COURSE GUIDE & CHECKLIST
Semester I
Clothing Construction I
Fashion Sketching I
History of Costume
Pattern Making I
Textile Workshop
Semester II
Clothing Construction II
Fashion Sketching II
History of Costume II (History of Couture)
Pattern Making II
Color & 2-D Design
Semester III
Clothing Construction III
Fashion Sketching III
French Draping I
Pattern Making III
3-D Design
Semester IV
(Eligible for Certificate in Fashion Design after 20 courses/60 credits)
Clothing Construction IV
Pattern Making IV
Fashion Sketching IV
French Draping II
Couture Detail
Semester V
CAD for Fashion Design I – Apparel; Pattern Making & Grading
CAD for Fashion Design II – Art
Portfolio Art
Style and Line
Elective/Internship
Semester VI
(Eligible for Diploma in Fashion Design after 30 courses/ 90 credits)
CAD for Fashion Design III – Apparel; Pattern Making & Grading
Designers Line: Includes Thesis, Portfolio, Collection and Presentation (9 credits)
Internship/Elective
Course Descriptions
Accessory Design
Bridalwear
Childrenswear
Clothing Construction I & II : Practical projects in
fabrication garments designed in the pattern making courses; stylized
and fitted muslins, selection and preparation of fabric, cutting,
matching, hand sewing and industrial machine stitching, lining,
pressing, detailing and finishing.
Level I: Dressmaking
Level II: Advanced Dressmaking
Clothing Construction III: Active, beachwear, women's separates
and coordinates.
Clothing Construction IV: Soft tailored coat ensembles including
collars, pockets, under linings and coordinating undergarments. Classic
hard tailored suit ensembles including notched lapels and collars and
two-piece sleeves. Emphasis on jackets, vests, bodices, skirts,
dresses and trousers. Coordinated with Pattern Making IV course.
Cocktail & Eveningwear
Color and 2-D Design:
Principles of color: color theory, value, and harmony; color in line, form, space and texture; color in balance, proportion, harmony, and emphasis, and; color in textile art and design. A study the interaction of man and his total environment, and exploration of this topic through various two-dimensional media (e.g. drawing, print techniques, collages, etc.). Development of a portfolio of experimental designs and imaginative ideas.
Couture Detail: Principles and techniques in fine hand/machine
decoration, trim, and self-trim. Learn finishes that give design
the fine look of haute couture; i.e. faggoting, piping, scalloping,
beading, embroidery, appliqué, cut-out, hemstitching, buttons, frogs,
fringe,
lace, hand-rolled edge finishes, etc. The design and construction
of a basic kimono with focal detail.
Designers' Line: Advanced course in the complete treatment of an
individual theme; i.e., thesis, portfolio, collection and presentation.
Fashion Sketching I & II: Principles of design (line, form, space,
texture, balance, proportion, harmony, emphasis). Principles of
color (value, harmony). Application of the principles of good
design to fashion. Principles and techniques of presenting designs
on paper; i.e., croquis, costume anatomy (style lines), media (pencil, marker and water color), fabric renderings,
the fashion figure (designer workroom plates).
Level I: Croquis and Plates
Level II: Design Categories
Fashion Sketching III: Collection Design.
Fashion Sketching IV: Advanced Collection Design
Fitting & Alterations:
Principles, techniques and practice in the
professional fitting of patterns/muslins to both standard size forms and
to live models. Figure challenges and personal variants.
The redesigning and recycling of existing garments to adjust/modify fit,
detail and design.
French Draping I: Introduction to forming muslin patterns created
directly on the mannequin in the French manner. Projects include
black and whites, changes of fabric, and geometrics.
French Draping II: Advanced muslin patterns. Projects include
convertibles, designs from fabric, and period pieces.
Handbag Design:
History and
development of the handbag. Familiarization with the various types of
handbags, as well as the parts of the handbag, and the functions of
those parts. Working with leather, and learning about the various tools
used in constructing a handbag. Construction of several structured and
soft structured handbags.
History of Costume I: A panoramic survey of costume (psychology,
fabrics, colors, and styles) from prehistory to 1900 focusing on sources
of inspiration for contemporary fashion design as well as for theatrical
costuming.
History of Costume II - Couture: A survey of the history of fashion from 1858 to present day focusing on designers, psychology, fabrics, colors, and styles.
Illustration: Principles, techniques and practice in the
commercial art approach to fashion illustration; imaginative figures,
composition, media, renderings and "fashions".
Internship: On-the-job observation and practical experience in a
fashion atmosphere (ninety hours minimum).
Leathercraft
Lingerie/Loungewear
Menswear I & II
Millinery: Inspiration, design, construction and detail of
headwear; patterned , blocked or framed.
Pattern Making I & II: Principles, techniques and practice in making
patterns for women's garments, via both the flat (drafted) paper method
and the form (draped) muslin method. Basic
slopers and stylized patterns.
Level I: Skirts and Blouses
Level II: Dresses and Trousers
Pattern Making III:
Pattern Making IV: Flat paper patterns for stylized dressmaker
coat ensembles. Flat paper patterns for classic and stylized
tailored suit ensembles. Coordinated with Clothing Construction IV course.
Portfolio Costume: Advanced projects and presentation of a collection of original costumes for television, dance, theatre and film projects inspired by a specific theme. Coordinated with Style and Line course.
Portfolio Art: Advanced projects in the development of a personalized sketching style involving inspiration, design, composition, media and rendering within a concentration/theme. Line sequence and Portfolio Presentation.
Professional Development Series in Fashion Design
Three 3-week workshops.
Section I: Creating a Cohesive Concept
Research and Development – Utilizing resources and developing strategies for ideas.
Branding – Identifying, creating and sustaining your business identity.
Communications – Infusing your work with a unique and powerful message.
Styling – Polishing your image through every point of contact with details.
Section II: Building from a Blueprint
Marketing – Targeting the audience for your product.
Visual Display & Merchandising – Stimulating the consumer with imagery.
Fashion Writing - Describing fashion with words in editorial, press releases and commentary for print, the internet, and television.
Fashion Show Production – Creating environments through event planning, development and execution.
Section III: Positioning a Product
Press – Nurturing relationships with the press.
Public Relations – Building public perceptions and communities.
Promotions –
Designing memorable moments and take-a-ways.
Publicity – Triggering a ‘buzz’ while establishing celebrity/expert
status.
Sportswear I & II
Specialty Design: Junior, plus-size, and maternity.
Style and Line: Advanced course in the development of signature designs, designers’ personalized styles and collections. Practice in fabricating a mini-line, coordinated with Portfolio.
Technical Drawing: Principles, techniques and practice in the professional drawing of specifically detailed and technically precise garment specifications sheets, as required in the Industry.
Textile Workshop: Identification, analysis and testing of fibers and fabrics and their uses, suitability and care in apparel (naturals, synthetics and blends; weaves and knits; dying and printing; finishes; hand-painting).
Practical textile experience in designing a fashion item.
3-D Design: Exploration and experimentation of body coverings and adornments via non-traditional, 3-dimensional media. Body sculpture and wearable art. Designing with found objects. Projects include reflectives, modulars, and fantasy pieces.
Notes
SFD reserves the right to cancel courses (major and/or related) for which there is insufficient enrollment. In such cases, SFD will offer substitute courses of at least equal applicability. Credit for comparable courses taken at other institutions may be transferred in accordance with SFD policies. Courses leading to SFD Certificates or Diploma may be taken on a full or part-time basis. However, the sequence in which a student takes courses is determined by prerequisites, scheduling and approval by SFD. The maximum time for completion of Certificates is three years from the date a student begins study (two years for Diplomas).
-All courses are for three credits, involving forty-five class hours per term (three hours per fifteen weeks or four and one-half hours per ten weeks.
-All courses involve lectures, demonstrations, laboratory, studio work and crits in class. For every hour of in-class study, there are two hours minimum of homework and outside preparation.
-No credits are given for grades of “Failure” or “Incomplete” and the courses must be made up at the student’s own expense.
-No credits are given for grades of "D" in excess of six credit hours and the courses must be made up at the student’s own expense..
-No credits are given for grades below a “C” in major core courses (fashion sketching, pattern making, clothing construction) and the courses must be made up at the student’s own expense.
-Transfer credits are considered applicable to the SFD Certificate/Diploma at the discretion of the Directors. SFD requires an official transcript, three-credit courses, grades of “B-“ or above, catalog with detailed course description and, in some cases, a portfolio of course work. In multi-level courses, the terminal level of the course cannot be transferred from another college program.
-A semester consists of fifteen weeks, September to December or January to May, or ten weeks, June to August. Scheduled holidays and vacations are not included in this computation.
-An academic year consists of two consecutive semesters (September to May, January to August or June to December).
-A calendar year consists of three consecutive semesters (September to August, January to December or June to May).