How to become a fashion designer in Russia: 6 best schools
Ten years ago, everyone who dreamed of a career in fashion, I had to think about traveling to another country and carefully calculating the budget: Italy, France, Great Britain, the USA - it seemed that a good specialized education is possible only abroad. All this, of course, is not unreasonable, but now the situation has changed for the better.
Firstly, a lot of educational projects, special courses, open lectures appeared - fashionable education has become more accessible. And secondly, speakers from the countries of the near and far abroad often visited Russia, and schools began to be opened on the basis of foreign universities. We decided to focus on four educational programs that are directly related to clothing design. What is their main difference from competitors - the program curators told us, but the students shared their impressions and plans for the future.
Fashion Lab is something like a one-year graduate school for young artists with a bias in the practical part. The concept of the course was developed by Vyacheslav Zaitsev, who is directly involved in the learning process: once every three weeks he holds one-on-one conversations with students, notes their results and gives appropriate recommendations. Vyacheslav Zaitsev approached the opening of the “Laboratories” responsibly: he traveled the world's schools of fashion design and, based on the information collected, in 1997 opened his own.
The applicant can choose the appropriate form of training: full-time or part-time. On full-time studies, classes are held 5 days a week for 8 academic hours for one year, for part-time - 4 days a week for 4 academic hours for 3 months. The program of both courses includes designing - a practical study of various methods of designing men's and women's clothing, a dummy method of modeling clothes, special composition and more. In the process of learning, all students can attend fashion shows, use fashion literature, and also invite models from Vyacheslav Zaitsev’s agency to take part in a graduation show.
Elena Viktorovna Rzhevskaya, leading teacher of Vyacheslav Zaitsev Fashion Laboratories: "Laboratories" is the only design school in the world at a personalized fashion house. We have a fairly extensive training program and no extra items. We offer the opportunity for preferential participation in Europe’s largest Fashion Week - Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia ".
Alexey Mikhailov, a student at the Vyacheslav Zaitsev Fashion Lab, brand MIKHAILOV ALEKSEI: “In parallel with my studies at the college in Smolensk, I studied in Moscow at the fashion house in the agency of models Z'S Models. It was there that I learned about the Fashion Lab and got to graduation show her students. I was struck by the collections of graduates, and then I knew exactly where I wanted to study. I was very excited at the interview, but it happened. I like that the whole process is aimed at individual work with each student, to reveal his talent. While still a student, I showed collection Fashion Week MBFWR ".
The British Higher School of Design in Moscow was founded in 2003 on the basis of the educational program of the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Hertfordshire (United Kingdom). For those who want to get experience in European education, without leaving abroad, "British" is one of the options. In addition, training in BHSAD will help tighten English - it is one of the main subjects, and in some courses, such as BA (Hons) Fashion, they teach exclusively in a foreign language. In the British Higher School of Design, there are two long-term programs for future professional clothing designers.
The first is BA (Hons) Fashion, a British higher education, where classes are conducted by British curators and teachers from Central Saint Martins. Training takes place over four years, as a result, students receive an international bachelor of arts degree and may go abroad to continue their studies or work. The second program of additional professional education, Design Clothing, is focused more on the Russian market and in two years trains specialists, many of whom launch their own clothing brands by the end of training. In general, both programs are prepared by specialists with a wide range of skills: from design and 3D-modeling to the principles of building marketing campaigns. For example, “British” was finished by the designers Braventru, fy: r, A Shade More - the heroes of our column “New Mark”.
Liza Romanova, director of communications, BHSAD: “The key difference between the British is close relationship with the industry. Most of our teachers are practicing designers and artists. We constantly hold master classes and specialized conferences at school, we try to keep up with the times and prepare professionals who will be in demand on the market now and in ten years. Among our graduates are Kirill Richter, Dasha Selyanova (ZDDZ), Maria Dzhankoy (Jahnkoy) and many others. And the collections of our graduates can be seen every year during the fall week Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia ".
Nina Samokhina, the future graduate of the BHSAD 2017 Design course: “Before entering British, I had long been interested in her graduates, watched their progress, read about how well the creative process was organized. I really wanted to do it here the atmosphere. I like the fact that all the items and all the information we are given is relevant and related to the realities of the profession. In the future I plan to develop my Secret Garden brand and freelance in the field of clothing design. "
The School of Design is part of the National Research University Higher School of Economics. Education here is carried out according to the European program: bachelor, master, - also preparatory and open courses take place here. The direction "Fashion" is suitable not only for those who want to become a designer, but also for all future art directors of the brand or store, stylists, merchandisers and buyers: graduates receive knowledge from various areas of the fashion industry and will be able to find themselves in many related fields in the future . Unlike many other commercial schools, training is conducted only in small groups.
Ekaterina Pavelko, curator of the bachelor’s study program “Fashion”, stylist: “We learn not so much to sew as to design and creative thinking, immerse students in the modern context. At one time, the Higher School of Economics was created as an outpost of advanced education, and the School of Design, appeared just four years ago, it sets itself the task of giving the best and most progressive education in various areas of design (communication design, animation and illustration, environment design, game design, design and programming, design and modern art, design and photography, theater and film artist, fashion) on a global level. Our Fashion program focuses on the innovative experience of international fashion schools and uses current educational technologies. And the design training system allows students to think from the first year of practical tasks and solve them based on current industry trends. "
Dasha Belousova, fourth-year student of the Fashion direction of the School of Design of the Higher School of Economics: "As an introductory task, I needed to prepare a creative project on a more or less free topic and pass an interview on art history. Despite the fact that I passed both stages on a whim, in the end I entered, being in the very first experimental school set. In my first year, everyone had a general direction: we learned to think as a designer, learned basic design skills and worked in basic design I honestly admit that it was not easy for me.
Then the second year began, and I chose the direction "Fashion". Here we have already worked on our projects, prepared the mindboards, embroidered, took photographs - in general, did everything that I love the most. For four years of study, in addition to classes at the university, we did practical work in Moscow brands, participated in Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Russia - so now I understand perfectly what to expect from the “adult” fashion world. In the future, I plan to continue my studies in the master's program at the School of Design - and in parallel to work in the Inshade brand with our curator Masha Smirnova. In the future, I would like to create and develop my own brand - I hope it will work out. "
The history of the Moscow State University of Design and Technology begins in the late 20s of the last century. By a decree of the Supreme Council of the USSR national economy, it was decided to create a higher education institution of the light industry profile. In 2012, the State University of Textiles named after A.M. Kosygin. Just then a new joint history of the two largest specialized universities of the country began.
Instead of faculties there is a division into institutions. Thus, the Technological Institute of Light Industry offers training in three undergraduate programs: "Technology of light industry products", "Designing products of light industry" and "Commodity Research". Training takes place over four years, then optional - two-year magistracy. Among other things, the Technological Institute is famous for giving a chance for close contact of students with potential employers. In addition to the system of overseas internships, there is an internship where students develop practical skills and create industrial collections of products.
Anna Fokina, Director of the Light Industry Technological Institute: “Our university has preserved the system of fundamental, classical Russian education, constantly improving the educational process and introducing new learning technologies. We cooperate with leading enterprises of the fashion industry and send our students to the manufacturing practice without fail. learn the skill.
To promote talented youth, the university organizes contests that take place at the best sites of the fashion industry and specialized exhibitions. So, literally on March 24, in the Gostiny Dvor, as part of the Fashion Week in Moscow, the final of the All-Russian contest “Tochka RU” was held, the founder of which is our university. For students, this is a unique opportunity to speak in front of the jury on the main podium of the country. "
Yulia Shakhmatova, student of LKSH-214: “From childhood I dreamed of sewing clothes. I sewed dresses for all my dolls, presenting them on the runway. Parents advised to go to university with a long history, and Moscow State University of Design and Technology was a priority. Today it’s Russian A. Kosygin State University. I am very glad that I made the right choice: it is interesting to study here, there are many necessary subjects. The university helps to find contacts with potential employers, to get a good job, while still at the university. In the future, I plan to continue my studies at the magistracy right there. "
SPbSUTTD is the largest university in Russia with an artistic and technological profile, which includes 18 institutes, 2 higher schools and 21 educational centers. If you live in St. Petersburg and plan to link your future life with the world of fashion - you are right here. Here there is the Institute of Design and Arts, which was created to train specialists in the field of research of the fashion and the subject environment of interiors. The institute consists of three departments and the Fashion Information Center.
There is also the Institute of Textiles and Fashion, where future engineers, designers and designers for the textile and light industry are trained. One of the divisions of the university is the Costume Design Institute, which appeared in 2009 (until that point, future designers of clothing and accessories were prepared at the design department). Training at the institute takes place in full-time and part-time. In addition, there is a Center for vocational retraining and advanced training at SPbSUTT. One of the most famous graduates is Alyona Akhmadullina.
Lyubov Rubenyan, Professor at the Institute of Costume Design at the St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Art, Admiralteiskaya Needle, Artistic Director of the Young Designers International Contest: and a wonderful university will not help in mastering a profession. We have this creative energy and a young entrant and student envelop with his first design steps. "
Liza Odinokikh, a graduate of the Costume Design Institute: “There are not so many universities in St. Petersburg where fashion is taught. I had a choice between the Mukhinsky School and SPbSUTTD. I chose SPbSTTD on the advice of a friend and I think I was right. I received a good base for design and production technology. The profession of a designer consists not only of inventing images - it is necessary to know and understand all aspects of the production of clothing, without this it is impossible to create a wearable and comfortable thing. "
Omsk School of Design is the unofficial name of the costume design department of Omsk State Technical University, Institute of Design and Technology. This is probably the first costume design school in Western Siberia. It was organized in 1977, far from the cultural centers of Europe and Russia. However, its geographical remoteness and tightness only gave impetus to the development of its own educational system. The department is preparing for three core areas: "Costume Design", "Design Knitwear", "Style and image in costume design."
Training in the specialty "Costume Design" takes four years (4.5 years for part-time tuition). Students study the properties and means of composition, color and color, plastic modeling, textile design, garment technology, design, layout, design design. In theoretical courses, they learn about the history of the suit, the basics of design and styles. Much attention is paid to the formation of spatial, volumetric thinking. Students study the features of designing ready-made clothes (prêt-à-porter), ready-made clothes of the luxury segment (prêt-à-porter de luxe), creative clothes. Those interested can continue their studies in the magistracy.
Marina Timofeyeva, professor of costume design department, Omsk State Technical University, Omsk School of Design: “It happened that our teachers are the very first graduates. Let our school be far from Paris, Milan and Moscow, but this only played into our hands: author’s developed, original techniques, our own terminology, we systematized all the material in our own way. Today our graduates work in teams of leading Russian designers, for example, Terekhov, Akhmadullina, Artyomov, Andrianova. And this is something that already says. "
Nastya Borovik, fourth year, bachelor: "In the learning process, I liked the individual approach of teachers to the student most of all, their tact and sensitivity - this is very motivating for further work and development. Our university teachers do everything possible to produce highly qualified specialists. After completion studies, I plan to graduate from the magistracy at the same university. Then go either to Moscow or to Europe and work in my specialty. "
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