Apparel Design

Harness your creativity and gain skills to turn your creative concepts into consumer-ready apparel products.

Program Details

Location:

Corvallis

Program Type:

Major

Overview

Apparel Design

Turn your creative passion into a career. As an apparel design student, you’ll develop skills essential to moving an idea from concept to creation, including ideation, hand and digital sketching, fabric print design, paper and digital pattern making, draping, garment construction, fit evaluation, the development of factory specifications, along with creating samples and prototypes.

Throughout this process, you’ll consider the aesthetic and functional needs of specific target consumers and apply design strategies for inclusivity and sustainability, all while using the latest 2D and 3D design technologies. Because of the apparel design program’s partnership with Browzwear, an industry leader in design software, you’ll have access to advanced 3D design tools that leading apparel brands use.

You’ll also develop foundational business skills that will prepare you for exciting career opportunities as an entrepreneur, within a small business or at a major apparel brand.

Many of our students also choose to double major in merchandising management to gain complimentary skills centered around apparel assortment planning for apparel brands and retailers.

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.

Learn more

The sports business option provides students with an understanding of the fundamentals of the business of sport, including sports finance, marketing, analytics and sponsorship. The program builds on core business knowledge acquired in business and design programs, and prepares students for careers in sports-related organizations.

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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

Study Abroad

Study Abroad

Florence, Italy: Accademia Italiana

London, England: London College of Fashion

Seoul, South Korea: Hanyang University

Explore study abroad opportunities >

Student organizations and clubs

Associated Clubs

American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists

National Retail Federation

Entrepreneurship Club

Sports Product Development Club

See all clubs >

Scholarship

Scholarships

Cecelia T. Shuttleworth

Columbia HEHC Scholarship

Gladys Whipple Goode Scholarship

N Marie Ledbetter Memorial Scholarship

See all scholarship opportunities >

Careers

Possible Careers

Assistant Designer

Product Developer

Surface Design – Print

Materials Developer – Fabric & Trims

We train our students with the industry's best tools

Explore cutting-edge resources exclusively open to apparel design students in the College of Business. In addition to 28 dress forms and 18 sewing machines and four sergers, the program provides access to state-of-the-art 2D pattern making and 3D apparel design licenses.

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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?

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"

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

Sarah Moore ‘09
Columbia Sportswear

Where our graduates work

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

Here's why you should be a College of Business student

A success plan for life

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.

We're not just business; we're family

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.

Ranked and accredited

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