Summer Design Classes
Calling all Design enthusiasts! Are you a teacher looking to expand your skills while earning credits? Are you a young adult (or young at heart), interested in some hands-on design activities? Check out our line up of Summer Design Classes!
Fall 2025
Applications for Fall 2025 will open on October 1, 2024.
Have questions? Contact the Future Students' Office at 604-599-3030 or study@kpu.ca.
Fashion Design & Technology
To many, it’s a piece of fabric. To you, it’s a blank canvas just waiting to be brought to life.
Our Fashion & Technology degree program has an international reputation for building tomorrow’s fashion leaders. Our unique, industry-focused curriculum gives students like you the design skills, business acumen and marketing savvy needed to compete in the global fashion marketplace.
Many of our graduates secure positions in local apparel and design companies well before graduation. Many more find that our often sold-out graduation showcase events — attended by industry and media — help launch their design career.
Named the best overall in Canada by the Best Fashion Schools in the World report by Business of Fashion magazine, the Wilson School of Design, is the place to make your mark in the world of fashion. With the longest-running four-year degree program in Western Canada, our Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Technology has an international reputation for building tomorrow’s fashion leaders with the design skills, business acumen and marketing savvy needed to compete in the global fashion marketplace.
Why Study Fashion and Technology @ KPU?
- We offer one of only two fashion design degrees in Canada.
- Our faculty include industry leaders who are plugged into the global fashion scene.
- Our graduates are not only industry-ready but are also original thinkers who can problem-solve and create novel solutions — necessary skills for the designers of the future.
- Our classrooms are equipped with cutting-edge technology used by industry.
- The purpose-built building for the KPU Wilson School of Design allows for collaboration and community-building with designers in other disciplines.
- Our workplace practicum program opens the doors to top local companies such as lululemon, Arc’teryx, Aritzia, and Manuel Mendoza.
- Our international exchange program prepares students to become global fashion leaders.
- Our students study at fashion schools in London, England; Melbourne, Australia; Helsinki, Finland; Horsens, Denmark; Mexico; and Taipei, China.
- Our many inspiring guest speakers and presentations invite students to take their learning outside of the classroom and participate in the vibrant local design community.
- Through our Program Advisory Committee, we're able to respond quickly to changes in the marketplace and continually adapt our programming to reflect current industry needs and standards, ensuring you're getting the most up-to-date education possible and positioned for success.
Who Studies Fashion and Technology?
Anyone with a passionate, lifelong interest in fashion. Pair this with an aptitude for creative design, technical construction, trend forecasting and an appreciation for fabric, prints, colours and you've got a success story in the making.
Our students come from diverse backgrounds: from young designers fresh out of high school to industry professionals looking to advance their career. Our students are risk takers and innovators. If you’ve got the creativity and persistence it takes, we can give you the skills and experience to turn your dreams into reality.
For a look at the kind of projects our students are working on, visit the Wilson School of Design Instagram page and search using #kpufasn.
Student Success
In 2017, third year Fashion and Technology student Chelsea Cox entered a national design competition to support Breast Cancer Research. Her journey is a shining example of her passion, dedication and skill.
Read more about Chelsea Cox's winning designs or check out photos of her collection.
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Technology prepares you for careers in the apparel industry by simulating a professional working environment. Our four-year program is selective entry, meaning we accept only the most promising students and give them the individual attention they need to meet their potential. The program is also limited intake with first-year seats only available each Fall.
This is a full-time program taken over eight semesters (Fall and Spring). To ensure that our students are global citizens with strong critical thinking skills, our curriculum combines specific fashion and technology courses with a wide range of electives in business and humanities courses.
Students applying from a two-year fashion program are assessed on an individual basis for potential advanced entry. Please contact our Program Coordinator for more information.
Depending on seat availability, we allow working professionals looking to upgrade their skills to take single courses or enroll on a part-time basis. Also, applicants with experience in the fashion industry can gain credits through Prior Learning Assessments (PLA). For more information, please contact the Program Coordinator.
Visit our Program Model page for more information or download a printable version. Still have questions? Check out our FAQ.
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Tuition and Fees
For information on tuition, please visit our Tuition Estimator. There are also mandatory student fees and other fees that you are subject to. You should also be prepared to spend approximately $600-$1000 per year on books and materials.
You may be eligible for scholarships, student loans or other financial aid. Visit Student Awards and Financial Assistance for more information.
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Laptop
The Fashion Design & Technology program is delivered in an e-mobile environment that uses laptop computers and specific software. You are advised NOT to purchase a personal laptop computer until specifications and requirements have been provided to you as a successful applicants. Options to purchase or lease laptop computers with the requisite course software will be provided by KPU.
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Sewing Machine
All incoming and continuing fashion students will need regular access to a sewing machine. Your sewing machine should have the following capabilities:
- Straight stitch
- Zig Zag stitch (recommended for 2nd year students)
- Regular stitching foot
- Zipper foot
- Buttonhole (recommended but not necessary)
*NOTE that if you have an industrial sewing machine please let your instructor know at the start of your course and we will work with you to meet all course outcomes accordingly.
It is also recommended to have a variety of sewing machine needle sizes which will be discussed in courses. You should also plan to have an iron with steaming capabilities to assist through the construction process.
Portfolio/Entrance Requirements
Once you have completed your application, you will receive instructions on how to submit your Portfolio and other required documents through an online submission platform.
Your portfolio is your chance to show us your creative skills and interests. Our Portfolio/Entrance Requirements section will help you submit the strongest portfolio possible.
To help you create the most effective portfolio possible, we offer workshops, feedback sessions and open houses. Visit our Events Calendar for more information on upcoming events.
Please visit Application Information for more details about applying to KPU.
Career Information
Graduates of our program have the design skills, business acumen and marketing savvy needed to succeed in the fashion industry at home with well-known Lower Mainland companies as Arc’teryx, Aritzia, Kit and Ace, lululemon, Kensie, Mountain Equipment Co-op, Mustang Survival, Oak + Fort, and Plenty; or abroad with global companies like Nike, Abercrombie & Fitch, Nordstrom, Volcom and Chloe.
Depending on your interests, you expect to:
- Become a fashion entrepreneur and start your own line. (Our graduates have launched lines such as Allison Wonderland, TrunkShow, Flaming Angels, Osei-Duro, Jolie Couture and Taylor Hart Design).
- Become a freelance designer.
- Work in the design, marketing or production department for world-renowned apparel companies.
- Work in smaller design houses in a role that encompasses all aspects of the business.
No matter where your degree takes you, you'll be well versed in all three aspects of the business (design, production and marketing) to fully contribute as a team player or be successful as an entrepreneur.
Fashion students interested in a career as a high school teacher of clothing and textiles may be eligible for entry to UBC's Bachelor of Education program in Home Economics. Conditions for admission and transfer are set by the receiving institution. Details must be confirmed by the student. For more information contact designadvising@kpu.ca.
To get a sense of what you can do with a Bachelor of Design in Fashion and Technology check out what alumni are doing.
Industry Partners
We are grateful for the many industry partners who host student practicums, develop industry projects, and hire our graduates. Thank you for your time, commitment to learning, and ongoing dedication to new fashion design talent. Some of the many industry partners we work with include:
- Allison Wonderland
- Arc’teryx Equipment Inc.
- Aritzia
- Bootlegger
- Chloё Angus Design
- Christine Vancouver
- Diane’s Lingerie
- Gordon’s Fabrics
- Gravity Pope
- Hailey Gerrits Designs
- Helly Hansen
- Hills of Kerrisdale
- Holt Renfrew
- Indochino
- International Fashions
- Ivan Sayers ivivva
- John Fluevog Boots & Shoes Ltd.
- Karma Athletics Ltd.
- Kendor Fabrics
- Kensie
- Kit and Ace
- Lifetime Collective
- Lija
- Little White House
- LK Collections
- lululemon athletica
- lululemon lab
- Manuel Mendoza
- Mountain Equipment Co-op
- Mustang Survival Corp.
- Nicole Bridger
- Nicole Picco
- Nocturnal Workshop
- Oak and Fort Corp.
- Oddball Workshop
- Osei Duro
- Peekaboo Beans
- Play on Trading/Orb
- Plenty
- Plum Clothing
- Portobello West
- Market Pure
- Magnolia
- Snugabell Mom & Baby Gear Ltd.
- Strike MVMNT
- Sugoi Performance Apparel
- Teeny Weeny Bikini Co.
- Truvelle