Fashion Merchandising

This course is designed to serve both students of fashion design and fashion merchandising in preparing them to become familiar with the nature and components of fashion design. Fashion materials, theories of fashion adoption, sources of design inspiration, apparel manufacturing and target marketing to consumers will be discussed as well as how environmental factors influence the style, color, texture, and design of apparel and licensed products.

This course is an exploration of color theory and elements of design with emphasis on the expertise of color mixing and creative color combinations. Theory is applied to textile, fashion design, and fashion merchandising.

ACCTG 45 / BUS 45 recommended

See the full list: SMC GE Area IV-B

This class is designed for students who are either undecided about their educational or career goals, validating their decisions, or seeking to transition into a new career. Students are guided through a process that focuses on their individual interests, skills, personality and values to aid in the selection of a major, determine a career direction and develop career goals. Students will relate their self-assessment information to possible college major and career choices. Decision-making models and goal setting techniques are examined and will be used to develop short and long term education and career plans.

This course is an introduction to basic sewing techniques of costume and manufacturing apparel and provides familiarization with the tools used in the fashion industry. Development of fundamental skills and terminology of clothing construction. Emphasis is on interrelationship of fabric, fiber, design and construction techniques. This course is required of all Fashion Design and Merchandising majors.

This is an introductory course in fashion buying to acquaint the students with the life of a buyer that includes considerations and practices of an executive or middle manager. The buyer's position includes responsibilities such as making evaluations and maintaining standards that are complete and constant. This course will also present an awareness of quality effect of stocking merchandise and knowing and effectively practicing what to buy, when to buy, and how much to buy.

A detailed study of textiles from fiber to finished fabric is covered in this course including identifications of fiber types, construction, printing, dyeing, and finishes of natural/man-made fabrics. Emphasis is on fabric design, principles of patterns, and methods of textile decoration.

This survey of fashion of the Western world introduces historic dress as an inspiration and a design resource for students of fashion design and fashion buying and merchandising. The evolution silhouette and the cut and construction of men's and women's garments are analyzed using slides of paintings, drawings, sculpture and historic costume. Contemporary examples in fashion are compared to their historic sources.

This course provides an introduction to retailing concepts and strategies used by contemporary merchandisers. Special attention will be given to the theory and practice involved in such merchandising activities as sales transactions, customer services, types of merchandising institutions, store operation and policies, store layout and fixtures, advertising, and display.

Computer-assisted applications are used as tools to design and create original and innovative work for fashion marketing or fashion design. This is an introductory course requiring basic computer skills.

This course involves the study and exploration of styling fashion visual presentations, including editorial, ad campaigns, and digital retail environmental display. Students will research promotion techniques and methodology used for window and catalog display, exhibitions, look books, and graphic collateral used in various market categories in order to create a styling concept portfolio.

FASHN 6A recommended

See the full list: Required Elective Course from "Program Electives" list below

FASHN 9A or 19 recommended

See the full list: Required Elective Course from "Program Electives" list below

This course explores the fundamental sales process of analyzing customer needs and satisfying those needs with a relevant product or service. Topics include prospecting and qualifying potential buyers, preparing for sales calls, delivering sales presentations, handling customer objections, negotiating sales transactions, closing sales, and providing effective follow-up.

This course is designed to give students of Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising the opportunity to learn how to plan and develop a Fashion Show.

FASHN 15 recommended

See the full list: Required Elective Course from "Program Electives" list below

This course introduces the student to the sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporate forms of ownership. This course also familiarizes the student with recording, classifying and interpreting financial data for service and merchandising businesses. It includes a study of the journals, ledgers and financial statements used by these entities. Also covered are computerized accounting systems, internal control, ethics, cash, accounts and notes receivable, merchandise inventory, plant assets and intangible assets, liabilities, and equity accounts. Basic managerial accounting topics are also introduced.

This is an introductory course in the theory and application of the elements of 2-dimensional design which includes line, value, form, light logic, positive and negative space, pattern, texture, perspective, composition and color theory. Required for all art majors.

This course emphasizes color with the compositional aspects of drawing, advanced integration of basic drawing principles, and the development of individual expression. Exploration of artistic concepts, styles, and creative expression related to more complex subject matter and concepts using a variety of drawing mediums, techniques, and methodologies. Students in this course will build on fundamental drawing skills to develop personalized approaches to content and materials in exercises covering multiple historical and contemporary approaches to drawing.

This class surveys the techniques, styles and variations of presenting tangible merchandise in physical, print and electronic formats. Color theory, design principles and consumer psychographic interests blend with advertising and sales techniques to highlight how hard and soft goods are sold in the brick-and-mortar and virtual retail sectors.

This course covers the fundamentals of how to organize, finance, and operate a small business. Topics to be covered include business plan development, financing, legal and ethical issues, marketing, entrepreneurial team development, and business models.

This course is a study of the basic pattern drafting techniques of the apparel industry and the transfer of a design to a flat pattern. Students learn to design and make their own patterns. * Maximum credit is for two courses from Fashion 2, 6, 10.

This course is a continuation of Fashion 6A with emphasis on more advanced and complex design creations in harmony with the current trends.

This course will give students skill in drawing fashion figures and deals with contemporary idealized proportions used for fashion today for both fashion design and fashion merchandising. Students will develop individual style in their presentation, and learn to use their drawing as a means of communicating their ideas and designs.

This course provides the student with advanced techniques used to illustrate fashion and is for students of fashion design or fashion merchandising. Techniques are taught that are used for quick and realistic sketching and rendering with water color to illustrate various designs and textures.

Emphasis on unique and creative designs, manipulation of appropriate and more difficult fabrics for the chosen designs. Students will gain more confidence and speed in their design developments, pattern making and construction. Maximum credit is for two courses from Fashion 3, 6, or 10

This course explores traditional and contemporary tailoring techniques as applied to the design and construction of men's and women's coats, suits, jackets and other tailored garments. It includes a study of the ready-to-wear and retail clothing fields, with emphasis on the individual as a consumer of tailored garments.

This course covers the principles of draping and the ability to develop a pattern in three-dimensional form, opening new ways of designing and creating and recognizing the qualities of a well-designed garment.

This course is a continuation of Fashion 13 and deals with more complex and original designs for draping. Students will learn how to analyze and interpret complicated designs by means of draping and gain enough experience and speed to create and develop more advanced designs.

Apparel worn as national dress by people all over the world is surveyed. The origins and functions of clothing in different cultures are examined. Creative designing is inspired by ethnic costumes.

Grading is the process of proportionally increasing or decreasing the production pieces according to set measurements for each clothing classification (Women's Junior Petite, Junior, Misses, Half-sizes). This is done without changing or losing the style proportions which are part of the design concept while still retaining the original lines and style of the garment. Students are introduced to and become familiar with a computer program used for grading in the fashion industry, and with the logic and rules that apply to pattern grading.

This course will provide industry-oriented application of design skill sets for developing apparel groups and a final collection ready for production. Costing and production methods, line organization, sourcing suitable fabrics, cost sheets, production patterns and sample making will be covered. One final collection will be produced for fashion show presentation.

This course will provide students with an understanding of the psychology, sociology and cultural influences that affect consumer fashion purchasing behavior. The interaction of aspects of the fashion business, including planning, pricing, promotion and distribution, will be covered. Students will learn about how to reach targeted customers locally or globally, with accuracy of products, prices, promotions and channels of distribution.

This advanced course addresses the skills necessary to produce a well-organized and thoroughly planned portfolio, both virtual and printed, to be presented on job interviews. Students will be expected to have completed a body of work, prior to taking this course, from which to build a portfolio. Course note: Students should bring prior and current design projects for portfolio content.

Independent study is intended for advanced students interested in doing independent research on special study topics in independent studies discipline. NOTE: The student must receive approval from the Department Chair prior to enrolling in this course.

Independent study is intended for advanced students interested in doing independent research on special study topics in independent studies discipline. NOTE: The student must receive approval from the Department Chair prior to enrolling in this course.

Independent study is intended for advanced students interested in doing independent research on special study topics in independent studies discipline. NOTE: The student must receive approval from the Department Chair prior to enrolling in this course.

The Internship program is designed to provide the student with on-site practical experience in a related field.

Students become acquainted with the career fields related to the discipline of the internship by working in a professional setting. Students spend a minimum of 120 hours during the term under the supervision of a professional in the field. Learning objectives and exit internship evaluation are required. Limited availability. [NON-OCCUPATIONAL] NOTE: Students must complete a minimum of 6 units in the previous fall or spring semester at SMC and should receive a letter grade of C or better in coursework attempted. The next steps are: (1) find an internship, (2) attend an internship orientation session, (3) complete and submit the internship application forms to the Internship Coordinator and (4) enroll in a general internship course. [OCCUPATIONAL] NOTE: Students must complete a minimum of 6 units in the previous fall or spring semester at SMC and should receive a letter grade of C or better in coursework attempted. The next steps are: (1) Find an internship, (2) attend an internship orientation session through the Career Services Center, (3) contact the instructor who teaches the Occupational Internship Course to see if you meet the occupational internship course prerequisites (each occupational internship course has different requirements), (4) complete and submit the internship application forms to the Internship Coordinator at the CSC, (5) enroll in an occupational internship course, if pre-approved by the occupational internship instructor. If you do not meet the qualifications for the occupational internship course, feel free to enroll in a General Internship Course.

The Internship Program is designed to provide the student with on-site practical experience in a related field.