Fashion Industry in SF and L.A. (Los Angeles, San Francisco: employment, transfer)

[bostoner]

My niece is dead-set on attending FIDM or a similar school to study fashion design or merchandising. She's not sure which yet. Right now she prefers San Francisco, but which city is better as far as internship and career opportunities and making those all-important connections? What are the differences in the fashion industry between each city? What about opportunities in costume design? Does it really matter that much which campus she attends? Are there other schools to consider?

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by houstoner

My niece is dead-set on attending FIDM or a similar school to study fashion design or merchandising. She's not sure which yet. Right now she prefers San Francisco, but which city is better as far as internship and career opportunities and making those all-important connections? What are the differences in the fashion industry between each city? What about opportunities in costume design? Does it really matter that much which campus she attends? Are there other schools to consider?

LA, no question.

[Don Vito]

LA if you want to be in reality.

[bostoner]

Say it ain't so... any particular reasons why? If they're just two different campuses of the same school, would it make that much of a difference which she went to?

[UB50]

LA is where the fashion industry is headquartered, so LA for sure.

[missionhome]

I'm not sure if it would be a big difference if she went to school in LA or SF. But Los Angeles is much more important in the fashion industry than San Francisco.

Here is a ranking of top fashion cities by Global Language Monitor:
Rank
1. New York -- Far and away No.1 by every index
2. Rome -- Beats out Paris, London and Milan
3. Paris -- Heartbeat of the fashion world
4. London -- Pulsing with creative energy
5. Milan -- Perennial contender for No. 1
6. Tokyo -- Gaining global influence
7. Los Angeles -- Will Posh Spice impact Ranking?
8. Hong Kong -- No. 1 in South Asia
9. Las Vegas -- Emerging as vibrant fashion center
10. Singapore -- Strong regional hub
11. Berlin -- Big fashion push & its working
12. Sydney -- OZ scores two in the Top 20
13. Barcelona -- Regional center grows in stature
14. Shanghai -- China breaks into the Big Time
15. Melbourne -- Gold Coast is golden for fashion
16. Moscow -- Lenin would not be amused
17. Bangkok -- Realizing its dream
18. Mumbai -- Indian fashion influences globe
19. Santiago -- Major strides for a proud nation
20. Rio de Janeiro -- More than Carnivale and Ipanema
21. Sao Paolo -- Money and fashion DO mix
22. Buenos Aires -- Seat of Classic Beauty returns
23. Johannesburg -- A first for Africa
24. Dubai Dubai? -- Yes, Dubai,
25. Krakow -- Neo-Bohemia thrives

http://www.digitaljournal.com/articl...st_Paris_Third

[bostoner]

Okay, thanks, all!

[TLova]

Originally Posted by houstoner

Say it ain't so... any particular reasons why? If they're just two different campuses of the same school, would it make that much of a difference which she went to?

Your very right. I attend FIDM in SF and so many students rush to the LA campus, but they do so for ALL the wrong reasons and end up coming back the next quarter!

It's the same education, same curriculum.

[TLova]

Originally Posted by houstoner

My niece is dead-set on attending FIDM or a similar school to study fashion design or merchandising. She's not sure which yet. Right now she prefers San Francisco, but which city is better as far as internship and career opportunities and making those all-important connections? What are the differences in the fashion industry between each city? What about opportunities in costume design? Does it really matter that much which campus she attends? Are there other schools to consider?

I go to FIDM in SF and I love it. I am also attending the LA campus after I graduate to do their BS program after getting my AA up here. There is no real difference in the locations she attends, although I do think as far as career opportunities there would be more in Los Angeles. That does not mean her opportunites are slim up here though. There are SEVERAL fashion companies headquartered in SF such as Gap Inc. & Levi Strauss, & many many others who frequently visit & recruit several student at the SF campus. If she wants to attend SF campus, I think she should & then transfer (that's what I'm doing and many other students do)

There are tons of fashion school both in Northern & Southern Cal. Check out collegeboard.com, etc.

[jpnnorris]

My daughter is graduating this summer and is set on FIDM in LA. She's convinced it's the place to be for all employment connections in regards to the west coast, True? And what about a safe place to live next to the campus, or is there?