Fashion Merchandising and Design
Our fashion merchandising and design major inspires students to envision fresh, creative approaches to meet the challenges facing the global apparel industry.
89%
OF STUDENTS COMPLETE INTERNSHIPS
5,000
ITEMS IN HISTORICAL COSTUME DESIGN
TOP 50
FASHION MERCHANDISING SCHOOLS IN THE U.S.
22
AVERAGE UPPER-LEVEL CLASS SIZE
Total Credit Hours: 120
Fashion Merchandising and Design
Requirements (34 hours)
Fashion Merchandising and Design Electives (12 hours)
AHRM Core Requirements (19 hours)
General Education (45 hours)
Electives (10 hours)
What You'll Study
We emphasize an integration of design, product development, and merchandising of apparel products.
Our graduates with an interest in design work as creative designers, technical designers, and product developers for companies such as Under Armour, Polo Ralph Lauren, Aéropostale, Kohl’s, Eddie Bauer, and Hickey Freeman. They use their creative skills to conceptualize couture and ready-to-wear lines presented and sold around the globe.
Our graduates with an interest in merchandising work as retail buyers, store managers, website developers, internet merchants, and visual merchandisers for companies such as:
- Oscar de la Renta
- rue21
- Lord and Taylor’s
- Macy’s
- HomeGoods
- Haute Look
- Victoria’s Secret
Core Requirements:
You will complete a core professional curriculum in apparel and textiles and specialize in apparel merchandising or apparel design and production. Students gain a practical application of knowledge and skills that emphasize analytic abilities, creative problem solving, and a global perspective.
Curious how the major requirements will fit into your experience at Virginia Tech? See the roadmaps below for a sample schedule of courses each year. Your academic advisor will help you create a personalized version based on your goals and other areas of interest. The individualized plan will also include your AP, IB, dual enrollment, or transfer credit.
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What is a Degree in Fashion Merchandising and Design?
Our fashion merchandising and design major provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a variety of roles within the fashion industry including:
- Design
- Technical design
- Sourcing
- Strategic planning
- Buying
- Merchandising
- Retail management positions
Why Study Fashion and Merchandising and Design Here?
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.
Beyond the Classroom
Professional Development
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.
Undergraduate Research
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.
Study Away
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
Internships
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.
What Our Students Are Saying
“Fashion merchandising and design's smaller class sizes allow me to interact more with my peers and instructors for a personalized education.”
Lauren Amos, '16
"Our program does a great job of teaching us the basics for many different positions in the fashion industry. From there, you can grow within your job."
Katie Lyons, '13
"I love the fashion merchandising and design major because you get hands on experience. Class sizes are small and the professors are always willing to help you! The major offers so many opportunities in different fields of the fashion industry."
Kara Heuple, '17
“I felt well equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to be competitive and gain notoriety while working in a competitive field. After opening my stores, I realized just how valuable and well-rounded my education was because my program taught me the creative aspect of the industry as well as the business side.”
Sarah Jane Hull, ‘04
"Virginia Tech's fashion merchandising and design program prepared me with real knowledge of the fashion retail industry. Upon entering a new job after college, I felt prepared for the workforce and equipped with essential skills. I am grateful for the dedicated faculty who mentored me along the way.”
Rachel Carter, '15
"This major allowed me to gain knowledge and experience in an industry that moves a mile a minute. I'm glad I attended Virginia Tech to begin my career in fashion and I'll always look back on my time there with sincere gratitude."
Sheridan Tupman, '12
Careers and Further Study
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.
What do I do with a fashion merchandising and design major?
Our graduates are prepared to enter the fashion industry in a variety of fields, including:
- Design
- Technical design
- Sourcing
- Strategic planning
- Buying
- Retail merchandising
- Management
To learn more about career opportunities in the fashion merchandising and design major, contact:
Doris Kincade - Career Advisor
- 111 Wallace Hall (0410)
- (540) 231-7637
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