Fashion Merchandising + Fashion Design Diploma Programs
Fashion Notes
More than ever before, fashion has become an integral part of our visual landscape. Fashion runs the gamut from high to low, couture to disposable. Now whether you consider Fashion as artistry, personal expression, or a reflection of the times, there is no disputing that Fashion is a billion dollar business, BILLIONS in fact.
The demand for highly trained fashion merchandisers continues to increase exponentially with the accelerated growth of the fashion and retail industries. As these industries flourish, the career possibilities are endless. Fashion merchandisers command fluid skills that can be transferred to a multitude of diverse and challenging career opportunities such as retail buyers, visual merchandisers, store planners, inventory control specialists, wholesale agents, manufacturers, retail managers, fashion stylists, fashion show coordinators, fashion public relations specialists, entrepreneurs and so on.
By covering the complete range of the fashion industry, graduates of the Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising Program are well equipped to handle the dynamic, complex and creative world of Fashion.
From Operations Coordinator for Uppercut Menswear
To Production Manager for Burberry Womenswear (London, England)
PROFILE: Irene Yokoo
Sold in fashion forward boutiques such as Fred Segal in the U.S. and Eugene Choo in Vancouver. Uppercut is an emerging Canadian Menswear Design and Wholesale company based in Vancouver. As Operations Manager, Merchandising Grad, Irene Yokoo, oversaw everything from corresponding with customers, shipping out samples for magazine photo shoots, prepping for trade shows to receiving inventory and preparing import and export paperwork.
This busy girl is even busier now that she is working alongside the Production Manager for Burberry Womenswear in London, England, and taking on the British fashion industry.
"I feel the Fashion Merchandising program at Blanche Macdonald provided me with the fundamentals necessary to take the plunge into the fashion industry. The Instructors and Career Coordinator are great sources of information and provide support even after the completion of the program. Being connected to their network circle gave me the confidence to embark on a new career path in this highly competitive industry!"
Sales and Merchandising Head for Bon Wear
PROFILE: Bo Wu
Nordstroms, Boys' Co, Aritzia, Below The Belt, Off The Wall, Levi's Stores, and Smart Set. What's the link? Bong Wear, a private label manufacturing company that owns factories both locally in Vancouver and overseas in China. Specializing in denim and fashion knit tops for the junior ladies and mens markets across North America. Bong Wear also produces their own hot international labels, London Red, Fiftees, B-Wear and Mully and Pip.
Travelling across North America and abroad to work with clients is all in a day's work for Bong Wear's Sales and Merchandising Head, Bo Wu. This Blanche Macdonald grad loves his job and he is crazy busy.
"I am having a blast at my job! I would not have had this opportunity if I did not go through Blanche Macdonald's Fashion Merchandising program. It really laid out a great foundation for what I needed in the real world. Moreover, BMC provided a smooth transition from school to the work field. It really teaches you the essentials required for whatever fashion field you decide to get into!"
"Throughout the Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising program, students are given great opportunities to get a sneak peek into whatever field they are interested in entering into. I truly enjoyed my time there!"
Merchandising Coordinator for The North Face
PROFILE: Carmen Watson
From Mount Everest to Mount Seymour The North Face is responsible for it's own kind of global warming with everyone from hip hop artists to trendy urbanites outfitted in their upscale outerwear. Known for quality, endurance and street-smart style, The North Face, according to Wikipedia, got it's name fromt he north face of mountains which are generally the steepest, coldest and most difficult face to climb.
BMC Fashion Merchandising grad, Carmen Watson's fashion career is on the rise as a merchandising coordinator with The North Face. A typical day's work combines merchandising The North Face concept stores, working with key clients in the showroom during busy selling months and researching new fashion accounts. Every day is different and Watson loves that aspect of her job. Not being chained to a desk, she has the freedom to create her own schedule.
"Blanche Macdonald definitely helped open my eyes to other opportunities in the fashion arena since the courses were diverse. Career Coordinator Joy McLean was tremendous when it came to helping me find work. She was always available and eager to help. Even when things weren't looking good she was onto the next opportunity. I speak with her frequently and keep her abreast of what I'm up to."
"Like most things in life, school is what you make of it. If you choose to seriously pursue a career in fashion, Blanche Macdonald is a great school that provides its students with the resources and opportunities to excel in the field of fashion."
Assistant Coordinator for Insight Film Studio
PROFILE: Pat Yang
With film productions like Blonde and Blonder starring homegrown Pam Anderson, When A Man Falls In The Forest starring Sharon Stone, and award-winning docs, Vancouver's Insight Film Studio is having a banner year. According to their website, Insight's film production has doubled from the previous year. Wow!
As an Assistant Coordinator at Insight Film, Pat Yang is currently working on a feature film with Kim Basinger. From office-related duties like booking hotels for cast and crew, data entry and ordering supplies to the fun stuff like picking up cast members at the airport, booking Insight's wrap parties at this city's trendy restaurants and getting paid to shop every day is different for this recent Blanche Macdonald Fashion Merchandising grad.
"The education I received from the Fashion Merchandising program at Blanche Macdonald helped me get here. The Marketing and Advertising courses gave me an idea as to what to expect in this industry, whether it was fashion or movie related. In my department, I am dealing with all the other departments like Props, Set Decoration, Wardrode, etc., and there will be the odd question and it's good to know that I have the answer."
"The Instructors at BMC have been so helpful and great! Donna, Peggy and Joy have all been wonderful. I have learned things that I had no idea about. The Instructors know the business inside and out and what it is like out in the real world."
