I do recommend this school to anybody who wants to be in the fashion industry in 2 years without breaking your bank! I am a mother of 2 children and decided on a career change. I took a couple of sewing classes but to be in fashion industry I knew there is more to learn. I checked several fashion schools in Bay Area, but each time I was discouraged to think about the time it took to finish the programs (usually 4 years) and mostly the price I would have had to pay. Then I found the College of Alameda Apparel Design and Merchandising program through one of my sewing teachers. After I talked with one of the teachers at Apparel Design department, I was very confident to set my goal in the fashion industry. They gave me a complete estimate with regards to the cost of the program (including supplies). All teachers have industry experience and give us very realistic information, they are very organized. So surprisingly it was not difficult to finish 2 years program. The first year is observing information and slowly understanding the whole picture of this industry and at the end of the first year I knew all the basics to be in this industry!! ( Fabric names, Draping, Drafting, Sketching, Fashion History and Construction with using different type of industrial sewing machines.) The second year is FUN.!! I made own collection and portfolio to get ready for the job search. While I was in the program I had 2 internships.
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