Fashion Merchandising

School of Communication & The Arts

An Immersive Fashion Merchandising Program

At Marist, Fashion Merchandising is much more than a major – it’s a hands-on, immersive learning experience. Our Fashion Merchandising students achieve high levels of success because they enter the fashion industry with years of experience under their belts even before graduation.

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Student Learning Outcomes

A Diverse Curriculum To Prepare For Your Career

The Merchandising major relies upon foundational courses such as Fashion in Culture & Commerce, Digital Software Studies and Textiles, then advances with concentration-specific offerings in Business, Product Development, or Fashion Promotion. Learn more about each of the Fashion Merchandising concentrations below:

Business Concentration

The Business concentration focuses on the planning, procurement, and marketing aspects of the fashion business and includes courses such as:

Retailing Principles and Practices
Merchandise Planning and Control
Buying, Planning & Allocation

Product Development Concentration

The Product Development concentration explores the development of private label or branded merchandise, supply chain management, and the use of product data management techniques. It includes such courses as:

Supply Chain Management
Private Label Development
Branding & Licensing
Advanced PDM Software
Sustainability

Fashion Promotion Concentration

The Fashion Promotion concentration explores the relationship between brand, product and consumer behavior, and the dynamic role it plays. Students engage in course work focusing on trend, branding, creative marketing and communication, social media, e-commerce, event planning and production, and digital media creation. It includes such courses as:

Event Planning
Fashion Show Production
Fashion Social Media
Fashion Ecommerce
Retail Entrepreneurship

Learn more about the BS in Fashion Merchandising with a Promotion Concentration and MA in Marketing Communication Dual Degree >

Fashion Merchandising Minor

Fashion Design majors have the opportunity to minor in Fashion Merchandising to enhance their academic experience. Combining a Fashion Design major with Fashion Merchandising minor balances the creative design curriculum with the industry knowledge of Fashion Merchandising.

Front Row and Backstage at Milan Fashion Week

Marist students got a front-row seat and backstage access to one of the most exclusive fashion events in the world — Milan Fashion Week. Nearly two dozen students studying fashion design, fashion merchandising, and global marketing communications were immersed in what’s considered one of the "big four" global fashion events. Through the College’s partnership with Italian designer Francesca Liberatore, hands-on learning at premiere industry events has helped make Marist’s Fashion Program among the best in higher education.

Read About Students Attending Milan Fashion Week

Hands-on Fashion Merchandising Experience

A balanced education at Marist combines rigorous classroom experience with practical application in the desired field, and the Fashion Merchandising major is no exception. Fashion Merchandising students engage in a wide range of real-world learning opportunities, including running MPorium, our on-campus retail boutique, creating the next issue of Measure Magazine, Marist’s fashion magazine, and producing the Silver Needle Runway Fashion Show, the largest event production presented by Marist annually.

Explore recent volumes of the magazine.
Go to Measure Magazine >

Cutting-Edge Fashion Facilities

At Marist, we’re determined to provide not only the educational but the physical tools to promote your success and preparedness to enter to fashion industry. Along with our Textile Design Lab and Fashion Makerspace, Fashion Merchandising students perhaps get the most use and experience out of MPorium: our on-campus entrepreneurial boutique stocked and operated by our Fashion Merchandising students. Functioning as a retail laboratory, MPorium gives you the opportunity to delve into the nuances required for running and maintaining a fashion enterprise, including Human Resource Management/Staffing, Customer Service, Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Merchandise Planning & Control.

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One thing I loved about Marist was the fact that I knew when I graduated I was going to be successful. The teachers, the staff, and the professors provide a community feeling, and people have pushed me to do better. I’m not just a number, people want me to do well.

Cameron Smith

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I have always wanted to study abroad and my Fashion Design major gave me the opportunity to do so from the beginning of my freshman year!

Hannah Armstrong

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The faculty within the Fashion Department have been nothing but extremely helpful. They make sure I’m registering for the right classes, as well as taking classes I want to be taking, and they help me look for internship and job opportunities. The faculty have also played a vital role in my growth as a person and have provided me with the tools I will need to succeed in the fashion industry post-graduation.

Rebecca Castellani

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I was attracted to both the Marist campus and the opportunity to dive into the liberal arts and explore a broader curriculum. Along with Fashion, I’ve been able to take classes in areas like environmental science and global studies. I’ve been very involved in the Fashion Program’s ethical fashion initiative.

Teresa Cimino

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As an intern at Puma, I was able to compile trend forecasts that my boss was able to share with senior leadership at the company’s headquarters in Germany.

Samantha Williams

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During my internship with Abercrombie & Fitch, working in outerwear and also accessories, I noticed many similarities between the two product categories. This connection laid the foundation for my senior collection, and I worked closely with Professional Lecturer of Fashion Design DooRi Chung to develop it.

Leander Trotter

Career Success in the Fashion Industry

As a Fashion Design student at Marist who has completed industry experience long before graduation, you’ll have a competitive edge unlike any other student entering the field. And our students have landed the jobs to prove it. Below are only a few examples of the major fashion institutions that proudly employ Marist Fashion alumni today:

Develop The Skills You Need To Succeed

Fashion Theory

Gain a foundational-level understanding of fashion trend theories; begin to effectively anticipate, understand, and utilize basic terminology used to describe fashion, garments and textiles; and explain the process of apparel production from concept.

Fashion Trend Forecasting & Analysis

Understand theory and practice components for forecasting fashion and use professional case studies to demonstrate each technique and concept. Learn the mechanics and functions of trends and responsibilities of the Fashion Forecaster.

Public Presentation

Prepare for your senior capstone project, where you will develop a research report that defines a successful product, marketing, and financial plan. You will be required to present your project to a group of faculty and industry executives.

Understanding of Textile Science

Develop a working vocabulary of terms used in the textile industry and how they affect textile performance, which enables you to make informed decisions concerning textile end use.

Retail Strategies

Analyze the retail industry by store/customer type, and store strategy. Understand different consumer behaviors and perform a trading area analysis, identify target markets, and discuss how relationship marketing is the key to success.

Digital Fashion Design

Create technical, merchandising, spec flats, and various garment details and fashion figures using Adobe Illustrator to visually develop an understanding of garment construction and details.

Marist Named "Best Colleges That Are Shaping The Future Of Fashion" by Forbes

"Just north of NYC, the Marist campus overlooks the Hudson River providing a more serene setting to focus on your creative process. How serious is the college about its commitment to fashion? A brand-new, dedicated Digital Arts & Fashion Building opened in January 2019 with all the state-of-the-art tech at the students’ thimble-topped fingertips. You can catch the 35th anniversary Silver Needle Runway presentation of fashion graduates to experience the Marist style for yourself."

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Marist Named #6 in Vogue’s Top 20 Fashion Schools

Vogue magazine has named Marist one of “The Best Fashion Schools for Design, Marketing and More” for 2024. Our hands-on learning opportunities, such as the student-run boutique MPorium, the Silver Needle Runway annual fashion show, and Measure: a student produced fashion publication put Marist at the forefront of educational institutions shaping the future of fashion. The magazine also noted the College’s unique balance of proximity to New York City and a focused campus environment where creativity comes to life. Forbes also named Marist one of the "Best Colleges That Are Shaping the Future of Fashion."

The Value of a Marist Education

At Marist, we pride ourselves on our dedication to providing our students with a well-rounded liberal arts education that prepares them for practical experience and profound success in their field. But don't just take our word for it - the numbers speak for themselves.