Textile & Apparel Design provides students with an opportunity to learn and create one-of-a-kind textile and apparel products through drawing, design, textile and apparel practices. Individuals with creative and artistic interests in fashion and design will gain important technical design skills and knowledge of the integral relationships among fabric, surface and apparel design.

In the program, students will nurture an appreciation for the handcrafted product with the use of natural and sustainable materials. In fabric design, students will create fabric through knit, weave and felt. In surface design, they will explore hand sewing, embroidery, quilt, print, dye, and rug hooking. In apparel design, they will design and create clothing and accessories using hand-sewing skills, machine sewing and garment construction techniques, while exploring the exciting world of fashion and apparel.

Objectives Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to: • Create aesthetic, functional, and innovative designs and products in the textile and apparel industry. • Integrate learned skills and techniques in fabric, surface and apparel design towards building a career as a professional artist. • Solve textile and apparel design issues through research and critical analysis. • Apply personal style and media choices in the creation of drawings, which support conceptual and technical design work. • Contribute to and enrich the quality, standards and professionalism of the textile and apparel industry. • Utilize effective communication techniques while promoting oneself in a professional manner as an emerging artist or designer. • Write professional proposals, grant applications, work reviews, and critiques. • Employ entrepreneurial skills, art marketing and self-promotion during events such as gallery exhibitions, fashion shows, craft fairs, wholesale trade shows, workshops and conferences. • Plan, develop, monitor and implement a successful textile and/or apparel-based event. • Express the importance of the relationship between traditional and contemporary craft and art within individual studio practice.

Graduates of the Textile & Apparel Design program will gain the solid foundation necessary to begin building a career as an independent artist, a production craftsperson, or as an employee in the craft and apparel industry. The program also offers graduates a solid foundation for exploring higher learning opportunities.