Q: Can you take just one class or do you need to sign up for the Certificate Program?
A: Students are welcome to just take one or two classes that interest them.
Q: Does Apparel Arts offer financial aid?
A: No, Apparel Arts does not offer financial aid.We try to keep the prices low so students do not have to pay back student loans when they are done with the program. The apparel industry is not high paying when starting out and it can be a hardship to have to pay back student loans when students begin working in the field.
Q: Do students need to pay the full price before beginning the course?
A: No.Most students pay monthly.On average, students will pay about $220 to $440 a month while enrolled.Students can pay a lump sum if they choose.
Q: What is the difference between taking the Patternmaking & Design Course in the weekly format versus the intensive format?
A: The content of the course is exactly the same in both formats.In the weekly format, students come to class once or twice a week for a 3-hour class each time and work through the course at their own pace within a class of up to 12 students.In the weekly format student receive more help with their sewing.The weekly format usually takes at least 24 months to get through.With the intensives, students come to class for 2 to 3 days (depending on the subject) in a row, once a month. In the intensives students are left with a fair amount of sewing to work on at home. For this reason, we encourage intermediate or advanced sewers only take the intensives.Beginner sewers will undoubtedly feel overwhelmed by the sewing that needs to be done at home.The intensives take 11 months to complete, but a final line needs to be turned in which might add 3 to 6 months to that time frame.Expect about 18 months.
Q: Do I need to know how to sew before starting the program?
A: No, we will teach you to sew in the Patternmaking & Design Course.However, students who have sewing experience coming in will move faster.
Q: Will sewing and design classes I took elsewhere transfer in?
A: Sometimes.Students have to take the Patternmaking & Design Course at Apparel Arts.If a student has prior patternmaking experience then they will most likely move through it faster.We will review the work from other classes (like illustration, draping, etc.) to determine if can be used to cover a requirement in the Certificate Program.
Q: Is Apparel Arts accredited?
A: No, Apparel Arts is not accredited.We are a great alternative to the expensive, accredited schools in the area.
Q: What kind of students attends Apparel Arts?
A: The average age-range of the student base at Apparel Arts is 25-35.The complete age span is 18 to 60 years.Most already have college degrees.Many students are currently working in the apparel industry and are here to sharpen their skills.Some students are new to design and sewing.Most students aspire to work in the industry.We have some students who are here for their own personal enrichment.
Q: What do students do with their education once they leave Apparel Arts?
A: Some students are already working in the industry when they come to Apparel Arts and they bring their education back to their companies to make them stronger. Students who are more interested in the corporate world work for design companies like Gap and Levi’s.Many students start their own design companies or work for smaller, independent designers. Our graduates are costumers at theater and opera companies, some have started commercial pattern companies.Apparel Arts attracts teachers in the industry who train here and bring what they have learned into their own classrooms.
Q: Why would a student choose Apparel Arts over another fashion school?
A: The classes Apparel Arts offer are very technical and are taught by industry professionals.There are 4 accredited fashion schools in San Francisco, which cater to those new to the collage experience.As mentioned above, most students who come to Apparel Arts already have a degree and want to start learning apparel industry techniques right away and do not want to take semesters of prerequisites and general education. At Apparel Arts students do not end up with thousands and thousands of dollars of student loans to pay back in a field that is initially not high paying.Also, our class size is small (averaging 12 students) so each student is known and gets personalized attention.
Q: Can I sit in on a class before I make my decision?
A: Absolutely.Please call to make an appointment and the Director of the school will meet with you personally to further explain the program.After that you are welcome to stay and sit in on a class.