FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN AND MERCHANDISING

FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN AND MERCHANDISING

919 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California

Wow, that is one nice looking building!  Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising - FIDM, has 4 campus in California:  Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and San Francisco.  The Fashion Degree programs are taught at the LA campus above.

Located in the heart of LA near the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Grammy Museum - and it's LA!

Maybe even celebrity sightings!  But, that's not what we came for, so back to FIDM...

"Launching a career as a fashion designer takes equal parts dedication, real world experience, and the guiding hand of talented industry professionals"   The schools says it offers a unique career oriented and reality based Fashion Design Program taught by industry professionals and want students to develop their own unique vision. Juicy Couture, Guess Inc., Disney, Mattel, and Cotton Inc. are mentors to FIDM students.Students are to learn the importance of communication and critical reasoning and the effect they have on "this diversified and global industry"  The Fashion Degree program is suppose to challenge the students to use artistic, technical and theoretical elements in their designs and have a realistic approach.

FIDM offers a ADVANCE FASHION DESIGN PROGRAM.  This is the first time I have come across this level of study for even first year students.  They will not start with fashion sketching and draping like most fashion degree programs but will jump right in to producing industry quality garments.  Advanced Fashion Design students will utilize trend research, market analysis, concept development, colorstayand fabric selection to develop an "appropriate collection for an identified market".  The annual runway show and gala is called "Debut" and runs for three days where even a freshman will show their creations to industry leaders - about 10,000 people in attendance over the three day period.  The seniors get to launch their line at the Debut - impressive!  Or would a freshman want to freak out?  This intensive study was a little scary (in a wow factor way) until I learned about Monique Lhuillier.

She says she didn't even know how to cut or sew when she came to school here and started the Advance Fashion Degree program!  Her gowns are worn by Drew Barrymore, Angelina Jolie, Scarlette Johanson at major award red carpet events!  Well, Mimi's all in for a piece of that!

I am going to believe that since Monique Lhuillier didn't know how to cut or sew she must have had some pretty impressive designs.  I can't find any difference in the application/portfolio requirements for the Fashion Degree and the Advanced Fashion Degree, so I think it would be a good fit for someone who absolutely sure this is what they want to do in life.

The application form is on line and not through the common app - but it is very straightforward.  They will contact you later for an interview and if you are out of  the California area, a telephone interview will be set up.  

SAT/ACT is not required but recommended.  3 letters of recommendation are required from employers and/or teachers.  The school offers a simple online form for recommendations if someone didn't want to write out a letter.  It uses ratings for student on work habits, perseverance, maturity, integrity, creativity, and initiative.  The ratings go from excellent to poor. The form also asks why they do or don't recommend this student, and their feelings about the students talents.  Choose your letter writer's wisely my friends.

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Although the next part of the application process is called "Portfolio and Entrance Project" you are NOT required to submit a separate portfolio beyond the entrance project.  That's the first time I've heard that.

FIDM says "If you have one, we'd love to see it"!

The Entrance Project is in 3 steps:

1)  Create an inspiration page that is a collage of images that represent the colors, themes, styles that inspire your creative vision.  This can be made from magazines, web pages, postcards, art books, etc.

I like this one by Florida artist Derek Gores

2) Sketch 6 fashion illustrations that represent the theme of your inspiration page.  You may use a croquis (unclothed figure sketch) provided by FIDM or sketch your own fashion figures.

 I wonder what Monique Lhuiller did?!

3)  Attach a fabric swatch or yarn sample to each illustration.  This can be "from your own resources, fabric stores or vintage stores.  Use your imagination!"  

The school wants the applicants to interpret what is happening with fashion and what direction fashion will take in the future. They want to see what appeals to you, and will be evaluating your fashion awareness and creative abilities and want to see how your sketches reflect future fashion trends.  A lot of thought needs to go into this.I certainly don't have the ability to answer that quest!

One other thing about Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising that will be of interest to Mimi is they offer a degree program in Costuming for Film and TV.  Although she can't have a dual major at FIDM, she can take classes in this major.  A graduate they brag about, and rightfully so, is Michelle Liu.  She is the costume designer for the movies Avatar and Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland!

Now, that's a fun way to make a living!  One more interesting thing about FIDM is the interior designer Clive Wilkenson has a upgraded the fashion schools annex - and it looks so cool!

Pam