About the Apparel Design Minor
The apparel design program equips students with all the skills needed to become an
apparel or textile designer. Through 27 credit hours of courses, students learn technical
and creative skills along with the industry knowledge required to launch a successful
career.
This minor is part of UW’s Design, Merchandising and Textiles program, which was recently
accredited by the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Wyoming to declare a minor in apparel design.Many of the apparel design classes are offered every other year, so make sure to speak with your academic advisor about which courses you can take and how long it will take to complete the minor.
What can you do with an apparel design minor?
Apparel design students are equipped to thrive in a variety of creative careers. Many of our students go into fashion design and product development, while others pursue marketing, communications, merchandising and other fields.
Here are some of the career paths our alumni pursue:
- Creative Apparel Design
- Technical Apparel Design
- Product Development
- Marketing
- Communications
- Buying
- Visual Merchandising
Here are some of the places our grads are getting creative:
- Sierra Nevada Corporation
- Kohl’s
- Atomic Provisions
- SMAO, LLC
- Albany County Tourism Board
An apparel designer creates clothing and accessories by blending artistic vision with practical design skills. They sketch concepts, choose fabrics and materials, create patterns and oversee the construction of garments to bring their ideas to life. Apparel designers consider not just aesthetics, but also functionality, fit, market trends, sustainability and consumer needs. They often work on everything from everyday wear and athletic clothing to formalwear and specialized costumes. Depending on their role, they might collaborate closely with patternmakers, textile specialists, merchandisers or manufacturers to produce collections for brands, boutiques or custom clients.
Apparel design and fashion design are closely related but differ in focus. Apparel design emphasizes creating functional, wearable clothing, with attention to fit, construction and everyday usability. Fashion design is broader and more trend-driven, prioritizing artistic expression, aesthetics and cultural influence.
Join Our Community
The apparel design minor is a tight-knit community that thrives on collaboration and creativity. Our program equips students with the technology, collaborative workspace and knowledge you need to pursue your dream career in fashion.
