Certificate of Achievement (Transcripted): Fashion Merchandising

Introduction to the development, structure, and interrelationship of the global fashion industry, including: Consumer characteristics, product design, textile and apparel production, retail merchandising, brand marketing, distribution, and promotion. An introduction to apparel business organizations, their commercial processes and career opportunities. Oral, written, and multimedia reports on current topics relevant to the fashion industry.

Apparel garment construction techniques including seam finishes, edge finishes, manipulating garment fullness, and applying closures. Students will construct three full-sized garments and a compilation of construction techniques. Students will conduct and document garment fittings, alter patterns, and apply fitting alterations to the sewn projects.

Application of the basic techniques of drawing fashion and garment flat trade sketches, graphic art prints, and all-over repeat tile prints. Emphasis on current fashion industry design software Adobe Illustrator with some Photoshop and 3D software. Pencils, markers, and watercolors are also incorporated.

*Fall Course Only

An analysis of ready-to-wear apparel for quality evaluation of materials, construction, design, fit, care, and pricing related to consumer buying expectations. Introduction and application of garment industry manufacturing processes using production equipment to mass produce consumer products. Includes Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), retail math, and Product Data Management (PDM) training. Students will learn how to take design concepts through the sourcing, costing, and production process to create a specifications/technical package. Includes concepts of sizing and principles of fit.

*Spring Course Only

Students learn to pattern draft garments using 3D software and also export their patterns to paper to be cut and sewn into fabric samples. Includes development of the basic body sloper, collars, necklines, skirts, waistlines, sleeves, panels, and yokes. POM (Point of Measurement) specifications are discussed in relation to both pattern development and finished garments.

An introduction to apparel retailing with an emphasis on Fashion e-Commerce. Includes concepts of the organization, development and management practices of the apparel retail sector. Topics include types of apparel retailing, multi-channel retailing, apparel consumer behavior, retail marketing and pricing strategies, logistics, retail operations management, and analytical software. Learn how to create and manage an e-Commerce store. (Same as Entrepreneurship 140 Fashion E-Commerce.)

*Spring Course Only

Intermediate computerized fashion illustration is taught using computer software. Software programs include Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, embroidery software, and 3D software. Emphasis on the design of a garment collection and textile print designs using intermediate software illustration techniques and the pen tool. Recommended to take FDM 111A beforehand, or have strong knowledge of Adobe Illustrator's pen tool.

*Spring Course Only

This course is a study of textile fibers and fabrics, their production/development, environmental impact, selection, use and care of wearing apparel and home furnishings. The course also covers current and future textile production and how appropriate performance characteristics are incorporated into materials and products.

*Fall Course Only

Build essential Excel skills to create, edit, and manage business spreadsheets. Learn formulas, functions, charts, sorting, filtering, and formatting techniques using current business standards. Apply Excel to real-world tasks such as budgeting, data organization, and reporting. Use AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) to generate formulas, analyze data, and streamline spreadsheet tasks. Includes the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel exam, earning an industry-recognized certification valued by employers.

This work experience course of supervised employment is designed to assist students to acquire desirable work habits, attitudes and skills in a field related to the students' major so as to enable them to become productive employees. This course also provides students with career awareness for jobs. 54 hours of work equals one unit of course credit. Student repetition is allowed per Title 5, Section 55253. Students may earn a maximum of 14 units of credit for work experience.