Fashion Merchandising and Design Major
Why Study Fashion Merchandising and Design at Virginia Tech?
The fashion merchandising and design major offers a holistic approach to the fashion industry by learning about both the merchandising/business side as well as the design/product development side of the industry. With classes in product development, textiles, merchandising, and more, students learn how the industry works together from start to finish. Some typical career paths include design, buying, merchandising, product development, and retail management. You’ll gain strong industry ties, have opportunities for internships, participate in exhibitions of student work, engage with professionals and alumni on campus, and have the opportunity to participate in study tours within the United States and abroad.
89%
Of Students Complete Internships
22
Average Class Size
Top 50
Fashion Merchandising Schools in the U.S.
Jacqueline Racine, '16
Jacqueline served as American Association Textile Chemists and Colorists Chapter President during her time at Virginia Tech. She gained experience in sales and e-commerce at internships with Rebecca Minkoff, PVH Corporation, and Salvatore Ferragamo. Currently residing in Brooklyn, she is a member of the digital merchandising team at Louis Vuitton.
Rachel Carter, '15
Rachel was active in the Fashion Merchandising and Design Society as well as the program's academic travel opportunities. She was selected for Nordstrom's Retail Management Internship after her junior year, which led to an opportunity at Nordstrom's corporate headquarters in Seattle, Washington, where she currently resides.
Sydney Nugent '16
Sydney participated in the Disney College Program co-op during her junior year spring semester. Her tenacity and strong work ethic during the co-op led her back to The Walt Disney Company where she joined the merchandise development team in their corporate office in Orlando, Florida.
Sheridan Tupman, '12
Sheridan began her career in New York City at Rent the Runway as a customer experience associate and team lead. She now works as the social media manager at Stuart Weitzman, a premier luxury shoe brand, where she builds the label's online presence.
Kitty Wu, '19
Kitty participated in the New York Study Tour during her junior year exposing her to the fashion industry in New York City where they visited eight fashion headquarters, including Kate Spade, Rag & Bone, and The Sak. The experience prepared her for her internship with Marchesa as an executive assistant intern. Kitty worked under the CEO, while exploring both the business and creative side of fashion. She used the skills gained to co-coordinate Virginia Tech FMD’s annual fashion show for spring 2019.
Careers and Further Study
What can you do with a major in Fashion Merchandising and Design?
Jobs Held by Our Graduates
- Design
- Technical design
- Sourcing
- Strategic planning
- Buying
- Retail Merchandising
- Management
Beyond the Classroom
Experiential Learning
Our faculty work side-by-side with students to advise them on pursuing research interests, presenting and publishing their work, and preparing them for careers. The Fashion Merchandising and Design Society is an organization for students interested in the fashion industry. Members meet monthly and participate in career-building workshops. Our annual fashion show is a highlight of the organization.
While in the classroom, you will learn textile composition and drawing techniques. Then, you will spend time in design studios working with merchandise, creating visual displays in retail-size spaces, and using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software in the digital design lab.
In addition, Virginia Tech hosts the Oris Glisson Historic Costume and Textile collection which contains approximately 5000 items of historic significance dating from 1840 to the present. Portions of the collections are displayed throughout the year in the Wallace Hall Atrium and provide design inspiration, as well as historic documentation.
On our New York Fashion Study Tour, you can participate in a week-long trip to the Big Apple where you'll get the chance to network with New York fashion retailers, merchandisers, and apparel alumni. Guided tours of fashion houses and appointments with industry experts offer a full New York City fashion experience.
The European Study Abroad is offered for several weeks every other summer (2023; 2025) and includes stops in London, Paris, Rome, Florence, and other European fashion capitals. As part of this program, you will visit universities with fashion programs, tour European boutiques, and visit design houses, like Prada.
Study Away
In the past year, our students have interned with leading companies including:
- Nordstrom
- Ralph Lauren
- Disney
- Kate Spade
- Lilly Pulitzer
- Loft, J. Crew
- Anna Sui
- Showroom Delfina
- Milly
- Accessories Collective
Jobs range from showroom sales and design, to e-commerce and public relations.
The goal of the fashion merchandising and design (FMD) program is to prepare students to envision and practice innovative, technically accurate, and creative approaches to meet the career demands in the exciting and fast-paced global fashion industry. Through cutting edge curriculum, students gain skills in technologies and learn in-depth information about this consumer-centric industry, from fibers and fabrics for textiles; to apparel product design, development and production; to retail merchandising and sales.
Goal 1: Advance national and international recognition of the FMD program
Goal 2: Enrich the undergraduate experience
Goal 3: Advance the relationship between the FMD program and the fashion industry
The mission of the fashion merchandising and design program is to provide students with a solid academic background as well as an industry relevant degree in fashion merchandising and design. We incorporate consumer, business, and design perspectives into teaching and learning, research and creative scholarship, and outreach.
Bachelor of Science in Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management Degree
- Including Virginia Tech's Pathways
Fashion Merchandising and Design Major Requirements
- History of Costume
- Introduction to Textiles
- Apparel Production
- Merchandising Strategies
- Portfolio
Minor and Elective Hours
Our program gives you the opportunity to build knowledge in another area by pursuing a minor, double major, or cognate.
120 hrs
B.S. Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management
45 hrs
General Education
65 hrs
Major Requirements
10 hrs
Elective
Campus Life
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