Fashion design courses: questions answered
Duration, fees, eligibility, entrance exams, careers and salaries, answered plainly, with links to the full guides.
The basics
What is fashion designing?
Fashion designing is the work of conceiving and developing clothing, accessories and footwear, from the first idea to a finished piece. A designer researches, sketches, chooses fabric, makes the pattern, constructs a sample and presents it, and in industry also considers cost, production and who will buy it.
What does a fashion designer do?
A fashion designer turns research and ideas into garments people can wear. Day to day that means studying trends and fabrics, drawing and refining designs, working out patterns and fit, overseeing samples, and adjusting the design for cost and production. Many designers also style shoots, run a boutique or build their own label.
What are the types of fashion design?
The main types are haute couture, luxury, ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter), economy and fast fashion, streetwear and contemporary, and costume design for film and theatre. They differ in how garments are made, for whom, at what price and in what quantity.
Is fashion designing only for girls?
No. Fashion design is open to everyone, and men and women work across every part of the industry, from design and pattern cutting to merchandising and styling. KIDAT admits all students who meet the eligibility.
Courses and duration
Which course is best for fashion designing after 12th?
The best course depends on how much time you want to spend and what you want to do next. A B.Des in Fashion Design takes four years and suits students aiming for top design roles; a B.Sc, BA or B.Voc takes three; a diploma takes one to two years and gets you making garments quickly. KIDAT's Graduate Diploma in Fashion Designing & Management is one year, full-time, and covers both design and the business of fashion.
How many years is a fashion designing course?
A fashion designing course takes from one to four years. A B.Des is four years; a B.Sc, BA or B.Voc in fashion design is three; diplomas and certificates are one to two years; a master's such as an M.Des is two. The KIDAT Graduate Diploma is one year, full-time, Monday to Friday.
What is a diploma in fashion designing?
A diploma in fashion designing is a shorter, practical programme, usually one to two years, that teaches the core skills of the trade: illustration, pattern making, garment construction, textiles and the basics of the industry. It suits students who want to start making and working sooner than a degree allows.
What subjects are taught in a fashion designing course?
Most courses cover fashion illustration, pattern making, garment construction, draping, textile science, surface ornamentation, computer-aided design and fashion merchandising. The KIDAT Graduate Diploma teaches seven subjects: fashion designing, draping, pattern making and garment construction, textile science, surface ornamentation, computer-aided design, and fashion merchandising and management.
What is CAD in fashion designing?
CAD stands for computer-aided design. In fashion it means using software to draw designs, build technical flats, plan colourways and prints, and develop patterns digitally. Computer-aided design is one of the seven subjects in the KIDAT Graduate Diploma.
Can I learn fashion designing at home or online?
You can learn the theory, sketching and some software at home, but garment construction, draping and fitting are hard to learn without a studio, equipment and a teacher checking your work. Most designers combine self-study with a course that gives hands-on practice and feedback.
Eligibility and admission
Can I do fashion designing after 12th commerce, arts or science?
Yes. Fashion designing is open to students from every stream, because it draws on creativity, practical skill and business sense rather than one subject. KIDAT asks for 10+2, PUC or an equivalent; an interest in fashion matters more than marks.
Can I do fashion designing after 10th?
Yes, some certificate and diploma courses accept students after 10th, while degree courses and the KIDAT Graduate Diploma need 10+2 or PUC. If you have just finished 10th, you can choose any stream for 11th and 12th and still study fashion design afterwards.
Which stream is best for fashion designing?
No stream is required. Students from arts, commerce and science all study fashion design. Arts or a drawing elective can help with sketching, and commerce helps with the business side, but neither is a condition for admission at most institutes, including KIDAT.
Does fashion designing need maths?
Fashion design does not usually require maths as a subject for admission. You will use everyday arithmetic for measurements, pattern grading and costing, and that is taught as part of the course.
Do I need drawing or stitching skills to join a fashion designing course?
No. Good courses teach drawing, pattern making and stitching from the foundation. At KIDAT students start from the basics; curiosity and patience matter more than what you can already do.
Is there an entrance exam for fashion designing?
Some institutes, such as NIFT and NID, hold their own entrance exams; many diploma and private programmes admit students on application. KIDAT admits through an application, a personal counselling conversation and a review of documents.
How do I apply for a fashion designing course?
Check the eligibility, then apply directly to the institute: online, or in person at the campus. For KIDAT, apply online in two short steps or visit the campus in Shivamogga; admissions calls back within three working hours.
Fees
What is the fee for a fashion designing course in India?
Fees for fashion designing courses in India vary widely by course type and institute. As a guide: a B.Des costs roughly ₹2 to 8 lakh per year, a B.Sc ₹1 to 5 lakh, a BA ₹1.5 to 6 lakh, a B.Voc ₹50,000 to 2 lakh, a diploma ₹30,000 to 2 lakh, and certificate courses ₹10,000 to 1 lakh. The KIDAT one-year Graduate Diploma costs ₹90,000 in total.
What does the KIDAT fashion designing course cost?
The KIDAT Graduate Diploma in Fashion Designing & Management costs ₹90,000, paid in three parts: ₹10,000 at registration, ₹40,000 on orientation day and ₹40,000 within four months of the first payment. Fees are not refundable once paid.
Careers and salary
Is fashion designing a good career in India?
Fashion designing can be a good career in India for people who build real skills and a strong portfolio. Graduates work as designers, stylists, merchandisers, print and textile designers, costume designers and boutique owners, and some start their own labels. Income grows with experience and reputation rather than from the first job.
How do I become a fashion designer after 12th?
Choose a fashion design course, learn the core skills of drawing, pattern making and construction, build a portfolio of finished garments, and gain experience through internships and shows. At KIDAT, students design and make original collections that are shown at Sutradhar, the school's runway show.
What is the salary of a fashion designer in India?
A fresher fashion designer in India typically earns ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month. With a few years' experience that rises to around ₹45,000 to ₹60,000 a month, and the average across the field is about ₹4 to 8 lakh a year. Experienced designers and label owners can earn ₹20 lakh or more.
How much do fashion design interns earn?
Fashion design interns in India usually receive ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 a month, depending on the brand, the city, the length of the internship and the work involved.
What is a portfolio in fashion designing?
A fashion portfolio is a curated collection of your best work: research, sketches, technical drawings, fabric choices and photographs of finished garments. Employers and colleges use it to judge your skill and point of view, so it matters as much as your qualification.
What is the difference between fashion design and textile design?
Fashion design focuses on the garment: its shape, construction and fit. Textile design focuses on the fabric: weaves, knits, prints and surface. The two work closely together, and many fashion courses, including KIDAT's, teach textile science alongside design.
Studying in Karnataka
Where can I study fashion designing in Shivamogga?
KIDAT, the Kenstone Institute of Design & Technology, teaches fashion design at 60 Feet Road, Vinoba Nagara, Shivamogga, Karnataka 577204. It offers a one-year, full-time Graduate Diploma in Fashion Designing & Management.
Is there a one-year fashion designing course in Karnataka?
Yes. KIDAT in Shivamogga runs a one-year, full-time Graduate Diploma in Fashion Designing & Management. The next batch starts on 20 November 2026, with nine seats in each batch.
What is Sutradhar?
Sutradhar is KIDAT's student fashion show, where students present original collections on the runway in Shivamogga. Sutradhar 2025 was held at Hidden Leaf, Shivamogga, with collections from nine student designers across two batches.
Figures for fees and salaries are general guides drawn from KIDAT's Journal articles and vary by institute, city and experience. KIDAT's own fees, dates and seats are as published on its admissions page.
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