San Diego

Variety is the spice of life, and the spice of art and design as well, making San Diego a good place to study fashion design. The second largest city in California, San Diego is a city of variety, fusion, and a growing arts scene.

San Diego Fashion Schools

The varied biotech, defense, agriculture, and tourism industries are all at home in the city and are important sectors of the economy. (Tourists are especially drawn to San Diego's beaches like Coronado Beach and attractions like the famous San Diego Zoo.)

San Diego's geographic proximity to Tijuana and the Mexican border give rise to the city's close economic and cultural ties with Mexico, lending a multicultural quality to San Diego that is further enhanced by the city's Asian communities. Moreover, some who work in San Diego choose to live in Tijuana for the lower cost of living it affords.

More importantly, Los Angeles's fashion centers are only a two-hour drive away. San Diego Fashion Week is still in its infancy, but San Diego is home to major lifestyle apparel and footwear companies No Fear and DC Shoes.

The San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, and Museum of Photographic Arts are fixtures of the arts scene in San Diego. The city's number of art galleries and exhibitions is worth noting as well. San Diego is also home to the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, and Old Globe Theatre as well as the annual Street Scene Music Festival.

There are many different opportunities you can take advantage of if you choose to study fashion in San Diego.

Studying Fashion in San Diego

San Diego fashion schools offer a variety of academic programs and environments in which to study the art and the business of fashion.

The Art Institute of California-San Diego

Founded in 1981, The Art Institute of California-San Diego is a private art and culinary school in San Diego's Mission Valley. Degree programs include a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design and a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Marketing and Management.

Fashion Careers College

Located right next to San Diego's Mission Bay, Fashion Careers College is a private fashion-oriented business school that awards Certificates or Associate degrees in Fashion Design and Technology, and Certificates or Associate degrees in Fashion Business and Technology.

Palomar College

A community college with campuses spread around San Diego County, Palomar College offers an Associate degree in Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Design. The college boasts an active fashion club.

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising-San Diego

Located in downtown San Diego, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising-San Diego is a fashion forward fashion, art, and design school that offers Associate of Art degrees in Fashion Design, Apparel Manufacturing Management, Textile Design - Knitwear, Textile Design - Surface Design, and Jewelry Design. Advanced study degrees include Footwear Design.

San Diego Mesa College

Located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood, San Diego Mesa College is a community college that offers a Certificate of Achievement in Fashion Design or Fashion Merchandising and an Associate of Science in Fashion Design or Fashion Merchandising. All programs include a fashion-related work experience requirement.