Fashion Merchandising and Design

What is fashion merchandising and design?

The fashion merchandising and design program at Virginia Tech blends creativity, business strategy, and a deep understanding of the global fashion industry. You’ll explore apparel design, textiles, garment production, trend forecasting, retail management, and consumer behavior, developing both aesthetic and analytical skills. The curriculum combines studio-based learning with coursework in merchandising, marketing, and product development, preparing you to think critically about fashion’s role in culture and commerce. Through hands-on projects, internships, and industry engagement, you’ll graduate ready for careers in fashion buying, visual merchandising, product development, brand management, and more.

Why study fashion merchandising and design at Virginia Tech?

Join one of the few national programs that fully integrates fashion merchandising and design into a single major. This interdisciplinary approach will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the fashion industry and prepare you for versatile career paths.
Study in the only program of its kind in Virginia and in the Mid-Atlantic region that is accredited by the Textile and Apparel Programs Accreditation Commission.
Gain real-world experience — nearly 90% of students complete an internship with a top company in the fashion industry.
Intern with brands like Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Ralph Lauren, Disney, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer, LOFT, J.Crew, Anna Sui, Showroom Delfina, Macy’s, Milly, and Accessories Collective.
Participate in real-world product development, collaborating on projects where you design, source, and pitch full fashion lines.
Access textile labs with industry-standard equipment and dedicated retail-style display windows, as well as holdings from the university’s fashion collection, for visual merchandising projects and student-designed exhibitions.
Gain hands-on experience with Adobe Creative Suite, CLO 3D, and fashion-specific software to acquire relevant technical skills for today’s digital-first fashion landscape.

Learn textile structures and performance and drawing techniques in the classroom, then apply your skills in design studios to create retail-size spaces; use CAD software and fashion design technologies in the Apparel Technology Lab.
Draw inspiration from the Oris Glisson Historic Costume and Textile Collection, which includes about 5,000 garments and textiles dating from 1840 to the present.
Curate high-quality fashion exhibitions and gain experience in collection management to explore alternative career paths, such as working in corporate fashion design company archives and museums with fashion collections.
Get involved in student organizations like the Fashion Merchandising and Design Society at Virginia Tech, Hokie Designers, or the Sustainable Fashion Society and connect with a creative, like-minded community.
Attend the National Retail Federation Student Foundation event in New York City, gaining direct access to recruiters, mentors, and exclusive job opportunities.
Tour major fashion companies, visit with alumni, and network with industry leaders on the New York field study.
Study abroad at the Santa Reparata International School of Art in Florence, Italy, and explore design, sustainability, marketing, and consumerism in Italy.

Student holding up student designed socks.

Curriculum

What courses will I take?

To learn more about the courses you’ll take as a fashion merchandising and design major, review the Program Curriculum and course descriptions in the university catalog. In addition to required courses in economic well-being, product analysis, business fundamentals, and action learning, you’ll have plenty of options to personalize your degree through electives and Pathways courses.

Careers

Meet an alum

Sheridan Tupman '12

Topman began her career in New York City at Rent the Runway as a customer experience associate and team lead. She now works as the social media manager at Stuart Weitzman, a premier luxury shoe brand, where she builds the label's online presence.