Fashion Design Department

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (SAIC) Department of Fashion Design provides a unique, interdisciplinary experience that challenges students to bring an artistic and theoretical approach to the work, and benefit from rigorous artistic and professionally oriented training.

In its 89th year, the Fashion department has evolved into a unique place to train the next generation of designers, artists, and thinkers. Our mission is to develop and alarm our graduate's voices to participate in the global discourse. Our multidisciplinary approach to fashion is grounded in teaching technical, digital, artisanal, and visceral ways of making, pairing artistic exploration with concept development and skill-building.

The faculty’s national and international professional experience offers unique opportunities for student learning, travel, and global internships.

The Department of Fashion Design supports the following degree programs:

Bachelor of Fine Arts: Fashion Design
Master of Design in Fashion, Body and Garment

SAIC’s Fashion department offers one of the most intense, interdisciplinary fashion design programs in Chicago. You emerge not only as a skilled designer, but with an awareness of the social, political, and technological forces shaping the 21st century.

Within our Fashion program, you will explore the most progressive achievements in the world of dress and fashion through our Fashion Resource Center, a hands-on collection of late 20th- and 21st-century designer garments representing extreme innovation. The world-renowned art exhibitions and research facilities of The Art Institute of Chicago are located one block from campus.

Fashion Design Students Exhibit Internationally

    Isabel Weiss

    Isabel Weiss showed her junior collection as part of the Arts Thread Global Fashion Graduate fashion show in Mexico City. Weiss was part of a group of students from 16 schools from around the world, including Milan, New York, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Rome, who showed their collections at CENTRO University.

    A model wears structured pants and a gauzy, abstract shirt

    Jules Gourley

    Jules Gourley showcased their designs as part of the Supima Design Competition in Paris, which was hosted by internationally acclaimed fashion designer Phillip Lim. Gourley was among six finalists competing for the $10,000 prize.

    A model walks down a runway in a sculptural brown gown

    Follow Us

    Department of Fashion Design

    Sullivan Center

    36 S Wabash Ave., Floor 7

    Chicago, IL 60603

    Phone: 312.629.6713

    Fashion Service Center (FSC)

    Sullivan Center

    36 S Wabash Ave., Room 713

    Chicago, IL 60603

     

    Phone: 312.629.6720

    Sage Foundation Chair in Fashion Design

    Abigail Glaum-Lathbury aglaumlathbury@saic.edu

    Graduate Coordinator

    Katrin Schnabl kschna@saic.edu

    Assistant Director of Fashion Design Facilities

    Dolly Robertson drober2@saic.edu

    Fashion Design Technical Facility Manager

    Triston Antoine tantoine@saic.edu