Fashion
Division: Consumer/Family Studies
The Fashion Merchandising and Design department provides students with an education in the diverse and dynamic world of fashion. Students will acquire specific industry skills through courses completed in Sewing, Designing, Visual Merchandising, Advertising and Marketing, Retail Management and Sales, Consumer Behavior and Aesthetics and Textiles.
Students can obtain a certificate which will promote skills in creative thinking, multicultural awareness, hands on learning, internships and networking. The fashion degree includes all these skills as well as providing a foundation that can be used to move on to further educational opportunities.
This well-established program prepares students for a professional career, a career advancement and/or the opportunity to further their study in the field of Fashion.
Transfer requirements in Fashion are available in the Counseling Department. In all cases, students should consult with a counselor for specific transfer requirements.
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Contact Information
Fashion Faculty Contact
Tiffany Wainwright | (559) 737-5364 | tiffanyw@cos.edu
Tule: 504B | Visalia Campus
Consumer and Family Studies Division Chair
Vanessa Bailey | (559) 730-3858 | vanessaba@cos.edu
Tule: 504C | Visalia Campus
Dean of Business, Social Science, and Consumer Family Studies
Jesse Wilcoxson, Ed.D. | (559) 737-6281 | jessew@cos.edu
Kern: 716 | Visalia Campus
For a complete list of courses and descriptions visit: COURSES
FASH 076 Introduction to Textiles and Apparel
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Introduction to basic textiles; the study of fibers, yarns and fabric identifications, with emphasis on various processes of textile manufacturing, fabric finishes, sustainability/environmental concerns and appropriates for end use.
Advisory on Recommended Preparation: ENGL 261 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C or eligibility for ENGL 001 as determined by COS Placement Procedures.
FASH 139 Fashion Sales and Promotion
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Fashion sales and promotion is an overview of marketing, sales, and business practices that support retail businesses. The course will focus on consumer behavior and marketing, demographics and psychographics, decision-making and buying patterns, social media and communication, and ethics and responsibility.
FASH 140 Intro to the Fashion Industry
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Overview of the fashion industry including the organization, structure and interrelationship of industries and services in apparel and fashion businesses. Includes terminology, designers, trade organizations and publications, as well as career and professional opportunities.
FASH 141 Introduction to Fashion Culture, Dress, and Theory
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Study of clothing and appearance as important contributors to human interactions; consideration of the importance of clothing in individual and collective behavior. Basic concepts and theories from social psychology will be used to study how dress reflects self identity, impression management, body image, personality, social status, and roles.
FASH 142 Fashion Visual Design
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Introduction to visual merchandising and retail sales. Focusing on layouts and fixtures, apparel wall setups, signage, lighting, mannequins, and core design strategies for the sales floor.
FASH 143 Introduction to Fashion Careers
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Fashion industry career development will provide a broad perspective of career opportunities throughout the fashion industry. Students will explore career development, areas of interest, and career path opportunities as they relate to the fashion industry. This course will also identify workplace professionalism, appropriate dress codes, job search engines, resume building techniques, and mock cover letters related to a specific area of interest.
FASH 146 Introduction to Retail Management
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
This course provides an introduction to management in the fashion industry. Areas of emphasis include apparel buying, multi-channel retail and consumer behavior. The course will also review occupation opportunities within retail management.
FASH 160 Beginning Sewing
3 unit(s)
Hours: 2 Lecture/Discussion
Hours:
3 Lab
Basic sewing and clothing construction techniques. Students will learn the difference between woven and knit fabrics, how to read a basic, manufactured pattern, and complete a sewing workbook. The sewing workbook includes a variety of sewing sample techniques produced by the student.
FASH 161 Intermediate Sewing
3 unit(s)
Hours: 2 Lecture/Discussion
Hours:
3 Lab
The second semester study of the principles of clothing construction for women and men. Topics covered include construction techniques for garments utilizing darts, buttons, sleeves, pockets and more.
Prerequisites: FASH 160 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
FASH 162 Advanced Clothing Construction
3 unit(s)
Hours: 2 Lecture/Discussion
Hours:
3 Lab
Advanced clothing construction using commercial patterns while applying advanced sewing techniques. Students will learn how to make alterations, hem and embellish constructed projects. Students will complete advanced sewing projects.
Prerequisites: FASH 161 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
FASH 163 Draping and Flat Pattern Design
3 unit(s)
Hours: 2 Lecture/Discussion
Hours:
3 Lab
Introduction of fundamental principles and concepts of designing clothing using flat pattern techniques and 3 dimensional draping.
Prerequisites: FASH 161 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
FASH 165 Fashion Illustration and Business Creation
3 unit(s)
Hours: 3 Lecture/Discussion
Use of computer software to develop skills in drawing and designing for the fashion industry. Instruction includes the use of Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Clipart, and other industry-standard software. Create story/mood boards with color and fabric swatches. Learn how to develop and create an inspired portfolio that promotes a candidate's skills, strengths, and experience for employment in the fashion industry. Students will be designing an original collection of technical flats to include in their professional portfolios. Technical flats will be used for career opportunities. Learn how to start, run, and grow your own online business and become an entrepreneur.
FASH 264 Fashion in Southern California
1 unit(s)
Hours: 1 Lecture/Discussion
In this field trip course, students will travel on a day trip to tour the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles. They will learn the details and business practices of the many fashion businesses within the California Market Center. Students will learn how fashion buyers use the market to purchase products for their businesses. Students will also explore the many different career opportunities within the California Market Center.
FASH 268 Dynamics of the Fashion Industry
1 unit(s)
Hours: 1 Lecture/Discussion
Students will discover the details and aspects of the fashion industry in California on a one-day field trip. Students will visit a fashion retailer or manufacturer to experience a real-life example of fashion development, production, and merchandising with a successful business. This trip will allow students to explore fashion career path options and learn about current fashion trends within the industry.
FASH 271 Fashion Show Production: Beginning
2 unit(s)
Hours: 2 Lecture/Discussion
Students will explore the processes and procedures of producing a fashion event. This course will accommodate both fashion merchandising and design students. Topics in this course include: basic production skills in choosing a theme, preparing a budget, styling, coordinating colors and fabrics, marketing and promoting, model selection, and final show framework. Students will participate in the production of the fashion event by working under more experienced students in the course as they will be at a beginning level in this first level course of Fashion Show Production.
FASH 272 Fashion Show Production 2
2 unit(s)
Hours: 2 Lecture/Discussion
This course is designed for second-level fashion merchandising and design students who are interested in participating in The COS Fashion Show for a second semester. Students will be working on leadership skills. They will also be mentoring beginning students in their first semester of Fashion Show Production. The second level students will apply what they have learned from the first semester and be able to lead and organize many of the tasks to produce the fashion show in the second semester.
Prerequisites: FASH 271 or equivalent college course with a minimum grade of C.
FASH 273 Fashion Show Production: 3
2 unit(s)
Hours: 2 Lecture/Discussion
This course is designed for third-level fashion merchandising and design students who are interested in participating in The COS Fashion Show for a third semester. Students will be working on leadership and management skills in this advanced course. The third level students will be placed as a coordinator in one step of the production and will create a team of first and second level students to mentor. They will develop, plan, manage, and execute a specific step of the production.