apparel design and merchandising app state

Apparel Design

Are you creative, driven and a design trailblazer? Turn your creative passion into a career with a degree in apparel design and harness your creativity and artistic skill. You'll learn all about cutting-edge technology, process and design thinking. We're the No. 1 apparel design program in Oregon, and ranked 2nd in the nation, according to Best Value Schools.

Our apparel design program focuses on both the conceptual and technical design process with an emphasis on sustainability and inclusivity. You develop skills essential to moving an idea from concept to creation, including ideation, sketching, digital pattern making and prototyping, garment construction, fit evaluation, and the development of factory specifications.

Your foundational business skills prepare you for exciting career opportunities as an entrepreneur, within a small business or excelling at a major apparel design firm.

Many of our students also choose to double major in merchandising management, for an in-demand skill set within the apparel design and retail industry sectors.

Apparel design is a major program of study offered in Corvallis.

Options:

Once you enroll in the apparel program, you can select an area of focus from the following options:

The Dean's Academy is an academic forum for high-achieving first-year students, transfer students, and current undergraduate students who wish to maximize the educational and experiential aspects of their college experience. Invitation to this option is restricted to those who meet eligibility requirements.

28+

degrees and areas of focus

85% Job placement rate

of classes have fewer than 50 students

450

companies recruit our students each year

Apparel Design Opportunities

Associated Clubs

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

National Retail Federation

Entrepreneurship Club

Sports Product Development Club

See all clubs >

Possible Careers

Assistant Designer

Product Developer

Surface Design - Print

Materials Developer – Fabric & Trims

Textile Lab trains designers for industry standards

The Textile Lab allows for a range of ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) and other industry-standard testing equipment related to textile and apparel construction, aesthetics, durability and comfort. The Textile Lab also offers access to cutting-edge 3D design and virtual prototyping tools, giving our graduates the training and skills they need. This level of design precision is necessary in an industry responding to dynamic factors such as e-commerce, small-quantity production and short lead times — the new norms for the apparel industry.

A Family's Work Inspires Apparel Designer Anna Roth

Senior spring 2020 brought interesting times. Anna Roth '20, while just scant weeks away from earning an Honors Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design, with minors in Visual Arts and Business and Entrepreneurship, found herself spending additional weeks in the apparel lab on a new project.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of signature events for our apparel designers – the annual Apparel Design Club's fashion show, Portland Design week, and the many networking opportunities through Oregon State.

But as a teaching assistant for Marianne Dickson, senior instructor of apparel design, Roth was one of the first to learn, and get straight on board, with the OSU project Dickson led to sew face coverings to supply critical workers during the shortages.e else in the world will you see a wedding dress designed from waterproof material?

Excellent people and excellent resources available to students — that's the best thing about the College of Business

Sarah Moore '09
Columbia Sportswear

Graduates from the college's apparel design program have become apparel designers, brand managers, computer aided design specialists, fabric coordinators, product developers, theater costume designers, and more.

Coach
Columbia Sportwear
Dakine
Hanna Andersson
Leanna NYC
New Balance
Nike
Norm Thompson Outfitters

Oakley
Pendleton Woolen Mills
Perry Ellis International
Target Corp.
The Jones Group
Victoria's Secret
WILL Leather Goods

Professional, personal and leadership skills form the backbone of successful careers. Blueprint, our award-winning series of classes, is focused on professional and leadership development and financial literacy. With Blueprint, you're on track to graduate on time, with the skills and network to choose your career, and the savvy to make the big decisions at the right time.

Our first-year students live in one of our business-themed residence halls. This learning-focused, student-first, open-door culture makes the big Oregon State campus feel like the supportive place it is – and feel a lot smaller and easier to navigate than you might think.

We're the only college at OSU that has a dedicated Career Success Center for our students. We help you find an internship, write a resume and find a job.

Oregon State is ranked in the top five for online education with U.S. News & World Report. The College of Business overall, as well as our accounting program, is accredited by AACSB International – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB International is the premier accrediting agency for degree programs in business and accounting.

Discover the OSU difference