Education · 1 of 5
The path
No licence exists. Employers want a portfolio, sewing and pattern skills, and proof you understand how a factory works.
- 1
High school
Grades 10 to 12
Visual arts, any textiles or family studies course, and business. Start sewing. Make things that fit real people.
- 2
Fashion program
2 to 4 years
A 2 to 3 year college diploma or a 4-year degree such as the Bachelor of Design in Fashion at Toronto Metropolitan University. You learn pattern drafting, draping, construction, textiles and digital design.
- 3
Internship
3 to 8 months
A season inside a brand, a studio or a costume shop. This is where the job offers come from.
- 4
First role
1 to 3 years
Assistant designer, technical design assistant, or production coordinator. You will spend a lot of time on spec sheets and sample fittings.
- 5
Designer
3 to 6 years in
You own categories and make the calls on fabric, fit and price. Or you leave and start your own label.