Learn fashion
From the stage to the runway, the fashion industry offers exciting career opportunities that utilize creativity, artistic expression, technical skills, and business acumen. Explore this page to learn more about fashion careers and how edX can help you advance your career goals.
What is fashion?
Fashion is the art and business of designing, creating, and marketing clothing, footwear, accessories, and style trends. It is a means of creative self-expression that reflects identity, culture, and society.
The fashion world includes more than just supermodels and luxury brand designers. It also includes photographers, personal stylists, event planners, merchandisers, fashion writers, retail workers, textile designers, and even fashion historians. Fashion professionals may find opportunities working with film production companies, clothing brands, television studios, performing arts theaters, apparel wholesalers, museums, and retailers.
Fashion education programs can help you develop the skills and expertise needed to land a career in this global industry. Online courses and degree programs provide a flexible and affordable avenue for you to learn about subjects like pattern-making, textiles, design, construction, and sustainability, to name a few.
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Choosing the right fashion program for you
When it comes to choosing the best fashion program for you, it's important to consider the following factors:
- What are your career aspirations? Do they require a formal degree or industry-recognized credentials?
- How much time can you dedicate to a program, both in hours per week and weeks or months in total?
- Do you have any relevant prior experience or education related to the program?
- Are you able to afford the program? Is financial aid offered?
Luckily, edX offers various learning pathways to help you reach your career destination.
Courses
Courses are ideal for beginners and professionals looking to develop specific expertise or skills, such as garment design, textile knowledge, pattern-making, brand management, or social media marketing. An online fashion course offers flexibility, can often be completed in a few weeks, and may be free of charge.
Professional certificates
Earning a recognized credential allows you to acquire new knowledge or skills, build your professional credibility, and stand out from the competition. Professional certificates related to fashion include circular fashion management, sustainable supply chains, retail management, entrepreneurship, and market research.
Executive education programs
For experienced professionals and leaders within the fashion industry, edX's executive education programs explore high-level solutions for complex business decisions. Some programs focus on specific skill areas, like graphic design, digital marketing, and bookkeeping, while others develop broader skill sets, such as strategic communications, team leadership, and small business development.
Degrees
While a formal degree program may not be necessary for your target position within fashion, it can provide a comprehensive education with courses on various aspects of the fashion industry. Undergraduate and advanced degrees for individuals interested in the fashion industry include sustainability, design, marketing, and business management, making you a competitive candidate for more senior roles.
Jobs in fashion
The fashion world is constantly changing due to shifts in consumer demands, new technologies, and evolving societal trends. Recently, the industry has shifted toward sustainability, environmental protection, ethical practices, and animal welfare, all of which have opened up new career opportunities in those areas.
The fashion industry employs a wide variety of professionals, even those who don't work directly in fashion. These include hair and makeup artists, corporate lawyers, social media managers, photographers, and professionals in the humanities. But if you're looking for opportunities more directly related to fashion, below are some possible career paths to pursue, with salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):
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If you have the passion for fashion, explore edX's free online courses to put you on the path to your dream career.
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