THE BUSINESS OF FASHION & DESIGN

Create Boldly. Build Strategically.

With curriculum shaped by industry expectations, this 18-month Business of Fashion & Design diploma program prepares you to think like a designer and operate like a brand—bridging aesthetics, functionality, and business fluency.

Program Overview

JCI’s innovative Business of Fashion & Design program takes you from sketch to showroom—developing your ability to design, build, and position a collection for the real world. You’ll study trend forecasting, textiles, pattern-making, illustration, and technical design alongside marketing, branding, and entrepreneurial strategy. The curriculum reflects how the industry actually works: collaborative, fast-paced, and digitally connected. With portfolio development, fashion media production, and a practicum built in, you’ll graduate with a well-rounded skill set and a deep understanding of how to launch or contribute to a fashion brand with clarity, confidence, and creative direction.

Key Information

Tuition: $29,900
Application Fee: $250
Textbooks: $1,054
Sewing Kit: $285
Illustration Supplies: $175 (estimate)
School Supplies: $150 (estimate)
Textiles: $500 (estimate)
Adobe Creative Cloud: Price varies
Microsoft Excel: Price varies
Please note: students must bring their own laptops.

Merit-based Tuition Awards are available to those who qualify. Government Student Loans are available for Canadian students.

For international student tuition fees, click here.
In order to be eligible for the Business of Fashion & Design, you must meet our General Admission Requirements.
Program Hours: 1448
Practicum Hours: 48
Weeks of Education: 70 weeks
Total Length: 1.5 years (including 6 weeks breaks/holidays)
- September 8, 2025
Maximum 20 students

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Curriculum

This program takes you through the complete fashion journey—from building a foundation in design to understanding the business strategy behind successful brands. You’ll explore creative development, digital tools, technical garment construction, and the realities of bringing a product to market. Along the way, you’ll gain a deep understanding of how to balance artistic vision with industry demands. By the end, you’ll graduate with a market-ready portfolio, real-world experience, and the confidence to take on roles across both the creative and commercial sides of fashion.

Key Courses:

Introduction to Fashion, Illustration, Elements of Design, Textiles & Materials, Fashion History, Retail Management, Pattern Making & Sewing I & II, Marketing & Branding, Product Development & Industry Practices, The Range (Collection Development), Visual Merchandise Management, Fashion Styling, Business & Entrepreneurship, The Brand/The Build/The Lab, Buying & Business of Fashion, Final Collection & Final Edit, Industry Practicum

What You’ll Learn:

How to develop and present full fashion collections from concept to execution
Technical skills in pattern drafting, sewing, and digital prototyping (CLO3D)
Fashion illustration, textiles, color theory, and storytelling through design
Marketing strategies, branding, and eCommerce for fashion labels
Retail management, inventory planning, and visual merchandising
Trend forecasting, fashion history, and global cultural context
Personal and commercial styling for editorial and real-world clients
Business planning, entrepreneurship, and portfolio development
Real-world application through collaborative industry projects and practicum

*This program has been approved by the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Next Steps

Have questions? Leave us a note and our Admissions team will personally reach out to help you.

REQUEST INFO

Ready to start? Begin the application process below and our Admissions team will contact you for an interview.

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Career Pathways

FASHION DESIGNER

A fashion designer creates original clothing and accessories, blending creativity with technical skills to design trends and products. They work on concept development, fabric selection, and garment construction, shaping the future of fashion industry styles.
FASHION STYLIST

A fashion stylist curates looks for individuals, photo shoots, or campaigns—translating trends into visual stories. They combine industry knowledge with creative direction to craft outfits that express identity, mood, or message.
PATTERN MAKER

A pattern maker translates fashion designs into templates, ensuring proper fit and style. They use precision to create patterns for garments, working closely with designers to bring concepts to life for production.
PRODUCT DEVELOPER

A product developer works with design and manufacturing teams to create new fashion products. They oversee the entire development process, from concept to production, ensuring designs are functional, cost-effective, and on-trend.
TEXTILE ANALYST

A textile analyst tests and evaluates fabrics for quality, durability, and performance. They analyze materials for suitability in designs, ensuring that textiles meet industry standards and consumer expectations.
CLO3D Technician

A CLO3D technician uses 3D software to create digital garment prototypes, helping designers visualize and modify designs before physical production. They enhance the design process with virtual simulations for fit, fabric behavior, and styling.
BRAND MANAGER

A brand manager shapes how a fashion brand is seen and experienced. They oversee messaging, visuals, and strategy across platforms, ensuring consistency while growing recognition and market relevance.
FASHION BUYER

A fashion buyer selects and purchases products for retail spaces, using forecasting, customer insight, and sales data to guide decisions. They balance trend awareness with business strategy to build a profitable merchandise mix.
VISUAL MERCHANDISER

A visual merchandiser designs store layouts and window displays to attract attention and drive sales. They use color, proportion, and storytelling to create immersive brand experiences within physical retail spaces.
E-COMMERCE SPECIALIST

An e-commerce specialist manages the online sales experience, from product listings and user interface to backend analytics. They optimize fashion websites for performance, customer engagement, and conversion.
CONTENT CREATOR

A content creator produces fashion-focused digital content to grow brand awareness and engagement. They combine visuals, storytelling, and platform strategy to build community and influence consumer behavior.
FASHION ENTREPRENEUR

A fashion entrepreneur builds and launches their own brand or business. They oversee everything from design to marketing and operations—driving their vision with a strong blend of creativity and business strategy.

I'm so grateful for this program and the people involved. It has challenged me in the best ways and has taught me an immense amount of perserverance. I believe this program offers more than skill—also mental toughness. Going into a challenging industry, this has been highly beneficial.

— Ashley / JCI Fashion Graduate
JCI is such a solid school. The isntructors and program director really care about the students and our well-being and they truly want to see us winning. I'm so grateful that I was able to work alongside big names in the Vancouver fashion community and will always love the time I spent here.

—Ari / JCI Fashion Graduate
My experience at JCI overall helped me find myself as an individual, let alone as a designer. Through experimenting and conceptualizing my creativity out in fashion and design as a form of multimedia, I have really built a stepping stone here.

—Hue / JCI Fashion Graduate
JCI exceeded my expectations!! I loved the instructors and the atmosphere. My classmates were wonderful and I'm so grateful. I can't wait to see where I end up in fashion.

—Catherine / JCI Fashion Graduate
JCI taught me how to approach fashion in ways I didn't think of. My instructors truly looked out for me and were there when I need them. My whole experience with JCI has been grand. Would definitely do it again.

—Moises / JCI Fashion Graduate