LaSalle College Vancouver is expanding its esteemed fashion design program after recently receiving approval to offer a Bachelor of Design in Fashion Design to students who want to expand their training and career options.

Recent approval from the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training makes the private arts and design college one of only a handful of post-secondary schools in the country to offer a degree in Fashion Design with a focus on sustainable design principles, which is becoming an important concept in fashion.

"Our degree will serve as a platform in fashion design education in Canada where students will be empowered to implement sustainable design strategies that will allow for them to adapt and shift in more meaningful and resilient ways in order to advance the field of fashion design – locally and globally," Katherine Soucie, Fashion Program Director, said. "We want to establish a legacy of future designers who possess a knowledge and skill set around textiles, processes, craft and technology. The new program will ensure students are business-minded and socially aware and identify with the responsibility of being a cultural producer."

As part of the new program, students gain hands-on training in the fashion field with a practicum program that puts them directly in the industry, boosting their knowledge and understanding of what it’s like to work in the business.

Fashion industry jobs – whether in small-scale companies, major international operations, or in film and TV – are seeking students who have a Bachelor’s Degree. The new program will ensure LaSalle College Vancouver students have a well-rounded and thorough education in the craft – one that prepares them for a rewarding career.

Along with teaching the fundamentals and advanced technical skills, the degree program will also include a component around business development and digital expertise in an evolving industry. The degree program can be completed in just three years. Additionally, fashion design students who have a diploma can apply for the Bachelor program, which allows them to transfer their credits and finish their degree.

"We are pleased to offer such a unique Fashion Design Degree in the City of Vancouver, where Fashion Design is flourishing," said LaSalle College Vancouver president Dr. Jason Dewling. "The focus on sustainability is one of the most important issues facing the fashion industry – we are proud to know that our students will have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to face these challenges and propel the industry forward in a sustainable way."　

LaSalle College Vancouver’s Fashion Design program pulls from the latest technical innovations while maintaining a connection to a teaching tradition that goes back to LaSalle College Fashion’s roots in Montréal – Canada’s fashion capital.