Fashion & Apparel Engineering: Scope & career options

Fashion & Apparel Engineering and Fashion Designing are similar streams but they have a clear distinction in the way they operate. Read more to find out.

Looking to pursue a course in fashion design but want to stand apart from the crowd? Do not fret because now you have institutes that have come up with a course wherein you can become a – Fashion Engineer. Yes, that’s right, it is an engineering + fashion designing course which has been formulated because it is felt that the fashion industry has truly transformed into a global industry. Today, fashion designers, clothing manufacturers, fashion merchandisers, and retailers from all corners of the globe work together to come up with new styles and designs of clothing, shoes, and accessories which would appeal to all age-groups and market demand. Because of this, fashion engineering is considered a great field to work in. Just do not confuse it to be a replica of fashion designing.

Difference between Fashion Designing and Fashion Engineering

Although the two streams are similar, however, they have a clear distinction in the way they operate. While fashion designers are known to possess a creative and artistic approach towards their work, fashion engineers are professionals who attempt to design clothes that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The job of a fashion designer is restricted to designing new clothes, shoes, and so on, whereas, fashion engineers are more exposed to technical aspects of the job. A fashion engineer applies engineering principles in the design and manufacturing of textiles and fiber products as well as designing machinery, equipment and tools used in the fashion & textile industry.

The job profile of a fashion engineer is not restricted to a particular aspect of fashion. They deal with diverse applications of science in the design, production, and maintenance of textile products. They research and analyse the changes in the lifestyle of individuals around the world to develop new trends in fashion designing.

Fashion & Apparel Engineering: Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are eligible to apply for a fashion engineering course if they have pursued PCM in Class 12 or have a lateral entry admission in 10+2 as prescribed by the Dept. of Technical Education by the state government.

NGF College of Engineering & Technology is an institute offering this course in the Delhi/NCR region.

Fashion & Apparel Engineering Fee: Approximately Rs 84,000 per annum

Fashion & Apparel Engineering: Course USP

Fashion engineering as a course has many USPs attached to it, some of which are:

• It is a degree course, not a diploma course (BTech degree)
• One can apply for any government job after pursuing it
• One gets four years of practical exposure

Fashion & Apparel Engineering: Subjects to study

This programme is broadly divided into four subjects which are fashion, textile, garments as well as computers and management. Under each of these subjects, the following topics are taught:

• Fashion: Evolution of fashion and clothing, fashion market and merchandising, textile and fashion costing, fashion selection, quality assurance in the fashion industry, fashion accessories, fashion selection, advanced fashion construction technique, and home fashion.
• Textile: Textile raw material, fabric formation, fabric structure, traditional Indian embroidery textile, colour and dyeing concept, knitted fabric structure, dyeing of textiles, chemical, and mechanical finishing, and home textile.
• Garments: Textile and garment testing, garment manufacturing technology 1 & 2, garment production machine and equipment, apparel production planning and scheduling, garment processing and finishing, automation in the garment. High tech garment, garment finishing, and apparel marketing and merchandising.
• Computers & Management: Professional ethics in engineering, textile design by using CAD, fashion designing using CAD, operational research, CAPM for men’s and women’s wear, computer-aided designing, Indian business environment, and retailing and fashion promotion.

Fashion & Apparel Engineering: Career Prospects

After pursuing fashion and apparel engineering one can easily pursue a career in the below mentioned job profiles:

• Fashion designers
• Fashion consultants
• Fashion choreographer
• Garments export house workers/managers
• Accessories designers
• Media & Fashion journalism
• Modeling
• Fashion Illustrators
• Masters in pattern making
• Quality control managers
• Supply chain management
• Sketching Assistants
• Apparel Production workers
• Visual merchandiser
• Portfolio designer
• Academics/ lecturer

Fashion & Apparel Engineering: Top Recruiters

Popular brands/ companies which happily hire fashion engineers are:

• Adidas
• Armani
• Arvind Mills
• Biba
• Calvin Klein
• Creative Dyeing & Printing
• Dior
• Lilliput
• Zara
• Puma
• TT textile
• Raymond
• Shahi exports
• Pepe jeans
• Mufti
• Madhura garments
• Beebay

Read More:

• Design Course, Career & Scope
• Fashion Design Courses & Scope
• Textile Design Courses & Scope