Apparel Design

College for Women | School of Business

Stay a step ahead of the competition with St. Kate’s apparel design major, offered on our St. Paul campus. Learn to transform inspiration into innovative design and make clothes for real bodies, while balancing sustainable, socially responsible practice.

You’ll use fashion design software and 3D prototyping, such as Optitex, WindowsWear, Photoshop, Illustrator, and CAD for design and merchandising.

Study abroad is encouraged. Enrich your education with immersive 10– to 21–day programs in London, Paris, Florence, India, or other locations.

During senior year, you’ll present a collection at St. Kate's annual Katwalk fashion show, recognized in Twin Cities fashion circles as an event to spot rising stars.

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Program Details

Take 32 credits per year to finish your degree in four years.

Tuition, financial aid, and scholarships

Explore the courses

Design with a Focus on Ethics and Sustainable Fashion

You’ll learn how to design a collection, create eco-friendly fashion, and carry out ethical manufacturing. Upcycling, sustainable design, local sourcing, workers' rights, and fair trade are frequent discussion topics in classes.

Sustainable practice is incorporated at every level of St. Catherine University’s apparel design curriculum, from repurposing textiles to creating looks from recycled material. So is technology. You’ll learn to be fashion-forward and digitally innovative!

St. Kate’s Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising Advisory Committee ensures that our highly-ranked fashion programs are relevant and align with industry trends. In fact, this committee — made up of fashion leaders and lovers — is regularly invited to speak in classes.

You’ll graduate with three portfolios to share with future employers: a department portfolio, a student portfolio, and an e-portfolio — essential to marketing yourself in this age of information.

Faculty member works with a student in a fashion merchandising and apparel design classroom

Careers in Apparel Design

When pursuing a degree in apparel design, you'll gain a strong foundation in textile science, garment construction, fashion history, and sustainable design, as well as a global perspective on dress. With an apparel design degree, you can work as a:

lead or senior designer for a major label
freelance or independent designer
buyer for a major corporation
production or technical manager for a creative company
costume designer for regional theater
personal stylist

Getting a bachelor’s degree in apparel design also positions you for graduate work in fashion, design, or other fields, including business, international relations, journalism, cultural anthropology, or museum or archival studies.