Department of Fashion and Design

Sissy Simmons, Assistant Professor and Interim Chair
Charlotte Poling, Executive in Residence and Instructor

The mission of the Department of Fashion and Design is to prepare students for successful careers in the fashion industry by offering an experiential, interdisciplinary curriculum of fashion, technology, and business. We support the five major pillars of the University (Faith, Community, Knowledge, Innovation, and Service) by training the next generation of designers, managers, and merchandisers to impact the world.

The Department offers majors in Fashion Design and Fashion and Interior Merchandising, available as Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts degree options. Fashion and Interior Merchandising majors may concentrate their studies on either Entrepreneurial or Corporate business. The Department also offers a minor in Fashion and Interior Merchandising.

Distinctives of the Department of Fashion and Design

Curriculum

The Department of Fashion and Design consists of interdisciplinary curriculums for Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising. Our programs prepare students to successfully enter the fashion industry with technical skills, practical knowledge, and a creative portfolio, which they develop through experiential courses in design, technology, and business.

Fashion and Interior Merchandising students receive training in all areas of the apparel and interior industries, including textiles, design, construction, history, current trends, manufacturing, and retail merchandising. The Fashion Design program places an emphasis on the design and production of apparel. Students study textiles, construction, pattern design, and product development.

Our B.F.A. programs for both Merchandising and Design feature a Fashion as Mission centering core curriculum, which focuses on the intersection of the fashion industry with philanthropy and sustainability.

Travel

One of the popular aspects of these programs is the opportunity to travel to major fashion centers and earn credit. The New York Study Tour is offered every other May and includes visits to design houses, retailers, museums, and the Fashion Institute of Technology. This popular travel course provides an excellent opportunity for students to see the fashion industry at work, as well as to network with designers and manufacturers for potential internships. In alternate years, a trip to Florence, where the students stay in the university’s villa, offers a similar experience. Either, or both, may be taken for 3 hours credit.

Internships

Both Fashion and Interior Merchandising and Fashion Design majors are required to complete a three hour internship. Internships provide an excellent opportunity to connect with local fashion professionals and to apply the skills they have aquired in the classroom. Many opportunities exist within the local community for internships, employment and connections with local leaders in the fields of fashion design and retailing.

Historic Collection

Our campus is home to a significant historic fashion archive, including a large selection from the designer, Halston. The Halston collection, a generous donation to Lipscomb, includes vintage garments, designer patterns, notes, scrapbooks and videos of the iconic designer.

Career Opportunities

Students who choose a major in Fashion may select an area of concentration in which they are particularly interested. There are numerous career opportunities in this field.

Pattern Maker
Accessories Designer
Product Developer
Sales Representative
Pattern Grader
Costume Designer
Fashion Designer
Fashion Illustrator
Sample Maker
Shoe Designer
Textile Artist
Buyer
Visual Merchandising
Fashion Coordinator
Boutique Owner
Retail Merchandiser
Photographer
Stylists
Fashion Publication Editor
Public Relations Specialist
Fashion Forecaster

Program of Study Requirements

Major

Minor

Fashion Merchandising Minor