Choosing a country as a fashion design student is like choosing the perfect backdrop for your portfolio. Surrounding yourself in a country’s heritage and culture will not only influence your educational and well-being; it also has the potential to determine the quality of your design portfolio. Studying in the right country for you can build a strong portfolio that will increase your chances of getting a job as a fashion designer.

If you want to soak in high street fashion and learn Asian languages, go to:

South Korea (Seoul)
Go to Seoul if you want South Korea’s popular, stylish influence in your portfolio. Tuning into Korean TV programs on a weekend will be enough to give you inspiration. Their fashionable entertainment scene has earned the country millions of fans world-wide. With most of their fashion design schools carrying out their programs in Korean, you will need to prove your proficiency with your KLPT results (a Korean Language Proficiency Test which evaluates Korean language proficiency delivered by the Korean Language Society).

Japan (Tokyo)
Tokyo is recognized for setting global trends; it paved the way for world-famous designers like Kenzo and Issey Miyake, graduates from Bunka Fashion College. It is also the second most expensive country to live in according to Mercer’s 2010 survey. Studying here will cost more than studying in UK or America. Most fashion schools carry out their courses in Japanese, so be prepared to sit for a proficiency test like JLPT (a standardized criterion-referenced test to evaluate and certify the Japanese language proficiency of non-native speakers).

If you prefer to practice Fashion in English, go to:

Australia (Sydney)
To experience being a part of Australia’s fashion scene, you can sign up for internships in fashion like in ACP magazines during your study breaks. It is a company that publishes popular women’s lifestyle, fashion and beauty magazines. Titles you might be familiar with include: CLEO, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s BAZAAR.

Singapore
Picking and polishing your English skills while you are in Singapore is highly possible. As a world class commercial city, Singapore is a cultural melting pot where you can meet Asians of other races and improve on your English as you speak with them. Fashion in Singapore is imported mainly from neighboring Asian countries and also carries multiple luxury labels from the west.

If you are looking for adventure, go to:

Thailand (Bangkok)
Bangkok is a budding fashion city that has yet to reach global acclaim. But the talents of local designers shine through their street stores, usually managed by young entrepreneurs. Craft materials are affordable – which is great news for budding designers. If you are willing to learn Thai, you can pick up a lot of pointers from the locals.

China
While studying here, you can consider sourcing for tailors and suppliers for your future boutique. Production here is one of the cheapest in the world, which will give you a lot of room for affordable practice on choice fabrics. Despite public distrust on China-made goods and designer fakes, the country is still capable of producing quality material.

At the end of the day, the best country for you to further your studies in depends on how you want to develop your portfolio.

Author Bio: Donald Pang, International Admissions Director of Raffles Education Corporation, a company that operates 36 fashion design schools in Asia Pacific across 33 cities in 13 countries. If you have further questions about fashion design education, submit an online enquiry at our Raffles International Admissions Office.

Category: Education
Keywords: fashion design education, study fashion design, fashion design training