Expression. Creativity. Style. Whether you aim to establish your own personal brand or build on the vision and success of a top local retail brand, the OCC Career Advantage Fashion program will prepare you for the career you want in the exciting, thriving fashion industry. Our programs prepare you to work as a fashion designer, merchandising specialist, and fashion product development specialist, stylist, tailor and more. The Fashion program also gives you the foundation you need to transfer and excel in a four-year, bachelor’s degree program in a similar field if that is your goal. OCC Fashion offers unique opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else, including internships at top local and national brands and hands-on, real world experience working side-by-side with local fashion brands in our pop-up shop, “The Box.” Career opportunities in this field are broad and diverse, as are the income opportunities. If fashion is your passion, OCC is your college. Read on to learn more.
A sampling of courses for these careers
- Clothing Design and Selection
- Industrial Sewing Techniques
- Street Style
- Flat Pattern Techniques
- Draping
- Tailoring
ALUMNI SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT
Hear from Kai, Cianna, and Ilona about where they decided to make the smart choice.
Complete one of our certificate programs, and you’ll be well-prepared to enter a career in fashion.
Build upon your skills if you’re already employed in the field. Or earn an associate degree for even greater advancement opportunities.
- BUILD ON YOUR SKILLSET WITH A: CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALIZATION
- IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS EARN: CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT
- OR EARN YOUR ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN UNDER 4 YEARS
Apparel Industry Sustainability
Prepare for entry-level employment as a competent professional in the fields of sustainable apparel design, merchandising, compliance, product development, production, sales and marketing and meet the needs of the local fashion industry.
Industrial Sewing
Prepare for a position in apparel construction and textile product assembly through this short-term training program. Learn clothing construction and the use of high-speed industrial sewing equipment. This program also offers a self-paced open- entry/open-exit lab that allows for enrollment throughout the semester.
Apparel Construction
Prepare for an entry-level position in the fashion industry in the areas of garment construction, alterations, patternmaking, tailoring and dressmaking. Courses cover clothing and sewing techniques, draping, professional practices, couture design and more.
Fashion Design
Prepare for an entry-level position as a designer in the fashion industry, in the fields of traditional design, technical design and merchandising. Courses cover color and design theory, sewing and design techniques, patternmaking and more.
Fashion Media, Event, & Promotions
Provide students with core skills in fashion merchandising concepts, fashion history, color theory, industry-specific computer programs, and sustainability. Students will also gain knowledge in directed skills related to public relations, creative production, writing for social media, photography, and event planning.
Fashion Merchandising
Prepare for an entry-level position as a merchandiser in the fields of retail management, retail buying, special events and promotions, visual merchandising, image/fashion consulting and public relations.
Fashion Styling & Visual Display
Prepared for entry-level employment in the fields of visual merchandising, styling, fashion marketing and media production in the fashion industry and related businesses. Students will also gain knowledge in directed skills related to visual presentation, creative production, fashion styling, and fashion photography.
Technical Design and Product Development
Prepared for entry level employment in the fields of pattern making, sample-making, technical design, sourcing management, production management, quality control supervising, grading, marker making, costing/spec production, pre-production merchandising in the fashion industry, and related businesses.
Apparel Construction
Complete the Apparel Construction Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare you for an entry-level position in the fashion industry in the areas of garment construction, alterations, patternmaking, tailoring and dressmaking.
Fashion Design
Complete the Design Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare for an entry-level position as a designer in the fashion industry, in the fields of traditional design, technical design and merchandising.
Fashion Media, Event, & Promotion
Gain knowledge in directed skills related to public relations, creative production, writing for social media, photography, and event planning. Upon completion students will be prepared for transfer and/or entry level employment in the fields of event planning, public relations (PR), styling, fashion marketing and media production in the fashion industry and related businesses.
Fashion Merchandising
Complete the Fashion Merchandising Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare you for an entry-level position as a merchandiser in the fields of retail management, retail buying, special events and promotions, visual merchandising, image/fashion consulting and public relations.
Fashion Styling & Visual Display
Provide core skills in fashion merchandising concepts, fashion history, color theory, industry-specific computer programs, and sustainability. Gain knowledge in directed skills related to visual presentation, creative production, fashion styling, and fashion photography. Prepare for transfer and/or entry-level employment in the fields of visual merchandising, styling, fashion marketing, and media production in the fashion industry and related businesses.
Technical Design and Product Development
Provide core skills in pattern making, garment construction, fashion history, color theory, industry-specific computer programs, sustainability and knowledge in directed skills related to production processes, intermediate clothing construction, computer-aided pattern making, and 3D design software. Prepare for transfer and/or entry-level employment in the fields of garment construction, costume stitching, alterations, pattern making, tailoring, and dressmaking in the fashion industry, and related businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Programs That Might Interest You
INTERIOR DESIGN
Launch and build a career in interior design through our certificate programs
MARKETING
Launch a career in marketing or specialize through one of our certificate programs
PHOTOGRAPHY
Launch a career in the world of photography by completing one of our certificate programs
Did you know?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who have a certificate as
their highest level of education earned, on average, 20 percent more than
those whose highest education level is a high school diploma.
Our Team
Katie Ottoson, M.S.
Counselor, CTE and
Career Services
Tom Choe
Counselor, Consumer Health and Science Programs
Program Areas
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