Fashion

Expression. Creativity. Style. Whether you aim to establish your own personal brand or build on the vision and success of a top local retail brand, the OCC Career Advantage Fashion program will prepare you for the career you want in the exciting, thriving fashion industry. Our programs prepare you to work as a fashion designer, merchandising specialist, and fashion product development specialist, stylist, tailor and more. The Fashion program also gives you the foundation you need to transfer and excel in a four-year, bachelor’s degree program in a similar field if that is your goal. OCC Fashion offers unique opportunities that you won’t find anywhere else, including internships at top local and national brands and hands-on, real world experience working side-by-side with local fashion brands in our pop-up shop, “The Box.”

Career opportunities in this field are broad and diverse, as are the income opportunities. Tailors, dressmakers and custom sewers in California earn a median income of $29,806, while fashion designers earn about $60,003. If fashion is your passion, OCC is your college. Read on to learn more.

A sampling of courses for these careers

Clothing Design and Selection
Industrial Sewing Techniques
Street Style

Flat Pattern Techniques
Draping
Tailoring

Two women alter pink dress

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Did you know?

Fashion students can gain hands-on, real-world experience on campus through “The Box” pop-up retail shop. The Box is a restyled shipping container transformed into a stylish, happening campus site featuring hot local retail brands like Volcom, Paul Frank Workshops, Tavik and more. Intern in The Box and work with brand representatives to build your network, get mentoring and career advice and gain a valuable understanding of the retail business. Watch the video below to learn more about The Box.

Program Details

Complete one of our certificate programs, and you’ll be well-prepared to enter a career in fashion.

Build upon your skills if you’re already employed in the field. Or earn an associate degree for even greater advancement opportunities.

See Evening, Weekend and Online Courses

In less than 2 years
you can earn:
Certificate of Achievement

Prepare for an entry-level position in the fashion industry in the areas of garment construction, alterations, patternmaking, tailoring and dressmaking. Courses cover clothing and sewing techniques, draping, professional practices, couture design and more. View program detail in course catalog.

Prepare for an entry-level position as a designer in the fashion industry, in the fields of traditional design, technical design and merchandising. Courses cover color and design theory, sewing and design techniques, patternmaking and more. View program detail in course catalog.

Prepare for a career as a display and exhibit designer by learning about interior, industrial, thematic and promotional displays. Learn about the total visual presentation design and production, including store planning, service promotion mix applied to retailers, wholesalers (trade show), corporate display, visual identity, and exhibits in cultural institutions (museums and galleries). View program detail in course catalog.

Prepare for an entry-level position as a merchandiser in the fields of retail management, retail buying, special events and promotions, visual merchandising, image/fashion consulting and public relations. View program detail in course catalog.

Prepare for an entry-level position in the fashion industry in the areas of patternmaking, sample-making, technical design, sourcing management, production management, quality control supervising, grading, marker making, costing/spec production, pre-production and merchandising. View program detail in course catalog.

Build on your certificate
of achievement with a:
Certificate of Specialization

Prepare for a position in apparel construction and textile product assembly through this short-term training program. Learn clothing construction and the use of high-speed industrial sewing equipment. This program also offers a self-paced open- entry/open-exit lab that allows for enrollment throughout the semester. View program detail in course catalog.

Prepare for entry-level employment as a competent professional in the fields of sustainable apparel design, merchandising, compliance, product development, production, sales and marketing and meet the needs of the local fashion industry. View program detail in course catalog.

Or earn your
associate degree
in under 4 years

Complete the Apparel Construction Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare you for an entry-level position in the fashion industry in the areas of garment construction, alterations, patternmaking, tailoring and dressmaking. View program detail in course catalog.

Complete the Design Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare for an entry-level position as a designer in the fashion industry, in the fields of traditional design, technical design and merchandising. View program detail in course catalog.

Complete the Display and Visual Presentation Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare you for a career as a display and exhibit designer by learning about interior, industrial, thematic and promotional displays. View program detail in course catalog.

Complete the Fashion Merchandising Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare you for an entry-level position as a merchandiser in the fields of retail management, retail buying, special events and promotions, visual merchandising, image/fashion consulting and public relations. View program detail in course catalog.

Complete the Production/Product Development Certificate of Achievement and the Associate in Science graduation requirements to earn an associate degree. This program will prepare you for an entry-level position in the fashion industry in the areas of patternmaking, sample-making, technical design, sourcing management, production management, quality control supervising, grading, marker making, costing/spec production, pre-production and merchandising. View program detail in course catalog.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

To enroll in a Career Advantage program, you must first apply for admission to Orange Coast College. To apply, go to the Admissions Application Information webpage and review the information and requirements for admission. A link at the bottom of that page will take you to the CCCApply website, where you will be prompted to create an account so you can begin the application process.

Classes cost $46 per unit for residents of California. Classes vary in their unit value, but an average 3-unit class costs $138. There are additional fees required to register and additional costs associated with each program. Click here to view the estimated total costs of the program in this career cluster.

View this chart for the length of the core program.

This program offers evening and weekend courses. For details about offerings in this program, speak to a counselor or consult the class schedule. The class schedule tool searches through all Orange Coast College course offerings and includes a filter for online classes.

You can make an appointment in person, online or by phone.  Click here for more information about Counseling Services and how to make an appointment.

For general questions about enrollment, availability of classes and other services for prospective and current OCC students, call The Answer Center at 714-432-5772. For answers to specific questions you can speak to a counselor or to the faculty member listed on this program page.

Man works on fashion design drawing
Two female fashion designers discuss something on computer screen
Two fashion designers with measuring tapes smile at each other

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Did you know?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who have a certificate as
their highest level of education earned, on average, 20 percent more than
those whose highest education level is a high school diploma.

Our Team

Christina Anchondo, 
M.S.

CTE Outreach Specialist

Katie Ottoson

Katie Ottoson, M.S.

Counselor, CTE and
Career Services

Tom Choe

Tom Choe

Counselor, Consumer Health
and Science Programs

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