Known for its creativity and glamor, the fashion industry draws in many aspiring professionals — but it’s also a competitive field that can be tough to break into.
Fortunately, there are many paths into the fashion industry, including the interdisciplinary online Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business and Technology (MSIDBT) from USC Iovine and Young Academy.
The graduate degree program focuses on the intersection of three different fields and shows the many ways they inform each other in today’s climate. Students not only learn the essentials of business, but they also study evolving technologies and the arts.
Thanks to the wide range of skills participants gain through the program, it’s an ideal fit for anyone looking to build a career in fashion. Below, we’ve broken down why the degree is so effective and how it can help you land a job in fashion.
What Jobs are Available in Fashion?
To start, it’s important to acknowledge that the industry spans a wide array of roles — from creative positions like fashion designers, stylists and creative directors to media-focused careers such as fashion editors, photographers and digital content creators. Others work in retail, including buyers, merchandisers and showroom managers, while many focus on the business side as brand managers, fashion publicists or trend forecasters.
Yet, as Keanan Duffty, a lecturer at USC Iovine and Young Academy, points out, most people tend to overlook the ways fashion intersects with countless other industries and organizations. Duffty, who teaches courses on building a more sustainable future for fashion, encourages students to think beyond traditional job titles when exploring careers in the field.
“The methodology of fashion can be applied to so many different disciplines and areas of creativity. The automotive industry, for example, is one of the biggest employers of textile designers for their cars. The hospitality industry hires people from fashion to design hotel rooms because that design is informed by colors and trends,” he explained. “Even for hospitals, there are people redesigning scrubs.”
Duffty also emphasized the importance of forward-thinking, encouraging students to carve out new spaces and opportunities within the evolving fashion landscape.
“There’s so many areas that the fashion industry doesn’t really address. Adaptive clothing to people with disabilities, for example, is a multi-billion dollar opportunity, and [it allows] a person with disabilities to have a section in a store that is for them,” he said.
How Do You Get a Job in Fashion?
There are various entries into the fashion industry, and the best approach often depends on the specific role you’d like to pursue. That said, building experience and cultivating connections are universally important. This can be achieved through internships, part-time roles, volunteer opportunities, networking on social media and classes, including higher education. Each of these avenues not only helps develop essential skills, but also expands your professional network, both of which are key to breaking into the fashion world.
Building a strong portfolio is essential, whether it includes personal projects like garments you’ve sewn or sketches you’ve created, or work completed during internships or part-time roles. A well-curated portfolio showcases your creativity, technical skills, and commitment to the craft.
In addition to a portfolio, a professional social media presence can be just as important. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are effective tools for sharing your work and expanding your reach.
Creating a personal website where your portfolio is easily accessible can also be a powerful asset when applying for jobs or connecting with collaborators. In fashion, visibility often opens doors, and you never know which post or project might spark your next opportunity.
Do You Need a Degree to Work in Fashion?
For many roles in fashion — particularly on the media, marketing and business side — a bachelor’s degree is often required, and some employers may even prefer or request a master’s degree. Pursuing an undergraduate degree in marketing, business or the arts can provide a strong foundation for launching a career in these areas of the industry.
That said, there are also numerous fashion-related roles that don’t require a formal degree. In those cases, what matters most is your ability to demonstrate the skills needed to do the job, often through a strong portfolio.
Still, taking a class or enrolling in a short-term program can be a valuable step, especially if you’re self-taught. Structured learning can fill in gaps, strengthen your technical abilities and build confidence as you enter the field.
What Is the MS in Integrated Design, Business, and Technology Degree?
While there are many fashion-related degrees offered, the online MSIDBT equips graduates with the skills to tackle multiple industries. The interdisciplinary program prepares students to become entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers in cross-functional teams and organizations.
Students engage in coursework such as “Designing Brand Identity for Startups,” “Front End Web Programming,” “Introduction to the Global Fashion System” and so on. By focusing on the intersection of design, business and technology, students can become more well-rounded and better prepared to succeed in any role they choose — including fashion.
In fact, Duffty noted there are many students who already work in the field — a costume designer, a jewelry business owner and a stylist — who are looking to enhance what they’ve learned and launch themselves to another level in the fashion world. Not only are they learning the ways to operate in the business world, he noted, but they are tackling technological advancements crucial to the industry.
“All of my students have solutions and ideas that aren’t the norm of the fashion industry, and that’s very refreshing,” he said. “What’s happening at Iovine and Young isn’t happening anywhere else, and I think it’s completely unique.”
Should You Get a Job in Fashion?
Breaking into the fashion industry isn’t easy, Duffty acknowledged — it takes immense creativity and flexibility. But he emphasized that fashion is important, especially for those with an entrepreneurial spirit because, as he put it, you “can make the world a better place” through your ideas.
“If you have a great product, a clear point of view and a big idea, you can impact the world,” he said. “Before Coco Chanel put pockets on a woman’s jacket, women’s only option was to carry a bag. She wanted to give women the sense of freedom that men had, and that was a massive innovation. Good design is about making a positive impact on people’s lives.”
Learn more about the online MS in Integrated Design, Business and Technology (MSIDBT) today.