Students attend class 20 hours per week.

INTRODUCTION TO FASHION:
Let’s start with the big picture. In this course, you’ll gain a fashion foundation by studying the evolution of the industry throughout the 20th century. You’ll learn about the influence of international fashion designers, the product development process and the steps to apparel manufacturing. You’ll also get to explore the fashion lifecycle and learn how to use political and social thinking as a way of predicting fashion trends. The goal is for you to understand how the fashion industry functions—from something as abstract as a design concept, to something as concrete as a retail purchase.

VISUAL MERCHANDISING:
This class equips students with the knowledge and practical skills required to master all aspects of in-store merchandising, store design, and window display. Students will learn the importance of product placement, sell-through strategies, and the role of store fixtures in creating an engaging shopping experience. Through hands-on experience, students will design and execute a window display from concept to completion, gaining valuable insight into the art of visual merchandising and its impact on consumer behavior and sales.

FASHION TEXTILES:
This class offers a comprehensive overview of how the North American textiles industry operates, covering both natural and manufactured fibers. Students will explore fiber properties and characteristics, as well as essential fabric structures such as weaves and knits. The course also delves into dyeing, printing methods, and fabric finishes, providing a detailed understanding of textile production. Throughout the class, a focus is placed on sustainability, examining its growing importance in the textile industry and the impact of eco-friendly practices on production and innovation.

FASHION BUYING:
It’s time to get strategic with your shopping. In this course, we’ll look at the steps followed by retail buyers when planning, selecting and purchasing merchandise for a store. We’ll consider the factors that influence buyers’ decisions, like target markets, demographics, seasons and geography. Using mathematic formulas, you’ll learn how to build a strong and balanced store inventory. Your previous knowledge of trend forecasting will come in handy here—it’s a chance for you to show you can choose relevant merchandise based on trends and upcoming seasons.

FASHION MARKETING:
The goal of this course is to help you explore, identify and communicate your brand’s message by cultivating a voice for it. You’ll be asked to apply your understanding of marketing to practical business situations throughout the course. For instance, you’ll create and present a one-year marketing plan for an actual fashion business, considering your vision for the brand’s future and how you’re going to get them there. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to execute a wide variety of marketing events, understand the mindset of consumers, and reach your audience through social media platforms.

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN 1:
Here, we delve into the essentials of design: colour, fabric, line and proportion, technical drawing, pattern making and fashion terminology. In our Mac Lab, you’ll learn how to digitally render technical flats—drawings that show garments laid flat with seams, topstitching, hardware and other design elements—that will take on new meaning in Elements of Design II. Design inspiration is abundant outside the classroom, which is why you’ll visit museums like the Vancouver Art Gallery and local fashion industry suppliers.

ELEMENTS OF DESIGN II:
A continuation of Elements of Design I, this course builds on your initial design experience, giving you the tools to bring your ideas to fruition. You’ll work with your technical flats from the previous course to launch an actual design plan, bringing your garments to life and sharing your plans for sourcing, cost, planning, packaging and distribution with your classmates. You’ll also have additional instruction in pattern making in a ¾ scale. Taking advantage of cutting-edge technology, this course features a tour of the Makerlabs, where you’ll learn about laser cutters and 3D printers.

FASHION RETAILING + ECOM:
This class provides students with a foundational understanding of the fashion retail industry. It covers essential topics such as retail math, merchandising for profit, and the critical role of customer service. Students will also explore management techniques, leadership methods, and effective selling strategies. Additionally, the course offers insights into the multi-level structure of the retail industry, including the growing influence of eCommerce and its various platforms. This comprehensive overview equips students with the skills necessary to navigate and succeed in the dynamic world of fashion retail.

FASHION STYLING:
This course provides an in-depth exploration of personal styling, focusing on understanding client needs and delivering tailored fashion solutions. Students will learn the fundamentals of styling, including body proportions, visual storytelling, and the art of creating compelling looks for various purposes, from everyday outfits to editorial shoots. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience, culminating in a hands-on styling session at a professional studio with models and a photographer. This immersive approach equips students with the skills to translate individual client preferences into stunning and effective visual results.

FASHION HISTORY:
You can’t look forward without looking back. Here, you’ll learn about the fibers, colors, lengths and silhouettes used in each historical period—starting from 3000 BC, working our way to the 20th century. Both men’s and women’s wear will be discussed, as well as the political and social influences of the time. We’ll have a historical costumer come into class with samples of garments from different fashion eras, and you’ll learn how to make a garment and design a collection based on whatever historical period fascinates you the most. By building a catalogue of these major trends and influences, you’ll be able to reference them throughout your career—it’s a valuable resource that will be essential in helping you predict future fashion trends.

FASHION ILLUSTRATION:
Time to put pencil to paper. In this course, you’ll learn the essentials of drawing fashion illustration. You’ll render an 8-10 heads high fashion figure and explore different creative mediums, such as pencil, charcoal and watercolor paint. You’ll also look at how to sketch different fabrics, textures, folds and pleats. If you can’t draw, don’t panic—you’ll be able to confidently sketch a fashion figure by the end of this course. Fashion illustration is a language that is spoken throughout the industry, regardless of where in the world you are, making it a valuable skill to carry with you upon graduation.

PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT + CAREER PLANNING:
Here, we look beyond the classroom to prepare you for your career in the fashion industry. Initially, we’ll focus on portfolio creation, then you’ll work with your instructor to find your niche and tailor your resume to suit your individual goals. You’ll also learn the invaluable practices of writing cover letters, crafting thank you letters and nailing an interview. We’ll record and review your interview, so you can get feedback before you try your hand at the real thing. It’s an opportunity for you to develop your own style of portfolio presentation, so you can really sell yourself to future employers.

PR + COMMUNICATIONS:
Communication is key, especially in the fashion business world. The goal of this course is for you to learn how to communicate a brand’s message to the public. You’ll create both paper and paperless media kits, and develop social media campaigns and strategies. You’ll also fine-tune your writing skills with opportunities like writing for the JCI Fashion blog, creating your own blog and drafting press releases. One of the highlights of this class is creating your own magazine from scratch using Adobe InDesign. By putting together fashion spreads, you can really showcase your aesthetic and unique editorial vision. The best part? These are all eligible portfolio pieces.

ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS:
In this course, you’re the boss. You’ll learn how to execute a business plan when starting and operating your own business. We’ll look at the basics of finance, understanding cash flow, income statements, balance sheets, financial projections and ratios. You’ll also get to know more about the people behind the scenes, such as lawyers, accountants, landlords and contractors—these are the people you’ll need to collaborate with. We’ll also take a fieldtrip to Small Business BC to learn more about business operations, which will be a valuable resource for when you want to bring your business venture to life.

FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION:
Ready to take the runway? Working with your instructor, you are your classmates will produce a full-scale fashion show from concept to completion, presented virtually to support a local charity. The goal is to make contacts in the industry, work with retail partners, style looks for the show, source sponsorships, cast models and experience all the behind the scenes action. You’ll get to design or style your own section of the show, and each classmate will have designated roles and responsibilities. As a prerequisite for this course, you’ll be required to participate as fashion show crew for the preceding class.

PRACTICUM:
Nothing can prepare you for the real world like the experience you’ll get from an industry practicum. The JCI Fashion Director and Industry Liaison, Maneli, will help place you in a role that matches your individual skills, interests and career goals. You’ll have to complete a minimum of 48 hours over a 12-week period in your placement during Term 3. Once your practicum comes to an end, you’ll be evaluated on your performance, and possibly even offered a full-time position. It’s the best first step towards landing a fashion position outside those classroom doors.