Californian fashion designer launches non-profit design institute

Until now, the only option for aspiring fashion designers who live in the proximity of Redlands, California, was to travel 24 hours to attend the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. A spot on one of the school's programmes comes with a hefty tuition fee of at least 29,00 dollars per year. For those who do not have the time or the financial means to attend FIDM or do not make it onto the programme, fashion designer Jennifer Farbanks has developed the not-for-profit design school Porcelynne's Design Institutem which is set to welcome its first students in September, 2016.

”I just want the education to be accessible to anybody,” said Farbanks in an interview with Redlands Daily Facts. “In the fashion industry, what they do not tell you is that you do not need a degree to get a job but what you do need is the work experience.” Being a fashion entrepreneur herself, Farbanks possesses the know-how on what it means to have your own business. By sharing these experiences with her students, she hopes to embed students with practical skills.

The classes that Farbanks’ institute is set to not only cover fashion design, but also focus on areas such as fashion merchandising and using Illustrator and Photoshop. Her goal is to “instill critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the development of design ideas and business ownership, while identifying career opportunities in the fashion industry as well as understanding self-employment.” The courses on offer include a weekly meeting for eight consecutive weeks, all for a tuition fee of 360 dollars. The maximum number of students allowed per class is six, in order to guarantee that everyone will get personal attention.

”Some students may be intrigued by the fashion industry but not know what the ‘nitty gritty’ is,” said PDI Educational Coordinator Erica Moreno. “Coming here is a way for them to figure out of this is something worth investing in. It is very hands-on, very personal and we are teaching the fundamentals.”

The school is currently open to applicatios for its first academic year. In order to be eligible, a student has to be a resident of one of the following counties: San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego or Orange County. Applicants also need to send in a written motivation and a collage in which they share what inspires them. The school also offers financial aid, which students can apply for at the institute’s website.

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