Fashion Design

Be a Trendsetter. Our Fashion Design major blends the excitement of change, challenges of new technology and skill in design and manufacturing to create innovative and functional apparel solutions. As the oldest 4-year fashion design program in the United States, it carries a legacy of excellence and innovation that continues today. Courses cover topics such as garment construction, pattern drafting and draping, fashion illustration, textiles and computer-aided design applications. When you're a Fashion Design student, you work directly with experienced faculty who have connections with prominent local and national brands. Intimate class sizes guarantee you the attention and mentorship all fashion greats deserve!

A Fashion Design degree requires a minimum of 75 credits in fashion and art courses and the completion of the university’s core curriculum.

View a sample program plan to see what courses you'll take in our Fashion Design program. 

Learn More
Learn More

Fashion Design

Be a Trendsetter. Our Fashion Design major blends the excitement of change, challenges of new technology and skill in design and manufacturing to create innovative and functional apparel solutions. As the oldest 4-year fashion design program in the United States, it carries a legacy of excellence and innovation that continues today. Courses cover topics such as garment construction, pattern drafting and draping, fashion illustration, textiles and computer-aided design applications. When you're a Fashion Design student, you work directly with experienced faculty who have connections with prominent local and national brands. Intimate class sizes guarantee you the attention and mentorship all fashion greats deserve!

A Fashion Design degree requires a minimum of 75 credits in fashion and art courses and the completion of the university’s core curriculum.

View a sample program plan to see what courses you'll take in our Fashion Design program. 

Our students have interned and worked with companies like Harley-Davidson, Kohl's, Jockey International, Lands' End and Target Corporation. Many have also launched their own businesses, embracing the entrepreneurial path. Program graduates have found exciting and challenging positions in creative design, technical design, styling and product development. 
The median annual wage for fashion design jobs is $80,690 per year, according to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Our department offers travel opportunities each year, rotating between these two world fashion capitals. In New York City you’ll visit design studios, showrooms, trend forecasting services, museum exhibits and and influential shopping and retail districts. 

In Paris, you can take classes in apparel/accessory design and trend analysis through a partnership between Mount Mary faculty and the Paris American Academy. During your visit, you will also meet European designers, couture drapers, accessory designers, costume historians and trend forecasters. 

Our Fashion Archive houses over 10,000 items ranging from the 18th century to present day. The Archive exhibits an array of couture and ready-to-wear garments from famous designers such as Chanel, Patou, Adrian, Irene, Charles James, Madame Gres and Karl Lagerfeld.  Students and faculty regularly access this resource for design inspiration, technical analysis and historical research.

The Fashion Business minor was developed with Fashion Design majors in mind. This new offering introduces merchandising and business administration concepts to creatives with a business-oriented mindset. This minor complements the design major with coursework in areas like visual presentation, buying and assortment planning, management and entrepreneurship. 

 

Ashley Brooks, B.S.
Clothing and Textile Design Division Chair, Arts & Design; Instructor of Fashion
Phone: (414) 930-3651  
Email: brooksa@mtmary.edu  
Expertise: Fashion industry, apparel design, portfolio  

Amanda C Cacich, B.A., M.S.  
Instructor and Fashion Archives Curator  
Phone: (414) 930-3288  
Email: cacicha@mtmary.edu  
Expertise: Collections management/ fashion history  

Jessica Frantal, M.F.A.  
Assistant Professor of Fashion  
Phone: (414) 930-3544  
Email: frantalj@mtmary.edu  
Expertise: Pattern-making, apparel construction, wearable technology  
www.jessicafrantal.com  

Trish Rindfleisch Kuehnl, M.A.  
Assistant Professor of Fashion  
Phone: (414) 930-3282  
Email: kuehnlp@mtmary.edu  
Expertise: Visual merchandising, store planning, e-commerce, CAD software, fashion management  

Elena Pitts, B.F.A., M.F.A.
Assistant Professor of Fashion  
Phone: 414) 930-3500  
Email: pittse@mtmary.edu  
Expertise: Construction, patternmaking, draping, collection development 

Jamie O'Gallagher, B.S.  
Adjunct Faculty, Fashion 
Email: gallaj@mtmary.edu  
Expertise: CAD, textile & graphic design, patternmaking, and construction  

Brenda Schmidt, M.B.A.  
Adjunct Faculty, Fashion  
Email: schmidtb@mtmary.edu  
Expertise: Pattern-making, draping, product development, design, fit, construction, technical design, footwear, and handbags  

 

General Fashion program email: mmu-fashiondepartment@mtmary.edu 

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