General Department Information

“Fashion is and has been and will be, through all ages, the outward form through which the mind speaks to the universe. Fashion in all languages design to make, shape, model, adapt, embellish, and adorn.” – George P. Fox

What is fashion?

What kinds of careers are available?

What kind of education do I need?

Where can I pursue my passion?

How can I receive a world-class education?

These are the questions prospective students ask and we strive to answer.

Fashion is the vehicle people use to express who they are and who they would like to be. Today, the ever-changing world of fashion is one of the greatest economic forces in the world and the fashion industry provides careers for millions of individuals in design, manufacturing, retailing, marketing, advertising, publishing and many auxiliary services. It is both creative and scientific, with careers at every point in between.

Currently, the Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising has over 300 students enrolled in three educational tracks: Fashion Design (Bachelor of Fine Arts), Fashion Merchandising (Bachelor of Arts) and Home Fashion Merchandising (Bachelor of Arts). The educational philosophy of the Department of Fashion is to provide students with the practical application of both knowledge and skills emphasizing analytic abilities, creative problem solving, and a global perspective.

Each Spring VCU Fashion students create and produce our annual juried fashion show. Through the hard work of our students and faculty, approximately 120 of the very best student-produced garments appear on the runway. This showcase of student work is but one of many examples of the quality of the education the students receive and the commitment of the faculty to the success of our students. It is a partnership of support, mutual respect and a commitment to excellence.

The Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising also enjoys numerous field trips organized by the faculty on the behalf of the students and with the student's limited funds in mind. Domestic trips to New York City and to the MAGIC (Men's Apparel Guild in California) trade show in Las Vegas are offered annually. International field trips are planned for both Spring break and during the summer to such cities as Paris, London, Florence, Rome, Hong Kong, and Australia. These field trips are open to students, family, alumni and individuals from the community at large.

The Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising is extremely proud of the accomplishments of their alumni and the successful careers that our graduates enjoy. Our fashion design alumni work for such companies as Armani Exchange, Polo Ralph Lauren, Eddie Bauer, and Nautica to name just a few. Our fashion merchandisers work in many different careers holding jobs as fashion editors and market editors for major fashion publications such as Harpers Bazaar and Vibe, retail buyers and product developers for the Gap, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, Crate and Barrel and William Sonoma, trend forecasters for Cotton Incorporated, and as national sales representatives for Perry Ellis and Creative Enterprises.

Please visit our entire website to find out more about our faculty, the curriculum, student work, and departmental events. We encourage you to visit our campus and I would be glad to meet with you personally to answer any of your questions with regard to your educational and career endeavors.

Karen Videtic
Chairperson
804.828.1699
Department of Fashion Design and Merchandising