Career Opportunities

What career paths exist in apparel design and production?

A degree in Apparel and Merchandising with a concentration in Apparel Design and Production is a launch pad for a variety of career paths in the fashion industry:

• A concept developer researches trends,
  gathers inspiration, and creates ideas, themes, and color stories that guide the design direction for each season.
• A print designer creates original prints,
  motifs, and graphics for each collection.
• A pattern developer creates the structure of garments by shaping fabric on a form or drafting patterns, helping turn a designer’s vision into a well-fitting, production-ready garment.​

What do fashion designers do?

Fashion designers use their creativity and trend forecasting skills to develop original, brand-right collections. They choose color, silhouettes, materials
and construction methods. By partnering with their cross-functional team members, they bring their original designs to life.

Day-to-day activities include:

• Trend research
• Leading live fitting sessions
• Sketching styles
• Presenting collections to leadership
• Tracking details for fabric codes, color codes, and fit adjustments.

Fashion designers can make a positive impact by focusing on sustainable practices and creating
inclusive designs. Individuals who are creative, team-oriented, and detail-focused thrive in fashion design careers.​

Projected salaries are estimated and determined by historical industry data – actual salaries vary based on firm success and individual performance.

What career paths exist in merchandising?

A degree in Apparel and Merchandising with a concentration in Merchandising, or pairing your degree with a minor in merchandising, opens the door to many careers in the fashion industry.

• A professional who pursues a career in visual merchandising will focus on presenting products in appealing ways.
• Buyers use trend forecasting and strategy development skills to choose the clothes and accessories that stores will carry.
• Promotional planners use data to decide when to promote items and when to mark them down.
• Supply planning analysts use demand forecasting to make sure the right products are in the right place at the right time.
• A general merchandiser may execute all of these duties while working with designers, sourcing teams, marketing teams, and senior leaders to keep products brand-right, on-trend, well-priced, and visually appealing. ​

What do merchandisers do?

Merchandisers are often the leaders and decision-makers within companies. As a result, they can make a meaningful impact on the
industry through their choices in supporting sustainability, efficiency, innovation, inclusivity, and transparency. From ethical sourcing to inclusive sizes and marketing, merchandisers are uniquely positioned to create positive impact in the fashion industry.

If you are creative, strategic, and business-minded, merchandising can be a rewarding and impactful career path.​

Projected salaries are estimated and determined by historical industry data – actual salaries vary based on firm success and individual performance.

What career paths exist in product development?

Product development professionals use creativity and problem-solving skills to turn ideas into finished products. Their work includes research, design, testing, and collaboration with factories to ensure high-quality production. These professionals are skilled in model making, sketching, construction, CAD development, and utilizing PLM systems.

Their day-to-day work may include creating tech packs (detailed instructions for factories), leading fit sessions, developing digital samples, and working with sourcing teams to select quality trims, fabrics, and materials.

What do product developers do?

Product development professionals are uniquely positioned to help create a more sustainable and inclusive fashion industry by making thoughtful choices about materials, fit, and production.

Individuals who enjoy hands-on problem-solving, computer-aided design (CAD), and thrive in a collaborative environment would excel as a product developer. With opportunities to work on bags, shoes, accessories, clothing, and more, a degree in Apparel and Merchandising with a concentration in Product Development opens doors to a variety of career paths.

Projected salaries are estimated and determined by historical industry data – actual salaries vary based on firm success and individual performance.

• Professional commercial interior designer
  • Workplace
  • Hospitality
  • Healthcare
  • Education
  • Retail
  • Community/Cultural/Aviation
• Professional residential interior designer
  • Single-family
  • Multi-family
• Facilities space planner
• Design strategist/researcher

• Manufacturer’s products/materials sales representative
• Independent multi-line product representative/business owner
• Interior product solutions specialist
• Furniture dealer-designer
• Ancillary furniture specialist
• Lighting showroom specialist
• Lighting consultant
• Interior products account manager
• Home goods merchandiser
• Interior staging, styling, and accessory curation specialist

• advanced product innovation expert
• advertising/promotions manager
• apparel engineer
• brand/product merchandise manager
• museum collections manager
• college-level instructor (non-tenure track)
• continued graduate study in a doctoral program
• creative/design director
• design researcher
• market researcher
• merchandise buyer/manager
• museum curator
• product line manager
• product/trend analyst
• senior apparel designer
• senior textile designer
• textile archivist for apparel industry
• textile scientist

• assistant professor (non-tenure track or tenure-track)
• continued graduate study in a doctoral program
• design researcher
• interior designer (building an area of professional expertise such as evidence-based design/health & wellness/sustainability; upscaling to return to practice)