Fashion designers without a degree?

UNiQFashionista · 13-07-2006

I did a search and could not find a thread on fashion designers who dont have degrees.
I always wondered if there were any established FD who don't have degree's in fashion, or don't have degree's at all. I know there are some, but I don't know of any famous ones. Did they all get degree's in fashion?! do you think its a requirement to be a successful fashion designer- or with your own label to have a degree? can an aspiring fd do without?!

spottie · 13-07-2006

What about Halston? Can't remember if he had a degree or not...

spottie · 13-07-2006

Oh, I think I remember that Geoffrey Beene quit med school because he wanted to design. He said that his anatomy classes were quite helpful though

Honey~Blade · 13-07-2006

Rei Kawakubo :P

UNiQFashionista · 14-07-2006

wow interesting, what was rei doing before designing?

Salvatore · 14-07-2006

Didn't Miuccia Prada get her degree in Political Science? I'm not sure if she went back to get her degree in fashion.

rockitgirl · 14-07-2006

I don't think it's a requirement but it definately helps...there is actually at least one thread on here about going to school or not. I don't know any keywords though, I'm sorry...maybe try searching for "school". A lot of interesting opinions were raised in it.

gius · 14-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salvatore

Didn't Miuccia Prada get her degree in Political Science? I'm not sure if she went back to get her degree in fashion.

Yes^ that's true. She inherited the family company

Consuela Castiglione for Marni is another example.
And I read from here that Donna Karan dropped out of Parson's to work for Anne Klein and start her own label. She completed her degree afterwards.
I think Marc Jacobs didn't finish Parson's too

travis_nw8 · 15-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honey~Blade

Rei Kawakubo :P

i don't think she had any formal fashion training- she study philosophy amd then worked as a frrelance stylist.

also i dont think gaultier and mouret had any formal training

Honey~Blade · 16-07-2006

Gaultier apprenticed with Pierre Cardin, but yeah he never went to school.

I believe Vivienne Westwood did not study any fashion design either. Perhaps also Raf Simons, not too sure. I don't know if I'm right but he probably went for an Art major in Antwerp than a fashion one.

Another person who springs to mind also is Hedi Slimane.

**MulletProof** · 16-07-2006

I believe Christian Lacroix was studying something related to religion before moving onto fashion.

gius · 17-07-2006

Yes, from the looks of it, the designers without a degree are mostly from the 20th century...?
It's the 21st now, so maybe the requirements have changed a bit, but I do believe it's alright to work your way up. Work experience in the end is key

For "now" designers, there are all those celebrity designers, like Sean Combs and J-Lo, and people who have connections, like Trovata. But I guess they are not really good examples...

lostinemotion · 22-07-2006

Calvin Klein got kicked out of F.I.T...
Atleast that's what a few professor's always say.

sanita13 · 22-07-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by gius

Yes, from the looks of it, the designers without a degree are mostly from the 20th century...?
It's the 21st now, so maybe the requirements have changed a bit, but I do believe it's alright to work your way up. Work experience in the end is key

For "now" designers, there are all those celebrity designers, like Sean Combs and J-Lo, and people who have connections, like Trovata. But I guess they are not really good examples...

There are no "requirements" to be a successful fashion designer. A fashion designer gotta have the drive, motivation and the talent to make beautiful clothes. Also a lot designers are self taught, so there you go.

Missoni~Heiress · 22-07-2006

I honestly think that a good designer has talent not knowledge..

FAQ	Calendar	Search	Today's Posts	Mark Forums Read	Rules	Links	Mobile	How to Join

16-07-2006	10
Honey~Blade backstage pass Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 861	Gaultier apprenticed with Pierre Cardin, but yeah he never went to school. I believe Vivienne Westwood did not study any fashion design either. Perhaps also Raf Simons, not too sure. I don't know if I'm right but he probably went for an Art major in Antwerp than a fashion one. Another person who springs to mind also is Hedi Slimane. __________________ No fight for the tainted, no hours of delusion and sugared ecstasy for the talented. Hoping in emptiness is a favorite passtime of zombies. Roses are ashes reborn and kissed.

16-07-2006	11
MulletProof Take me drunk, I'm home Mod Squad Leader Join Date: Apr 2004 Gender: femme Posts: 24,427	I believe Christian Lacroix was studying something related to religion before moving onto fashion. __________________ Metal teeth of carousels.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

13-07-2006	1
UNiQFashionista Fashion Icon googoo gagaa Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Diaper Land Gender: femme Posts: 3,902	Fashion designers without a degree? I did a search and could not find a thread on fashion designers who dont have degrees. I always wondered if there were any established FD who don't have degree's in fashion, or don't have degree's at all. I know there are some, but I don't know of any famous ones. Did they all get degree's in fashion?! do you think its a requirement to be a successful fashion designer- or with your own label to have a degree? can an aspiring fd do without?! __________________ phassionpassion.blogspot.com

13-07-2006	2
spottie front row Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bay Area, No. California Gender: femme Posts: 258	What about Halston? Can't remember if he had a degree or not...

13-07-2006	4
Honey~Blade backstage pass Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 861	Rei Kawakubo :P __________________ No fight for the tainted, no hours of delusion and sugared ecstasy for the talented. Hoping in emptiness is a favorite passtime of zombies. Roses are ashes reborn and kissed.

14-07-2006	5
UNiQFashionista Fashion Icon googoo gagaa Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Diaper Land Gender: femme Posts: 3,902	wow interesting, what was rei doing before designing? __________________ phassionpassion.blogspot.com

14-07-2006	6
Salvatore Wanderlust Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Paris Gender: homme Posts: 6,282	Didn't Miuccia Prada get her degree in Political Science? I'm not sure if she went back to get her degree in fashion. __________________ sounds like "dirty European aristocracy".....

14-07-2006	7
rockitgirl rising star Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vancouver Gender: femme Posts: 179	I don't think it's a requirement but it definately helps...there is actually at least one thread on here about going to school or not. I don't know any keywords though, I'm sorry...maybe try searching for "school". A lot of interesting opinions were raised in it.

17-07-2006	12
gius V.I.P. Join Date: Jan 2006 Gender: homme Posts: 10,163	Yes, from the looks of it, the designers without a degree are mostly from the 20th century...? It's the 21st now, so maybe the requirements have changed a bit, but I do believe it's alright to work your way up. Work experience in the end is key For "now" designers, there are all those celebrity designers, like Sean Combs and J-Lo, and people who have connections, like Trovata. But I guess they are not really good examples...

22-07-2006	13
lostinemotion V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: 3 places Gender: femme Posts: 3,609	Calvin Klein got kicked out of F.I.T... Atleast that's what a few professor's always say.

22-07-2006	15
Missoni~Heiress Seductress in Eden Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Beverly Hills Gender: femme Posts: 7,053	I honestly think that a good designer has talent not knowledge..