Fashion Marketing & Merchandising Diploma

Intake: January, July and October each year
Program Length: 18 months

Program Description

Beyond haute couture and the creation of fashion, the fashion industry is a fast-paced business that employs countless skilled professionals who have the drive, entrepreneurial sense and intuition to be successful in the field. Highly skilled, business-savvy fashion marketing and merchandising graduates are well positioned for many rewarding and exciting career opportunities.

The Fashion Marketing & Merchandising diploma at the Academy of Design blends creative and business skills training to provide the specialized knowledge students will need to thrive in the industry. Program graduates are uniquely qualified to work in Canada and around the world as:

• Fashion Marketers
• Buyers
• Stylists
• Trend Forecasters and more

Specific courses explore just about every area of the fashion business, including:

• Merchandising
• Psychology and consumer behaviour
• Marketing
• Image consulting
• Publicity
• Event Planning
• Entrepreneurship

Students in this program gain valuable experience through many unique projects, including the opportunity to put together an issue of fmg magazine (featuring class work from the Academy of Design’s Fashion Design program) and the chance to collaboratively develop an extensive marketing plan. Class sizes are kept small so that students can benefit from individual attention. Students also benefit from the support and mentorship of faculty who are successful working professionals in the industry and bring experience and invaluable insight to the program.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the Fashion Marketing & Merchandising diploma program, graduates will be able to:

• Speak knowledgeably about fashion history and contemporary fashion
• Give a professional presentation with clarity, authority and confidence
• Perform the basic mathematics required in fashion merchandising calculations
• Display a full understanding of colour theory, textiles, fashion terminology and trends
• Create a visual display to show a fashion line
• Display the skills essential to successful professional sales and showroom management
• Analyze or create a marketing strategy for an existing product or service
• Run or develop a profitable private label department
• Create digital fashion designs and show proficiency in basic camera use and fashion photography
• Function analytically within the role of a retail buyer
• Understand the Canadian consumer market, market research techniques and target marketing
• Understand all aspects of fashion magazine publishing, including story idea development, covers, budgets, spreads, advertising, writing and interviewing
• Have an understanding of the fashion business environment today, including business law and management and team leadership in business
• Understand the importance of global sourcing in today’s marketplace
• Execute entrepreneurial skills to establish an independent business in Canada
• Display competency in online communications, with a focus on social media
• Understand the diversity of occupations and businesses within the fashion industry and execute a personal career strategy
• Display a job-ready portfolio (both print and online) of their work, including a capstone project and presentation to client