Fashion Design (Co-op)
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Program Overview
The fashion industry isn’t just changing—it’s being entirely reinvented. Fanshawe’s Fashion Design program is a three-year advanced diploma that goes far beyond the traditional runway, transforming your raw creative passion into an agile, future-proof career. Graduates are equipped with both the technical skills and hands-on, creative experience for careers such as fashion and technical designers, fashion illustrators, patternmakers, design technologists, and production roles in apparel manufacturing.
Program Details
Program Code
DFS4
Credential:
Ontario College Advanced Diploma
Duration
90 weeks
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2026 September
London
Open
2025 September
London
Closed
Start Dates
Locations
Availability
Full Time Offerings
2026 September
London
Open
2025 September
London
Closed
Your Learning Experience
The Fashion Design program at Fanshawe blends design, technology and sustainable craftsmanship, preparing students for a range of career options in the fashion industry. Operating as a real-world incubator, this dynamic program builds your creative adaptability and design-thinking mindset, equipping you to lead tomorrow's market.
Design Skills & Fashion Industry Training
Develop core transferrable skills in design analysis, apparel manufacturing and technology, and design communications and marketing.
- Creative design
- Visual communication
- Business marketing
- Textiles
- Apparel production technologies
- Fashion illustration
- Pattern-making and draping
- Garment construction
- Manufacturing processes
Computer-aided design (CAD) and applied technology are also woven throughout the curriculum, fostering your independent problem-solving abilities for a rapidly changing industry.
Unique, Hands-On Opportunities
The learning experience in this program extends beyond the classroom through hands-on lab work, field trips, practical research opportunities, and optional co-op work-term experiences.
- Expand your creativity in advanced textile facilities, mastering bio-dyeing, natural fabric manipulation, and upcycled fashion to pioneer circular design
- Develop an authentic visual voice in emerging areas like inclusive inspiration sourcing and sustainable fashion design
- Collaborate with interior design, tech, and hair/makeup teams to build immersive style experiences
- Pitch concepts directly to iconic global brands like Lululemon, testing your ideas against industry giants
Capstone Project & Portfolio
Your final year of study culminates in a major capstone project where you will ideate, produce, and present a final collection. You’ll graduate with a high-impact, multi-platform portfolio, featuring digital lookbooks, web showcases, and technical product blueprints from projects throughout the program.
Whether you aim to join a design firm, launch your own fashion line, or bring new ideas to life as a creative entrepreneur, this program will give you the skills and network to define the future of the fashion and apparel industry.
Co-op Opportunities & Career Information
Co-op Opportunities
The Fashion Design program offers a cooperative education component, which provides students the opportunity to gain invaluable first-hand workplace experience in their chosen field. Here are some co-op jobs that have kick-started the careers of some Fashion Design students before even graduating!
Assistant Designer
Aide in the creation of an apparel line through illustration, cutting, stitching and pattern tracing.
Production Assistant
Assist in the quality control and efficient production of products.
Sewer/Tailor
Custom garments according to client needs. Repurpose something vintage, or simply alter a piece for continued wear.
For more information regarding co-op, please check out our co-op site or contact the Co-op Office at coop@fanshawec.ca to connect with a consultant.
Career Information
Graduates of Fanshawe’s Fashion Design program are well-prepared for careers in a variety of fashion-related industries. Graduates typically find employment as:
- Sample maker
- Assistant apparel technician
- Technical illustrator
- Product developer
- Stylist
- Product technician
- Fit Technician
- Pattern maker
- Bridal Consultant
- Design Assistant /Studio Coordinator
- Fit and Tech Pack Specialist
- Wardrobe Technician Film/TV
- Alteration’s Specialist
- Dyer: Theatre/Film/TV
- Fit and Pattern Specialist
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Fashion Design program:
Technical Designer
Set up, maintain and update style summaries, create technical sketches for design, track and relate all changes and modifications from fit meetings to suppliers.
Fashion Designer
Manufacture, produce, market and sell streetwear.
Seamstress – Bridal and Special Occasion Wear
Complete flawless alterations including hems, bustles and custom requests.
Progression Chart
| Year | Fall | Winter | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | Level 1 | Level 2 | *Co-op (see below) |
| Year 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | *Co-op (see below) |
| Year 3 | Level 5 | Level 6 | *Co-op (see below) |
* Two co-op terms in the summer (May to August) after Year 1, 2 or 3.
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This program is accredited by Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada. This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for co-operative education programs in Canada, and recognizes Fanshawe's commitment to excellence.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to
- Recognize the interrelationships among designers, manufacturers, merchandisers and consumers in the domestic and global marketplace;
- Create innovative, sustainable and inclusive designs using flat pattern and 3D prototyping techniques that incorporate design and fitting principles;
- Use most current computer technologies to design, digitally communicate, market and manufacture apparel;
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of materials, colours, silhouettes, textures and techniques in order to communicate a reflective design process incorporating market research and analysis to solve design problems;
- Source materials, illustrate concepts, develop patterns, produce technical packages and costing information, apply production specifications to produce apparel that incorporates both sustainability, and human-centered designs;
- Analyse the organizational functions, systems and logistics in the manufacturing and marketing of fashion and apparel;
- Apply business principles that foster entrepreneurship from both a social and sustainable perspective;
- Adapt global fashion trends from the historical, current, and future perspective to produce marketable designs for consumers;
- Produce and present work that meets the standards, ethics and practices of the domestic and global fashion industry;
- Apply visual communication skills to develop products, support design collaborations and create a professional portfolio;
- Operate industrial sewing, pressing and other technical equipment safely and to industry standards.
Related Programs
Academic School
Fashion Design Program Coordinator:
Karen Harley
Pathways
Admission Requirements
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent,
or a
mature applicant with the following courses:
- Grade 12 English (C or U)
- Grade 11 or 12 Math (C, M or U) - MCT4C preferred
Students who do not meet these requirements are recommended
for academic
upgrading. A conditional offer may be possible with proof of
enrolment. Alternatively, applicants may choose to do the one-year
Design
Foundations preparatory program in order to meet all the
admission requirements.
International Admission Equivalencies
Admission equivalencies for Fanshawe depends on your country of study. Please enter your location to see the requirements for your country below.
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | Overall score of 4.5 with no score less than 4 in any band |
| IELTS Academic | Overall score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in any of the four bands |
| CAEL | Overall score of 60 with no score less than 50 in any of the four bands. score of 80 in listening |
| PTE Academic | Minimum score of 53 with no score less than 45 in any of the four bands |
| Cambridge English | Overall score of 169 with no language skill less than 162 |
| ESL4/GAP5 | Minimum grade of 80% in Level 8, 75% in Level 9, or 70% in Level 10 |
| Duolingo | Overall score of 105, with no score lower than 95 |
| LanguageCert Academic | Overall score of 65 with no score less than 60 in any of the four skills |
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
- Grade 12 Drama (M)
- Grade 11 Understanding Fashion (C) AND/OR Grade 12 The World of Fashion (M)
- Grade 12 Business and Technological Communication (O)
- Keyboarding Skills
- Architectural Drafting Skills
Recommended Personal Preparation
Recommended Personal Preparation
- Students are encouraged to develop strong fashion drawing and sketching qualities using various techniques
- A strong sewing background is very important
- A personal interest in global fashion awareness in industry, textiles and computer
Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Post-Admission Requirements
Courses
| Level 1 | ||||
| Take all of the following Mandatory Courses: | ||||
| WRIT-1036 | Reason & Writing 1-Art & Design | 3 | ||
| This course introduces students to essential principles of reading, writing, and reasoning at the postsecondary level. Students will identify, summarize, analyze, and evaluate multiple short readings and write persuasive response essays to develop their vocabulary, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking. | ||||
| DRAF-1057 | Pattern Making 1 | 3 | ||
| Students will be introduced to the fundamental skills of patternmaking for apparel. Drafting basic blocks for pants and skirts will be followed by the main principles of flat patterning; dart manipulation, contouring and adding fullness. Concepts of ease, silhouette and body dimensions will be introduced to provide a solid base for further learning in flat pattern development. Students will work to develop blocks to standard sizes, interpret designs into flat patterns and create cohesive pattern sets that function as a complete garment through a variety of in-class exercises/drafts and practical assignments. Exercises and assignments will explore pant and skirt silhouettes, pockets, closures, waistband and finishes specific to skirt/pant garments. | ||||
| ARTS-1024 | Fashion Drawing & Theory | 2 | ||
| This course introduces the student to the fundamental skills of fashion drawing for the fashion designer. These include the use of line, space shape, texture and colour. Further studies include the application of proportions, balance and movement to the fashion figure. Students will be introduced to a variety of medium to encourage their drawing skills. The students will become acquainted with the use of a designer croquis as a fashion drawing tool. Students will complete final fashion composition presented and mounted in a professional manner. | ||||
| DESG-1062 | Sample Room Production 1 | 3 | ||
| In this course student will build basic sewing and construction techniques used in the fashion industry. During the semester they will gain practical experience using industry standard industrial machines and equipment. Students develop familiarity with assembly methods through the construction of samples and sample garments, culminating with work on a final project. | ||||
| FASH-1003 | Design Studio 1 | 2 | ||
| An introduction to fashion design literacy, visual communication and engagement with sustainable design communities. Design Studio 1 explores the creative design process through the study of the elements and principles of design with a series of innovation workshops. Students will apply and practice the design process through the development of a fashion designer's inspiration sketchbook. Students will explore a variety of research methods, digital online platforms, 2D & 3D creative problem solving processes to express innovation in sustainable design. | ||||
| FASH-1005 | Fashion Industry Analysis | 2 | ||
| This course provides the students with an introduction to the principles in which the fashion world revolves; and the role of economic, sociological and psychological elements in the fashion cycle. The course includes an overview of the fashion industry focusing on design, product development, manufacturing, marketing and retailing. Students will research contemporary fashion designers and examine their roles and influences on current fashion trends. | ||||
Tuition Summary
London
[1] Total program costs are approximate and subject to change. They do not include additional fees such as the health and dental plan, bus pass, or general expenses. Learn more about ancillary and additional fees.