Category "Fashion School"

University of Fashion Promo code - TUTOR. $55 off a yearly subscription Was $220 now $165. Off expires 10.1.2026

School’s back in session—and so are we!

Think of us as every student’s best-kept secret: your own private fashion tutor, available on demand.

Our mission is your success. Whether you’re a student or teacher at a high school or college—anywhere in the world—and you need support with curriculum development, class projects, or building your portfolio, we’re here for YOU.

What you get

Access 550+ on-demand video tutorials across 13 fashion disciplines, all taught by experienced fashion professors and industry professionals:

Draping: daywear, athleisure, evening & bridal, swimwear, intimate apparel
Pattern Making: daywear, athleisure, evening & bridal, swimwear, intimate apparel
Sewing: machine & hand stitching, seam and hem finishes, zippers, couture techniques, tailoring, embroidery, leatherwork, and more
Fashion Drawing: figure drawing for men, women, and children; fabric rendering; design details; watercolor, pastels, and more
Knits: knitting, crocheting, and cut-and-sew knits
Menswear: measuring the male body and drafting bespoke patterns from measurements
CAD Art: Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, 3D design, AI fashion design, textile design
CAD Pattern Making: Tukatech pattern drafting and marker-making software
Accessories: handbags, small leather goods, shoe design
Product Development: starting a brand, adaptive fashion, tech design, flats, specs, tech packs, 3D design, AI fashion design
Childrenswear: global sizing and free kids’ pattern slopers for boys’ and girls’ wear
Fashion Business: start-up, retail, branding, fashion law, licensing, visual merchandising, and more
Lecture Series: adaptive design, costume history, sustainable design, color theory, trend forecasting, textiles, visual merchandising, and more

Special back-to-school offer

We typically run this promotion only once a year (during the holidays), but to help teachers and students get a head start, we’re offering $55 off our annual subscription:

Regular price: $220
Now: $165 with code TUTOR
Offer expires: October 1, 2026

Ready to elevate your fashion education? Use code TUTOR at checkout and start learning today.

If you are a school or group, we offer a free trial so that you can sample our content before taking advantage of our reduced rates for schools & groups.

Hurry, our offers expire October 1, 2026. Please note that the student discount promo code can only be used by teachers for their own personal use and not for use in the classroom. For our group subscription rates (5+ people) and to learn more about our free trials, scan the Group QR code above.

And just because we love every single fashionista out there, you don’t need to be a student or teacher to take advantage of our back to school promo, our sale is open to everyone!

What I Learned After 25+ Years as a Fashion College Professor — Part One

Francesca Sterlacci - July 18, 2026 - Costume Exhibitions, Current Topics in Fashion, Fashion Art, Fashion College Admissions Process, Fashion Education, Fashion Exhibitions, Fashion History, Fashion Illustration, Fashion Lectures, Fashion School, Sustainability

After decades in fashion education, I often find myself reflecting on what truly matters for aspiring designers. When considering new topics to share with our community of subscribers and followers, one idea stood out: why not pass along the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over the past 25+ years?

During my time at the Fashion Institute of Technology—17 years teaching in the classroom and 3 years serving as Chair of the Fashion Design department and then 6 years teaching graduate level fashion design at the Academy of Art —I had a front-row seat to students’ journeys into the fashion industry. I saw firsthand how they navigated everything from the application process to making the most of their education once accepted.

In this two-part series, Part One focuses on guiding prospective students through selecting and applying to fashion colleges. Part Two will shift to supporting educators, offering insights on how to help students thrive and create a meaningful, positive experience once they begin their fashion school journey.

How to Pick a Fashion College

UoF’s free list of global fashion schools — 2-year and 4-year fashion school options. (Image credit: University of Fashion.com)

Choosing the right fashion college is one of the most important decisions in your journey. As you explore your options, take time to ask yourself a few key questions:

How far from home am I willing to go for school?
Should I pursue a two-year program or commit to a four-year degree?
Which schools offer the strongest programs for my specific interests? For instance, if you’re passionate about costume design, which colleges specialize in that field?
What famous fashion designers graduated from this college?
What are the admission requirements, and can I realistically meet them? Consider factors like minimum GPA, standardized test scores, and, most importantly, portfolio expectations.
What is the tuition and do they offer scholarships and/or financing options?

Once you’ve researched and narrowed down the schools that you’re excited about, the next step is applying. Be sure to schedule visits to your top choices whenever possible. Walking the campus and experiencing the environment firsthand can help you picture your life there. For example, some students accepted to FIT later realized that living in a fast-paced city like New York wasn’t the right fit for them.

The Fashion College Application Process

University of Fashion’s lesson, Portfolio Tips for Fashion College Admissions (Image credit: University of Fashion)

In a recent conversation with Tina, a Chicago-based high school senior applying to fashion schools, she described the process as anxiety-producing and overwhelming. Her high school did not offer sewing classes, and its art program lacked guidance on building a fashion portfolio, leaving her to navigate the requirements on her own. Many of the schools she applied to expected both sewn garments and a strong fashion illustration portfolio. A surprise since wasn’t that the whole reason she should go to a fashion school in the first place?

Fortunately, Tina had an early advantage. During her sophomore year, her aunt gifted her a subscription to University of Fashion. Through its lessons she learned how to sew, draw fashion figures, and develop a cohesive portfolio. The platform also provided valuable resources, including a global directory of fashion schools, guidance on crafting a compelling admissions essay, and insight into what makes a portfolio stand out. The lesson, Portfolio Tips for Fashion College Admissions is an amazing guide that takes you through the whole process and is taught by a current FIT professor.

Tina also discovered that expectations vary by school. Some programs require original fashion design work, while others accept fine art pieces as part of the portfolio.

As applicants prepare their materials, it is important to ask:

Does my personal statement clearly express my passion for fashion?
Am I knowledgeable about the fashion history, current industry trends, and key sectors such as couture, luxury, and sustainable fashion?

Fashion college admissions teams want to see that applicants are fully committed and genuinely invested in pursuing fashion.

The Dos & Don’t of the Fashion College Essay

Your portfolio matters, but your essay should reveal who you are as an artist. Some schools require an artist statement—use it to explain your work, philosophy, aesthetic, and point of view. Colleges are looking for fresh, exciting, and innovative work. Show what makes your voice meaningful in fashion. Read the essay requirements carefully, since they want you to answer the question, not just talk about what you want to talk about.

Essay Dos

From UoF’s costume history lesson series, 100 Years of Fashion Rebels & Revolutionaries – Part 1. (Image credit) University of Fashion).

Immerse yourself in fashion—costume history, magazines, blogs, fashion shows and exhibitions—and stay aware of broader culture, from museums to pop and emerging artists. Know key designers, both established and new, and understand enough fashion history to reference it thoughtfully (e.g., Chanel’s legacy, the New Look, punk and grunge).

Write from a clear sense of the impact you want to make in the industry. You can also explore how the internet and digital culture are reshaping fashion, from early adopters to the contrast with traditional, big-budget fashion houses.

Essay Don’ts

Avoid clichéd essays, such as claiming you want to be a designer because you dress well or because you expect to inherit a family fashion business. Be cautious with questions about negative work experiences or strengths and weaknesses; always balance any weakness with a corresponding strength. For example, missing deadlines can be framed as a result of your commitment to producing high-quality work.

Take your essay seriously. Write concisely, avoid repetition, and remember that longer is not always better. Have a teacher or mentor review your work and allow time for revision—strong writing is a process. An A.I. essay is always discoverable.

The 5 Essential Principles for a Great Portfolio

Example of a fashion college admissions portfolio — including an inspiration/mood image, fashion sketches, flat sketches, neat fabric swatches and clean & clear signage. (Image credit: Nancy Kwan for University of Fashion)

When preparing your portfolio, regardless of the school you’re applying to, there are five essential principles to keep in mind.

First, ensure your portfolio feels cohesive, with a clear and consistent visual direction, starting with your inspiration.

Second, presentation matters—avoid anything that appears sloppy or smudged. If you include fabric swatches, they should be cleanly cut, properly labeled, and thoughtfully aligned with your designs.

Example of a fashion college admissions portfolio — including an inspiration/mood image, stylized fashion sketches, neatly cut fabric swatches and clean & clear signage. (Image credit: Ziyon Gong for University of Fashion)

Third, avoid relying on croquis templates from books or the internet. Develop your own sketching style so it reflects your unique design voice and aligns with your aesthetic.

Fourth, focus on technical accuracy in your sketches. Demonstrate your understanding of construction by clearly indicating details such as darts and garment openings.

How to Feature Your Garment Designs

Examples of how to creatively feature your garment designs. (Image credit: University of Fashion)

If you are including sewn examples of your work, create the best possible format for doing so. For example, shoot the garments on a model, then artfully place them on a background listing the design description and fabric choice. Or exhibit them artfully on a dress form. You can kill your portfolio with images that you haven’t spent time on. Professionalism matters.

In conclusion, invest the time to curate a visually compelling portfolio that is innovative, forward-thinking, and an authentic reflection of your passion for fashion. A thoughtfully crafted presentation will resonate with any admissions team. Aim for a portfolio that clearly communicates creativity, dedication, and the promise that you will represent their institution with distinction.

Tick Tock — time’s running out!

Francesca Sterlacci - December 20, 2025 - Current Topics in Fashion, Fashion Education, Fashion School, Holiday Gift Subscription, Special Offer

Still looking for that unique holiday gift? This holiday, why not give the gift of fashion education—because learning never goes out of style. Or better yet, treat yourself to a little creative indulgence. University of Fashion is wrapping up something special! As the first and largest online fashion education video library in the industry, we’re thrilled to announce our once-a-year holiday sale but hurry, the sale ends January 3, 2026.

With 13 fashion disciplines and over 550 instructional videos taught by top industry professionals, the gift of a UoF subscription is a true style statement. Give it to an aspiring designer, a fashion student, a creative ready to upskill, or that person in your life who’s just fashion-curious. They’ll learn what it takes to shine as a designer for menswear, womenswear, or children’s wear, or explore exciting paths like fashion retailing, museum curation, visual merchandising, and entrepreneurship.

Even if they’d rather binge-watch than pattern-draft, they can pop some popcorn, sit back, and immerse themselves in the world of style—all guided by the experts. It’s the perfect gift for your favorite fashionista… or the perfect excuse to treat yourself!

Oh, and did you know we now offer a Certificate of Completion for every lesson you complete…free of charge?

Are You Currently a Monthly Subscriber or Free Member?

If you are already a monthly subscriber or a free member to University of Fashion, you can also take advantage of our promo sale. Just login as usual, then look to the left and click “Upgrade to monthly (or Yearly) Subscription (Special Holiday Rate)” and use our promo code.

Here’s How to Purchase a Gift Certificate

The best way to create a gift subscription for someone is buy the subscription for yourself and then simply give the other person your subscription’s login credentials. Here’s the process in more detail:

Click the “Sign-up” button at the top of any page at https://www.UniversityofFashion.com, then click “Order Now” under either “ Monthly” or “ Yearly”.
Fill out the order form that appears using your own name, email and address. However, when the form asks you to choose a username and password, choose a username appropriate for the gift recipient. For example, if you’re giving the gift subscription to someone named, Sally Jones, create a username like “sjones”.
Use your credit card or PayPal to pay for the subscription.
Now for the fun part! Give your gift recipient the username and password you created and tell them to login. Once logged in, tell them to look to their left on the screen, click “Edit Profile” (under Membership Management) and change their account’s name, email address and/or password to whatever they want.
Scan, fill and print out or take a screen shot of the gift certificate template that applies and voila! Easy peasy!

Threads of Thanks — Black Friday Frenzy

Francesca Sterlacci - November 22, 2025 - Fashion Education, Fashion School, Holiday Gift Subscription, Special Offer, UoF Holiday Sale

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with inspiration, color, and creativity! May your holiday be as vibrant and original as your designs. Enjoy every moment, stitch by stitch, and let your passion continue to shine brighter than the autumn leaves. Here’s to a season of gratitude and bold fashion dreams coming to life!

Our Annual Subscription Sale Drops on Black Friday

And to make the Holiday season that much more special, we are rolling out our once-a-year super subscription special. But hurry because our sale ends on January 3, 2026.

The benefits of a UoF subscription are BIG. With 13 different disciplines, and a total of 550 instructional videos, you can give the gift of fashion education to that aspiring designer, current fashion student, someone already in the fashion biz who needs to upskill, or that person in your life who is simply ‘fashion curious’. They will learn all about what it takes to be a men’s, women’s and/or children’s wear fashion designer, a fashion retailer, a fashion museum curator, visual merchandiser and a fashion-entrepreneur. Even if they’re not interested in working with their hands, they can pop some popcorn, sit back, and just watch how it’s done! It’s the perfect gift for that fashionista in your life or, maybe you need to give yourself a gift!

Are You Currently a Monthly Subscriber or Free Member?

Here’s How to Purchase a Gift Certificate

Click the “Sign-up” button at the top of any page at https://www.UniversityofFashion.com, then click “Order Now” under either “ Monthly” or “ Yearly”.
Fill out the order form that appears using your own name, email and address. However, when the form asks you to choose a username and password, choose a username appropriate for the gift recipient. For example, if you’re giving the gift subscription to someone named, Sally Jones, create a username like “sjones”.
Use your credit card or PayPal to pay for the subscription.
Now for the fun part! Give your gift recipient the username and password you created and tell them to login. Once logged in, tell them to look to their left on the screen, click “Edit Profile” (under Membership Management) and change their account’s name, email address and/or password to whatever they want.
Scan, fill and print out or take a screen shot of the gift certificate template that applies and voila! Easy peasy!

Announcing Our Newest Lesson: Drafting a Jumpsuit

Francesca Sterlacci - November 22, 2025 - Fashion School, New Lessons, Pattern Making

University of Fashion’s newest lesson, Drafting a Jumpsuit (Image credit: UniversityofFashion.com)

Our newest lesson, Drafting a Jumpsuit, will teach you how to draft a jumpsuit using the torso and pant slopers that you drafted in our pattern making lessons, Convert Bodice Sloper to Torso Sloper and the pant sloper that you drafted in our lesson Basic Pant Sloper. Once you have drafted this jumpsuit, it will become the foundation for creating numerous style and design variations.

Click to view a preview of our newest lesson: Drafting a Jumpsuit (Image credit: UniversityofFashion.com)

Jumpsuit History

The iconic “Rosie the Riveter” image popularized the jumpsuit as a symbol of women’s contribution to the war effort (Images credit: Rosie the Riveter

The jumpsuit’s journey in women’s fashion is a fascinating tale of functionality evolving into style. Originally designed in 1919 for parachutists, the jumpsuit quickly found its way into various practical applications. The first high-fashion jumpsuit for women was created by Elsa Schiaparelli in the late 1930s, inspired by the impending war. She designed a green silk jumpsuit with large front pockets, marking the garment’s entry into the world of haute couture. During World War II, jumpsuits gained prominence as women’s workwear. As men went to war, women took up jobs in factories and other traditionally male-dominated sectors, adopting jumpsuits for their practicality. They became part of the iconic “Rosie the Riveter” uniform, a testament to their utility and resilience.

Jumpsuits circa 1960s (Image credit: ellozze.com)

During the 60s & 70s the jumpsuit transformed from workwear into a fashion statement that signified empowerment and emancipation. Printed jumpsuits became popular for casual daywear and were very popular in the disco scene.Jumpsuits become glamorous evening attire at Kayannou, LightInTheBox, Alice + Olivia and New York Dress.

In fact, jumpsuits became so popular in the 1980s that the American designer Geoffrey Beene declared them the “evening dress” of the next century. Based on a recent Google search, Mr Beene was 100% right!

Will Reshoring Garment Manufacturing Ever Be a ‘Thing’?

Francesca Sterlacci - September 18, 2025 - Current Topics in Fashion, Fashion Business, Fashion Events, Fashion History, Fashion Innovation, Fashion School, Uncategorized

Once upon a time in the distant land of “Maybe Soon,” a group of garment manufacturers decided to bring all their factories back to the good ol’ U.S.A. They called this magical idea “reshoring.” Everyone was excited—and then reality set in.

Why Factories Became Extinct

It all started in the 1970s, as brands realized that there were much larger profit margins to be had by outsourcing manufacturing to what were then known as Third World countries, India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Singapore and later Vietnam, Bangladesh, Mexico, Malaysia, Cambodia and China. Gradually, domestic supply chains began to disappear like textile manufacturing, garment factories and trim suppliers. “Made in USA” garments became more expensive for consumers and fast fashion became the rage. Cheap, throwaway clothes were hard to complete with for anyone trying to produce domestically. People loved their fast fashion too much. It was cheaper to buy new than fix old, even if your favorite shirt had mysteriously acquired a coffee stain that looked like the map of Europe.

Today, when industry leaders fantasize about producing clothes domestically, you often hear statements like, “but Americans can’t work like the Chinese”, meaning long hours and for cheap labor. The only products that can be made in the U.S.A are luxury-priced merchandise where price is no object. Can we change this?

Maybe Soon—Maybe Never

While our current government regime promises that by imposing blanket tariffs on countries, it will bring manufacturing back to the states. Not so fast, especially not for the garment business. Why? Because reshoring at scale faces significant structural, economic, and logistical challenges that make a large-scale shift unlikely under current conditions. Key challenges include:

High labor costs: U.S. labor standards and minimum wages mean the cost to produce a basic T-shirt domestically can be several times higher than sourcing from low-wage countries like Bangladesh or Vietnam. This makes most “Made in USA” garments more expensive for consumers.
Lost infrastructure and supply chains:Decades of offshoring have eroded the once-robust American garment supply network, including mills and finishing operations. Many key inputs (fabrics, buttons, zippers) are now almost entirely imported, creating further dependence on global supply chains.
Limited manufacturing capacity:The small size and limited capacity of remaining U.S. factories means they cannot currently meet the vast demand of the domestic market. Large-scale reshoring would require substantial new investment and workforce development.
Skills and workforce shortages:There are few skilled garment workers available, and vocational training programs have declined, creating bottlenecks for companies wanting to expand domestic operations.
Higher regulatory and compliance burdens:S. labor and environmental regulations, while protecting workers and the environment, increase compliance costs and bureaucratic complexity for manufacturers.

To accomplish the goal of reshoring, fashion industry leaders must lobby Washington. Our government will need to subsidize and help replace lost supply chains and infrastructure, as well as provide adequate training and guarantee a livable wage to factory workers. They will also need to invest and fund:

Technological advances: Automation, robotics, and 3D knitting can offset some labor costs, especially for custom, small-batch, or just-in-time production. In the past the government has funded scientific research, solar power and electric cars. Why not the fashion industry?
Policy support: There are legislative efforts, such as the proposed FABRIC Act, to incentivize domestic production through tax credits and grants but it’s not enough. Much more needs to be done.

In summary, while tariffs and restrictive trade policies may provide short-term protection and spur limited investment in homegrown manufacturing, their overall effectiveness is mixed and highly contingent on the structure of supply chains, the responsiveness of domestic industries, and international retaliation. Most evidence indicates that they are best used narrowly, as part of a targeted suite of industrial policies, rather than as a broad solution for revitalizing homegrown manufacturing at scale.

When and if Washington gets serious about reshoring, University of Fashion will be here to help train those who are ready, willing and able to Make America Stitch Again!

Hey, remember the good old days when your clothes didn’t come with a side of “where in the world was this really made?

CALLING ALL TEACHERS, STUDENTS & SCHOOLS

Francesca Sterlacci - September 6, 2025 - Back to School, Fashion Business, Fashion Education, Fashion School, Retail Math, Sewing

Welcome Back! We hope you had a fun summer and are excited about your new school term. It’s time to buckle down, crack the books, and meet those project deadlines. Are you ready?

If you’re a high school or college aspiring fashion design or fashion business student or teacher, WE ARE YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND.

We have has over 550 lessons in 13 different disciplines, beginner — advanced, to help you get through this academic term. As a UoF subscriber, you can access all of our lessons morning, noon and night, and as many times as you want. Now that’s what I call a tutor!

Because your success is our #1 priority our back to sale is on. Choose a monthly or a yearly subscription:

$15 off the first month of an individual recurring monthly subscription (was $22.95 – now $7.95). Use promo code: BACK.

$30 off an individual yearly subscription (was $220 now $190) use promo code: SCHOOL. Move fast, these offers expire on 12.1.2025

Scan the applicable code to take you to the sign-up page on the UoF website

HOW WE ASSIST FACULTY & SCHOOLS

Just this week we heard from two fashion college faculty members, at a top New York fashion school, whose teaching schedules changed at the last minute. University of Fashion to the rescue. One needed to brush up on her draping skills, the other on her drafting skills, so…they became UoF subscribers and called to thank us. Whew, that was close.

HOW SCHOOLS CAN SUBSCRIBE

If you are a teacher at a high school or college and would like your school to have a free 30-day all access trial, reach out to us by emailing us CS@universityoffashion.com or by scanning the QR code above and filling out the form Once your first time 30-day free trial is up, your school will be able to take advantage of our school/group subscription discount. It’s always cheaper by the dozen, right?

Another teacher at an LA fashion school needed to brush up on her retail math, merchandising and marketing skills and she too became a subscriber. Our business videos, in fact all of our videos, are taught by fashion college professors and industry professionals, so the information is top notch.

HOW WE HELP STUDENTS

We especially love helping design students and aspiring high school designers. For many it’s the first time they’ve had to calculate inches and centimeters, which is why our lesson entitled How to Read a Ruler is SO popular. When frustration sets in, because an instructor moves too fast during a demo causing the student to fall behind, we are here for them. In the privacy of their own home, students (and teachers) can watch and rewind a lesson until it sinks in. Whether it’s a sewing, draping, drawing or drafting lesson, we’ve got you covered. Oh, and did you know that we also answer any and all of your questions within 24 hours via our Customer Service link? At UoF, our instructors want you to succeed.

OUR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

Alas! All University of Fashion paid subscribers can now receive a Certificate of Completion for any and all completed lessons and lectures. You can track your individual progress toward earning a certificate by clicking on the ‘My Learning’ tab on the left side of your ‘Account Page’ and you can even print them out.!

Why is earning a certificate important? In addition to learning something new and having proof of your hard work, you can also impress your teacher. You’ll be able to add your certificates to your portfolio alongside images of your work. And, by the way, the certificates are FREE!

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF FASHION & IT’S FOUNDER

Francesca Sterlacci founder University of Fashion

University of Fashion was founded in 2008 by Francesca Sterlacci, a former tenured professor and chairperson at the Fashion Institute of Technology. She spent 18 years in fashion education and 10 years as a designer/owner of her high-end eponymous fashion brand. Francesca has written three certificate programs while at FIT and has authored five books: Leather Fashion Design; Draping Techniques for Beginners; Pattern making Techniques for Beginners; Sewing Techniques for Beginners and co-author of the Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry, Second Edition.

University of Fashion provides professionally-produced fashion educational video content to schools, libraries, groups & associations, as well as individual subscription memberships. UoF offers 550 beginner, intermediate and advanced lessons in 13 different disciplines; draping, pattern making, sewing, fashion art, CAD fashion art including 3D, digital pattern making, menswear, childrenswear, knitwear, accessories, production development and fashion business, in addition to a lecture series covering topics such as adaptive fashion, color theory, AI for fashion design, textile design, costume history, trend forecasting, sustainable design, influencer marketing, fashion law, and many other industry relevant topics. Teachers use UoF to upgrade their skills and as supplemental materials in their hybrid classrooms.

So act fast, our monthly and yearly sale ends December 1, 2025.

R.I.P. Big 4 Pattern Companies – Now What?

Francesca Sterlacci - July 19, 2025 - Current Topics in Fashion, Draping, Fashion Art, Fashion Education, Fashion History, Fashion School, Pattern Making, Sewing, Sustainability

The ‘Big 4’ pattern companies Vogue, Butterick, McCalls & Simplicity (New Look) were sold to a liquidator for $1 on May 30th, 2025.

Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past, the whir of a sewing machine was as constant as the hum of a refrigerator. Spools of thread in every shade known to humankind overflowed from biscuit tins, and pattern envelopes multiplied in sideboard drawers like rabbits after a particularly romantic spring. Home sewing was not just a hobby—it was a way of life, a rite of passage.

Grade and high schoolers were taught sewing and, in many cases, budding designers dreamed of attending fashion school. Speaking for myself, I spent my senior year designing and sewing prom dresses for friends. These skills eventually led me to FIT and a 40-year career in the fashion industry.

Back then, sewing circles were the original social networks—no algorithm required. Scissors were passed, gossip was shared, and if you didn’t have a pincushion shaped like a tomato or a seam ripper, you weren’t cool.

Fast forward to May 30^th, 2025, when it was announced that the “Big 4” sewing pattern companies (Simplicity, Butterick, McCalls, and Vogue) were sold to a liquidator for $1. IG Design Group Americas, the parent company of these brands, was sold to Hilco Capital, a liquidation firm. The sale effectively means the brands are now under the control of a company that specializes in liquidating assets of struggling businesses. How did this happen?

Blame Fast Fashion: The Great Unraveling

And then, like a rogue snag in your favorite sweater, the era of home sewing began to unravel. Blame globalization, blame polyester, blame that little voice in your head that says, “Why sew when you can buy a new shirt for six bucks at the mall?” For Millennials and Gen Zers, patterns—with their mysterious markings and origami-like folding—became as intimidating as IKEA assembly instructions. The amount of fabric jargon alone could send even the bravest soul running for the nearest department store. Selvage, dart, gusset—are these sewing terms or ingredients for a medieval potion?

Suddenly, sewing a dress at home ceased to be thrifty. Instead, it began to look as practical as churning your own butter. Why spend hours cutting, pinning, and cursing at a wonky zipper, when you could simply click “add to cart” and have three trendy tops delivered by Friday?

But somewhere between the rise of fast fashion and the arrival of next-day delivery, we seem to have lost our stitch. Today, let us pour one out for the demise of home sewing—a craft that once stitched together families, wardrobes, and, occasionally, the very seams of society.

Pandemic sewing surge (Image credit: The Conversation.com)

A Renaissance: Sustainable & DIY Fashion Movements & Pandemic

The creation of organizations like the World Fair Trade Organization (1989) and the establishment of certifications such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) substantiated the push for accountability, fair wages, and sustainable materials in fashion, inspiring the DIY movement. Thanks to thrifting, recycling and upcycling, Instagram is awash with influencers who can conjure a dress from a vintage bedsheet, and hashtags like #MeMadeMay or #SewingCommunity still draw thousands of posts.

Lockdowns during the pandemic saw a spike in sales of sewing machines and supplies. Suddenly, everyone wanted to make masks, or perhaps finally hem those curtains purchased in a fit of optimism in 2012.

Kelly Kim of Cornell University (Image credit: HomeSewingCornell.com)

What We Lose When We Lose Home Sewing

There is something quietly radical about stitching your own clothes—a sense of agency, creativity, and connection to the past. Home sewing taught generations how to create, repair, and personalize. It was the original form of sustainable fashion, long before “upcycling” became a buzzword.

When we lose home sewing, we lose the tiny acts of rebellion that said, “I won’t settle for off-the-rack.” We surrender an opportunity to slow down, to make something beautiful, and to understand that perfection is overrated—that a crooked seam can be a thing of pride.

So, What’s Next? A Prediction

With the future of the Big 4 pattern companies in limbo, I predict that new business opportunities will open-up for independent pattern makers to market their own digital pattern designs to home sewers. Watch for them on Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and in trade mags like Threads.

Watch as affordable fashion education libraries, such as University of Fashion, with their beginner, intermediate and advanced on-demand lessons in design and manufacturing become even bigger, as the go-to resource for creatives to learn sewing and the 3D’s: draping, drafting and drawing.

So, here’s to the seamstresses and tailors who came before us, to the calluses on their fingers and the ingenuity in their designs. Here’s to the menders, the makers, the hemmers, and the dreamers. Home sewing may be on hiatus, but its spirit lives on—quietly, stubbornly, and sometimes, gloriously, in the oddest places. Like your great-aunt’s linen closet, or your own heart, whenever you sew on a stray button and save the day.

Long live the stitch, no matter how small.

University of Fashion’s NEWEST Lesson: AI: Getting Started with Prompts

Francesca Sterlacci - January 26, 2025 - 3D Design, 3D Fashion Design, AI Fashion, Current Topics in Fashion, Fashion Innovation, Fashion School, New Lessons, New University of Fashion Lessons

Are you ready for the Age of AI?

Let us help you enter the exciting world of AI for Fashion Design. It’s just a tool after all.

Just like a ruler, hip curve and a pencil helps in drafting patterns. And muslin, scissors and a dress form assists in the draping, you can now use AI to help you in the design process. Who doesn’t want another tool in their tool kit?

UoF’s newest lesson, AI: Getting Started with Prompts by Anna Leighton (Image credit: UniversityofFashion.com)

So, what’s a Prompt?

Simply put, it’s a tool. Imagine that you are giving directions to your pattern maker. You’re telling her/him/them, “I am looking to create a dress pattern for a size 8 with the following specifications: a sleeveless knee-length sheath silhouette made out of linen, with a scooped neck, embroidery around the neckline and armhole and a back zipper’. Well, in AI language, that is called a prompt.

In our second lesson, AI: Getting Started with Prompts, Anna Leighton demos how to craft powerful prompts that turn AI from a tool into your creative partner. A great prompt is more than just a description. It’s like a recipe where every word adds richness, detail and depth to your design, ultimately transforming your vision into a stunning reality. In this lesson, you learn how to construct a fashion image from the ground up by carefully describing each design detail, setting the perfect angle, choosing ideal lighting and much more. Focusing on prompting will help you create a captivating image and story with your unique perspective and vision.

You will be able to use these tools to create mood boards and to iterate on ideas. Anna will teach you how!

Get Started with our Introduction to AI Fashion Lesson

UoF’s first AI lesson Introduction to AI Fashion Design (Image credit: Universityoffashion.com)

In our first lesson, Introduction to AI Fashion Design, you’re going to get an introduction to AI in fashion. Anna explores AI’s history from its beginnings to its transformative role in fashion today. You’ll learn about how AI is revolutionizing the fashion industry—from generating styles to optimizing materials and predicting trends. Plus, you’ll learn about powerful AI design tools that can enhance and elevate your own fashion projects.

Next up in our AI series?

Watch for our next lesson entitled, AI: Midjourney The User-Friendly AI Platform. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use Midjourney to bring your fashion design ideas to life. Anna will demo how to set up Midjourney on Discord. By the end of this lesson, you’ll know how to create stunning visuals experiment with design variations and unlock the full creative potential of this incredible tool.

Happy Almost Holidays

Francesca Sterlacci - December 14, 2024 - Fashion Education, Fashion School, Festival Season, Holiday Gift Subscription, Special Offer

In honor of the upcoming holidays, Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, we are announcing our once yearly sale. The benefits of a UoF subscription are BIG. With 13 different disciplines, you can give the gift of fashion education to that aspiring designer, current fashion student, someone already in the fashion biz who needs to upskill, or that person in your life who is simply ‘fashion curious’. They will learn all about what it takes to be a men’s, women’s and/or children’s wear fashion designer, a fashion retailer, a fashion museum curator, visual merchandiser and a fashion-entrepreneur. Even if they’re not interested in working with their hands, they can pop some popcorn, sit back, and just watch how it’s done!

We’ve actually been called the “Netflix of Fashion”

With over 550+ lessons to learn from, they will never be bored. And another bonus of your gift to them is that they will earn a FREE Certificate of Completion for each and every lesson they master. Oh, and did you know, all of our lessons are taught by fashion college professors and fashion industry professionals?

UoF was founded in 2008 by Francesca Sterlacci, a fashion designer/entrepreneur/author and former chairperson at the Fashion Institute of Technology. University of Fashion is the first & largest online fashion education resource in the world serving thousands of individuals, high schools, colleges, associations and libraries around the world.

By giving a UoF subscription, either a monthly or a yearly, your gift recipient will be blown away!!

Our Holiday offers expire on January 2, 2025, so be sure to move on this offer soon. This is one of the most unique gift options out there!! Give a friend or family member the gift of fashion education. Tell a friend, or, what the heck, why not give yourself a gift? You deserve it!

Are You Currently a Monthly Subscriber or Free Member?

Here’s How to Purchase a Gift Certificate

Click the “Sign-up” button at the top of any page at https://www.UniversityofFashion.com, then click “Order Now” under either “ Monthly” or “ Yearly”.
Fill out the order form that appears using your own name, email and address. However, when the form asks you to choose a username and password, choose a username appropriate for the gift recipient. For example, if you’re giving the gift subscription to someone named, Sally Jones, create a username like “sjones”.
Use your credit card or PayPal to pay for the subscription.
Now for the fun part! Give your gift recipient the username and password you created and tell them to login. Once logged in, tell them to look to their left on the screen, click “Edit Profile” (under Membership Management) and change their account’s name, email address and/or password to whatever they want.
Scan, fill and print out or take a screen shot of the gift certificate template that applies and voila! Easy peasy!

University of Fashion Blog

Category "Fashion School"

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What I Learned After 25+ Years as a Fashion College Professor — Part One

How to Pick a Fashion College

The Fashion College Application Process

The Dos & Don’t of the Fashion College Essay

Essay Dos

Essay Don’ts

The 5 Essential Principles for a Great Portfolio

How to Feature Your Garment Designs

Tick Tock — time’s running out!

Announcing Our Newest Lesson: Drafting a Jumpsuit

Jumpsuit History

Will Reshoring Garment Manufacturing Ever Be a ‘Thing’?

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HOW WE ASSIST FACULTY & SCHOOLS

HOW SCHOOLS CAN SUBSCRIBE

HOW WE HELP STUDENTS

OUR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

So act fast, our monthly and yearly sale ends December 1, 2025.

R.I.P. Big 4 Pattern Companies – Now What?

Blame Fast Fashion: The Great Unraveling

A Renaissance: Sustainable & DIY Fashion Movements & Pandemic

What We Lose When We Lose Home Sewing

So, What’s Next? A Prediction

University of Fashion’s NEWEST Lesson: AI: Getting Started with Prompts

Are you ready for the Age of AI?

Let us help you enter the exciting world of AI for Fashion Design. It’s just a tool after all.

So, what’s a Prompt?

Get Started with our Introduction to AI Fashion Lesson

Next up in our AI series?

Happy Almost Holidays

Are You Currently a Monthly Subscriber or Free Member?

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