Apparel Design
Apparel Design at RISD prepares fashion design students for creative longevity. Here you engage in experimental, process-driven fabrication alongside substantiative research and concept development, in order to produce thoughtful and thought-provoking garments. Faculty in this small-scale, nurturing department help you cultivate distinctive voices, preparing you for design careers across fashion, costume, and the fine arts.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
In the Apparel Design BFA program you establish unique approaches to clothing the body, integrating the foundational skills of garment construction with experimental processes and materials.
In the studio
With an intense focus on craftsmanship, Apparel Design majors develop diverse creative practices rooted in an awareness of clothing as an emotional medium as well as a material and visual one. Emphasizing ethical sourcing and production, the program encourages students to challenge industry conventions and work toward positive, sustainable change.
Student work
Alumni
Changing fashion and the industry as a whole
Whether they launch their own studios, pursue careers with retail leaders or enter into related fields, graduates of the program employ sustainable practices that respect craft and labor, while centering the wearer throughout the design process.
Alumni
Popular around the world, Nicole Miller’s designs continue to stand out on the runway. In 2013 she earned the Spirit of Design Award for outstanding contributions to the world of design and for her generosity in working with students and young designers.
Mel Ottenberg, one of the industry’s most sought-after stylists, is well known for shaping the singular style of global pop icon Rihanna and for lending his aesthetic vision to ad campaigns for commercial clients like Dior and Nike.
Featured stories
Students used craft and unusual material selections to address subjects both personal and profound.
Twelve graduating students presented outstanding looks evoking everything from archaic rituals to intergalactic fashion to memories of place.
The international menswear designer uses color and a mix of European, American, and Japanese influences to create wearable clothes that boost customers’ confidence.