The Philippine Online Chronicles

If your life plan includes a career in the fashion industry, you’re probably wondering if you need to go to a fashion school in order to get the job you want. The answer to this question is – not necessarily. If you’re absolutely sure that a career in fashion is what you want, there are certainly a lot of benefits to gain from fashion school. For instance, the technical skills you will receive are priceless; you will be receiving far more hands-on training at fashion school than your major at a traditional college. The school's equipment and its resources are also quite extensive, and would be at your disposal. Of course, the networks and relationships you will build at fashion school, along with its name on your resume, is something you should not overlook.

The decision to go to fashion school also depends on what kind of career you want. For instance, if you want to be a CEO of a clothing company or get into marketing and sales, a four-year business course at a traditional university and an MBA might be more valuable than courses in fashion merchandising. Even if you want something more creative, an arts degree from one of the country’s best universities will also be respected.

Consider what you want to do with your certificate or degree in fashion before enrolling in a class. Just like quality education, fashion school does not come cheap and will demand a lot of your time, commitment, and creative energy. That said, here are five schools in the Philippines where you can learn the requisite skills and make connections for a career in fashion.

School of Design and Arts, College of Saint Benilde

Ignore school elitists and their stereotype of the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) as the safety school of college dropouts; some of the most creative individuals in the country are graduates of their many degree programs. Their Bachelor of Arts major in Fashion Design and Merchandising program is a well-rounded course that focuses on design philosophy, development, marketing procedures, and production. At the core of the program is fashion business, enabling you to pick up a few useful skills while harnessing your creative potential. For more details, visit the website of the School of Design and Arts.

Fashion Institute of the Philippines

The Fashion Institute of the Philippines (FIP) offers the most practical and affordable courses for beginners, advanced students, or office workers who want to get away from their jobs and learn a new skill. FIP Director Shanon Pamaong established the school in July 2003 after honing his haute couture techniques in Paris for five years and owning his own fashion business in Canada. He envisioned FIP as a school where courses are short, brief, and direct to the point, so that their students can learn what they need in the shortest amount of time. Courses include basic fashion design, basic pattern-making, fashion embellishments, bag-making, haute couture, fashion styling, fashion buying, fashion merchandising, and fashion photography. For more information, visit www.fashioninstitutephil.com.

Slim’s Fashion and Arts School

Slim’s Fashion and Arts School is undoubtedly the oldest fashion school in the country. For 50 years, Slim’s has provided in-depth courses in fashion design, dressmaking, and patternmaking. Founded by Filipino couture designer Salvacion Lim-Higgins (Slim) and her sister, Slim’s highly technical lessons provide the solid foundation every designer needs to embark on a fashion career or to establish his or her own shop. The school offers diploma and certificate courses in fashion design and dressmaking/patternmaking, but unlike the three schools mentioned above, they don’t offer courses on the business side of fashion. If you want to hone your design and sewing techniques, however, Slim’s can provide you with the skills you need. For more information, visit slimsfashion.com.

School of Fashion and the Arts Manila

If you've ever wondered where Project Runway Philippines is shot, it’s actually at the School of Fashion and the Arts (SOFA) Manila. Established by renowned bag designer Amina Aranaz-Alunan and fellow Istituto Marangoni graduate Loralee Baron, SOFA Manila provides a European approach to fashion that applies to the Asian market. The school offers a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising, a two-year Associate Degree in Fashion Design and Marketing, diploma courses, and certificate courses. It is also in the same location as the non-traditional business school called The One School, giving students access to a wide variety of creative minds in the business, graphic design, and fashion fields. For more information, visit www.sofamanila.com.

La Salle College International

La Salle College International Manila (LCI; not to be confused with De La Salle University or CSB) boasts of being the only international fashion school in the Philippines. LCI Manila is actually a branch of Montreal, Canada’s La Salle International. This provides students with an immediate advantage in terms of connections, relationships, and job opportunities abroad. LCI Manila first opened its doors in November 2000 and offers several courses, including a two-year International Diploma in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing; one-year International Certificates as Pattern Maker, Fashion Stylist, and Fashion Buyer; and certificate courses in basic fashion design, fashion illustration, pattern making, and visual merchandising. For more information, visit www.lasallecollege.com.ph.

Fashion School photo from SOFA Manila.

Sewing machines photo by the author. Some rights reserved.

Mannequins photo from SOFA Manila.