Apparel Design
About the Major
An Apparel Design major prepares you for a career designing, producing and marketing apparel products. The curriculum focuses on creativity and the product development process including manual and computerized pattern making and apparel structuring.
Career Outcomes
Where do students work after graduation?
Where do students work after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| Assistant Designer | Laura Hlavac Designs |
| Assistant Designer | The North Face |
| Assistant Manager | Altar'd State |
| Assistant Technical Designer | Coolibar |
| Assistant Technical Garment Designer | Creative Apparel Concepts |
| Associate Technical Designer, Pets | Target |
| Belka Design Intern | Belka |
| Creative Consultant | Creative Circle |
| Customer Service & Fulfillment Coordinator | Hackwith Design House |
| Fashion Specialist | Maurices |
| Freelance Apparel Designer | Self-Employed |
| Intern | Tara LaTour |
| Manager | Free People |
| Men and Women's Stylist | Stitch Fix |
| Product Development Coordinator | The Airtex Group |
| Production Assistant | Tessa Louise Design Studio |
| Technical Design Assistant | Clothier Design Source |
| Usability Engineer I | Minnetronix Medical |
Where do students continue education after graduation?
Where do students continue education after graduation?
| Program | School |
|---|---|
| Costume Design | Academia Di Costume |
| Design | University of Minnesota |
| Engineering, Technology, and Innovation Management | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Nursing | University of Minnesota |
Where students interned and gained experience during school
Where are alumni 5 years after graduation?
Where are alumni 5 years after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| Apparel Product Lead | Breathe99 |
| Assistant Designer | Bioworld Merchandising |
| Decor Consultant | YuQuiang & Partners Interior Design |
| Demand Planner & Global Inventory Analyst | Red Wing Shoe Co |
| Freelance Leather Goods Designer | Self |
| Freelance Product Developer and Designer | Geraldine Design Company |
| Merchandise Planner | Rue21 |
| Operations & Inventory Control | Nordstrom |
| Product Design Manager | Red Fox Innovations |
| Production Manager & Assistant Designer | Tara LaTour |
| Shipping and Productions Systems Manager | Vi Bella Jewelry |
| Visual Merchandising Team Lead | Target |
Where are alumni 10 years after graduation?
Where are alumni 10 years after graduation?
| Job Title | Employer |
|---|---|
| Apparel Consultant | Self-Employed |
| Associate Buyer | DICK's Sporting Goods |
| Corporate Contracts Counsel | Pentair |
| Design | lululemon athletica |
| Head Designer | Sea New York |
| Head Technical Designer | Badgley Mischka |
| Motion Designer | Old Republic Title |
| Senior Client Services Manager | Optum |
| Sock Designer | Agron, Inc. |
| Wovens Designer | Michael Kors |
Full outcomes report including salary, locations, satisfaction, and more
Common Entry-Level Job Titles
- Assistant Designer
- Colorist
- Costume Designer
- Designer
- Patternmaker
- Production Coordinator
- Quality Control Specialist
- Technical Designer
Top Employers
- Altar'd State
- Belka
- Creative Apparel Concepts
- Creative Circle
- Maurices
- Ralph Lauren
- Target
- The Line Up
- The North Face
Types of Employers
- Apparel & textile manufacturers
- Retailers with in-house clothing lines
- Theaters
- Toy companies
Meet Your Career Consultant
Brian (he/him) can assist you with
- Major and career exploration
- Internship planning
- Job searching
- Interview prep and practice
- Grad school planning and more...
Additional Resources
In addition to these resources we recommend the following strategies to locate more information about careers related to your major:
- O*NET and Careerwise. These tools provide comprehensive information about a wide range of careers including typical duties, salaries, employment outlook, skills and interests.
- Locate professional associations related to your major or career interests by conducting a Google Search on “(Name of major/career area/industry) professional associations.” Try these keywords: apparel, design, textile, patternmaker, sewing, sustainable
- Get involved in one of the many industry-related student groups on campus. These groups provide links to experiences, guest speakers, and discussion with like-minded students.
- Study Abroad Information for Apparel Design