Any homeschool course in fashion design should cover essential topics like clothing, color, design, textiles and sewing skills. Learning core concepts gives students an understanding of the fashion world and helps them decide if they would like to pursue a career in fashion.
Create a Homeschool Course in Fashion Design
Develop your own homeschool course in fashion design by incorporating some or all of the following core elements. You can use stand-alone lesson plans, or make your own unit studies. The scope and depth of the lessons depends on the age and skill level of the students. Tailor the lessons to your child's interests and learning style. For instance, tactile learners enjoy projects and interactive lessons, while visual learners prefer reading or watching instructional videos. Try these suggested topics to get started:
Clothing
Homeschool students should understand the role of clothing in fashion. Plan lessons around the answers to questions like:
- What is the purpose of clothing?
- How does clothing impact a culture or influence its customs?
- What are the different styles of clothing?
- How does one develop their personal clothing style?
A fun lesson idea for this topic is the student shopping for clothing for themselves or others. This can be done online or at a local store. Before the shopping trip, students should learn how to recognize quality construction and fabrics.
Fashion Industry
In this segment, study the history, evolution and major influences in fashion history. Students should learn to identify all the variations of standard fashion styles like:
- Necklines
- Collars
- Sleeves
- Dresses
- Skirts
- Pants
- Coats
- Jackets
Take a trip to the local library and browse the fashion magazines. Challenge your student to a scavenger hunt as you look at the magazines to see who can locate the most examples of styling features from the list. Treat the winner to an ice cream cone or smoothie.
Be sure to include research on some of the most famous designers like Alexander McQueen, Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent. Encourage your child to study the designers' collections, and discuss what they like or do not like about the various styles.
Color
Introduce the color wheel and concepts like the impact or symbolism of color. Experiment with different color schemes, and make a personal color chart.
Design Principles
Use a sketchpad, pencils and a basic how to draw people guidebook to teach students about basic anatomy, perspective, balance and symmetry. Encourage them to sketch clothing designs by either imitating styles they like or creating their own.
Textiles
A field trip to the local fabric store is a hands-on way to allow students to experience the different textures and types of textiles. This introduces them to fabrics, ready-made patterns and a wide array of sewing supplies and tools. Let them pick out a pattern and some fabric for a basic garment, like a top or pants, and help them create it as a homeschool project.
Sewing and Tailoring
Students learn basic sewing and tailoring skills quickly by making garments like skirts, pants, or tops that they can wear and enjoy. Creating simple patterns and making easy alterations builds confidence and develops skills.
Ready Made Fashion Design Courses
Several companies offer fashion design courses and curricula. Using a prepared course saves time and money because the projects and lessons are pre-planned. Purchase materials and supplies as needed in the correct quantities. Programs are self-paced, so you can fit them into your other homeschool subjects whenever you choose. Try one of these sources:
Kids Can Sew and Fashion Design: The curriculum is gender neutral and designed for ages six to 18. Students complete a wearable wardrobe while learning basic skills.
Young Explorers: While this is not exactly a curriculum, it is an educational product designed to allow budding fashion designers to explore and experiment with colors and textiles. Kits contain enough materials and embellishments to make four haute couture fashions.
Benefits of Learning Fashion Design
Whether you decide to design your own homeschool course in fashion design or purchase one ready-made, the benefits of teaching children this subject are numerous. In addition to being able to repair or create their own clothing, kids develop confidence and increase their self-esteem. They make better clothing choices, thus saving time and money. If they decide to pursue a fashion career, they are prepared for the obstacles and challenges involved because of their hands-on experience.
