’s a benefit that can make a huge difference to career viability.
Pros:
- Deep-diving into the essence of successful fashion business
- Taught by industry professionals
- 92% student satisfaction rate
Cons:
- Limited campus size
FBI – Best for Global Fashion
Just as you can’t study law in one country and secure a job in another, global fashion markets are varied and require specialist knowledge. Luckily, this is an issue that FBI Fashion College is working to rectify with the world’s first Advanced Diploma of Global Fashion Business. Owned by Selena Mazuran, FBI is already responsible for actively helping more than 2150 students secure fashion careers thanks to industry contacts including Chanel, Dior, and Gucci. Within the ground-breaking global fashion course, students learn about the business skills and creative elements necessary for international fashion success across a wide variety of areas within the fashion world.
Pros:
- Courses available on a full-time or part-time basis
- Study programs in Paris, New York, Milan, Florence, London, Shanghai, and Tokyo
Cons:
- Lack of formal degrees
TAFE NSW FDS – Best for Fashion Design
If your child has their heart set on fashion design, then it’s well worth considering a course at TAFE NSW’s Fashion Design Studio. With alumni including Alex Perry and Dion Lee, FDS offers courses including a Bachelor of Fashion Design, a three-year program where students can refine their craft and find their style, while also learning all about what it takes to build a long-term career in fashion. Like FBI, FDS focuses on international connections and opportunities, and includes two work placements to grow your child’s fashion network, as well as ensuring a completed fashion portfolio for all students. FDS is also the only fashion school in Australia that’s invited to participate in Australia Fashion Week!
Pros:
- An impressive alumni of past students
- A rare opportunity to showcase at Australia Fashion Week
Cons:
- Less academic focus
AICD – Best for Textiles
Let’s say your child is keen to deep-dive into the creative fashion world, but you still want to give them a fighting chance at a viable career. In this case, courses at The Australian Institute of Creative Design (AICD) could be a fantastic middle-ground. This registered training organisation has been bringing fashion to Brisbane for the last fifteen years, and aims to guide creative careers via courses that include a diploma of applied fashion design and merchandising, which covers skills like pattern making and sewing for future roles such as as assistant designers and technicians. This primary course runs for 54 weeks, while students can also complete shorter fashion design and technology certificates, which run for just 25 weeks, and teach essential skills and credits that can contribute to a degree down the line.
Pros:
- Industry-experienced tutors
- Flexible studies
Cons:
- A boutique provider with fewer capabilities than big institutions
NIDA – Best for Costume Design
The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) might not be the first place you think of when your child is considering a fashion course, but their BFA in costume is highly regarded as a fantastic option for entering the fashion world. Here, graduates can learn about the intricacies of costume from a range of globally recognised tutors with experience in the industry. Skills learned will include costume cutting, fitting, and construction, as well as fabric dyeing and other essential skills. The specialist focus of this course is especially useful for securing a clear career path for students who may otherwise struggle to properly find their place in fashion.
Pros:
- One of the top ten costume design courses worldwide
- Heavy focus on hands-on skills
Cons:
- Highly competitive
Conclusion
There’s really no need to despair if your child is keen to pursue fashion, as any of these courses could help them to secure a career that’s every bit as secure as if they’d studied a path like law. Parents can especially take heart from business-savvy courses like those offered by ICMS, while following a specialist path, such as costume or design, could also help your child to find a job they love that’s also more than capable of paying their bills!
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