Fashion Business
For more than 30 years, GCC's Fashion program has earned a stellar reputation for providing exciting and challenging opportunities to students interested in the dynamic world of fashion design, fashion commerce and fashion merchandising. The pinnacle of GCC's Fashion program is the presentation of the largest, professionally-produced annual fashion show in Western New York.
At GCC, you can now select from four different areas of concentration in this exciting industry:
These distinct programs provide you with the skills needed to succeed in the fast-paced, ever-changing, global profession. Through comprehensive coursework that includes classes such as Advertising, Merchandise Planning and Control, Retailing, Professional Sales, Display and Visual Merchandising and Fashion Show Production, you will be well-prepared for success in a variety of fashion career opportunities, including but not limited to:- Fashion Buyer
- Fashion Designer
- Visual Merchandise Designer
- Set Designer
- Interior Designer
- Fashion Journalist
- Fashion Stylist
- Fashion Merchandiser
- Fashion Retail Manager
- Fashion E-Commerce
Together, students from both Fashion Business concentrations focus their talents, energy and newly acquired skills on the student-planned and produced fashion show scheduled at the end of April every year. Each yearly production is original, featuring more than ten separate scenes and utilizing the traditional runway style while coordinating the efforts of hundreds of models and volunteers, announcers, music, choreography and the creative talents of GCC students. Not only will you create fashions and scenes for the show, you will also have the opportunity to produce radio and TV commercials in GCC's studios, develop web pages, work in public relations, blog about your experiences, and mostly importantly, you will create your own fashion portfolio.
GCC's Fashion Business program allows you to explore the latest fashion trends through class field trips to fashion centers in New York City and nearby Toronto. These trips reinforce individual creativity. In addition, through the student marketing club, DECA (Distribute Education Clubs of America), you'll visit designer showrooms and buyers' offices. DECA also arranges for world renowned guest speakers to visit the GCC campus and share their rich stories and experiences within the industry. A recent visitation featured author and fashion historian, John A. Tiffany who wrote the book "Eleanor Lambert: Still Here."
All students also participate in an off-campus, full-time cooperative work experience giving you a chance to acquire first-hand experience in a variety of fashion-related assignments that can take place in well-known fashion centers. From local to national garment stores to full scale malls, GCC's fashion students earn excellent hands-on experiences through their co-op encounters, some of which can lead to full-time jobs.
Many of GCC's Fashion Business graduates look forward to transferring to four-year colleges and universities for a bachelor's degree.
Transfer Programs / Articulation Agreements: Fashion Institute of Technology (New York City), Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (California), LIM College "Where Business Meets Fashion" (New York City), The Arts Institutes and Buffalo State College.
