Fashion School Vs. CPMG
We all know the dream…
You are living in New York City, attending Fashion school, staying up late into the night sewing. You drink coffee from a street cart, and grab a bagel from the bodega up the block between classes. You hop on the subway uptown to shop for fabric after class, browsing shops with bolts to the ceiling, and then swing by next door to the little “hole in the wall” spot that carries trims and zippers.
I know this dream well, because from age 8, I thought of it every day. I’m sure the dream began after watching Project Runway, and/or discovering my grandma's sewing machine in her basement after a summer trip to her house in Iowa.
For me, the Dream was not just a dream - but a goal. Something I was desperate to make reality. At age 18, I applied to 13 colleges - 1 of which was Pratt, an NYC art school. I was accepted, but the cost of tuition was enormous (some $50,000/year WITH scholarships).
And so, in order to pivot and find a way to reshape the Dream. I enrolled at an Art school in Columbus, Ohio. Still some 800+ miles away from home, but no bodegas in sight, and our fabric shop was a Joann in the suburbs, that I took a 30 minute bus ride to get to on the weekends. Nonetheless, I was living the dream. I was going to Fashion School.
I showed my work at my Senior fashion show, I studied abroad at London School of Fashion, I interned in NYC, I participated in critiques, and spent long hours in the studio sewing and knitting and making art.
I have no regrets attending Fashion school. Choosing to pursue a creative life is probably the best decision I ever made, and going to Fashion school was one of the first steps on that journey.
But going to Fashion school is not the only path to becoming a patternmaker.
As you consider - What type of education is right for you - let me share my main takeaways from both attending Fashion School, and Confident Patternmaking.
In Fashion School, we learned about many different topics relating to Fashion. I took classes in textiles, fashion history, sewing construction, patternmaking, draping, fashion illustration, tailoring, knitting, etc. the list goes on.
I loved being able to learn about so many different topics! However, it depended on my instructor. Some were extremely knowledgeable on each topic, while others knew more vaguely about what they were teaching. When it came to patternmaking, I graduated with a good base, but had a lot of gaps in my knowledge. We were not taught much about adjusting patterns for different body shapes, or drafting patterns for an inclusive size range. We didn't learn about pattern grading, or pattern drafting digitally.
Confident Pattern making on the other hand is a highly detailed class that narrows in on the topic of Patternmaking and Grading. While there is support for sewing construction - it is not the focus. You won't learn the art of knitting, fashion history, or tailoring techniques in this course, but you will get an extremely deep dive into patternmaking, developing blocks for your unique body, and grading out to an inclusive size range.
Comparatively the cost is also much lower. That being said, I am comparing the cost of a US Fashion school tuition, so do keep that in mind. But simply put - I paid for CPMG out of pocket on a payment plan, and Fashion School I funded through numerous scholarships, work-study, and loans - that I am still paying back today.
So to recap…
FASHION SCHOOL:
Pros-
You learn about a wide variety of topics relating to Fashion.
In-person experience of a studio, peers, and professors
Cons-
Costly
Time-consuming
Intensive to apply, be accepted, and also attend (2-4 years of full-time classes)
Not available in every city. You might have to move away to attend
Harder to attend as a “non-traditional” student. If you have a family, or job - it can be challenging to make time for classes, and it might feel lonely attending with younger students.
You have to retain the information on your own - if you don’t show up to class, or take notes you might not be able to recall what you learned
CPMG:
Pros -
Emphasis on size-inclusivity
A fraction of the cost of a 4 year fashion degree
Taught digitally - more portable
Flexible schedule
Lifetime access to videos, modules, and course curriculum
Option to extend time learning for as long as needed (4 months included, but subscription option to extend one-on-one support).
Detailed learning on patternmaking and grading
Cons -
You may need to learn other skills on your own time (sewing construction, etc.)
Professional education, but no degree as a result. If you want to work in the corporate side of Fashion, you may need a BFA.
Ultimately it is up to you to decide which path is the right one for you. But if you don’t want to wait any longer, are ready to take the leap and become a patternmaker from the comfort of your own home - check out our Confident Patternmaking & Grading Program.
