Apparel Design Minor

Immerse yourself in the fundamentals of costume, apparel and accessory design.

Lehigh’s Apparel Design Minor offers students a dynamic and hands-on approach to the world of fashion and garment creation. Whether you're looking to complement your major with design skills or dive deep into creating clothing and textiles of your own, this minor equips you with the knowledge and tools to express your creative vision and foster professional development.

Studying apparel design introduces students to the basic elements behind design, fashion theory, design processes and rendering. As students enhance their technical abilities and artistic sensibilities, they will learn how to take their ideas from concepts to prototypes, producing their own textiles and wearable items.

Key Benefits

• Interdisciplinary Coursework: Study design fundamentals, pattern-making, fabric manipulation, garment construction and the evolution of fashion history. This ensures that students receive a well-rounded education in apparel design.
• Hands-On Learning: The department fosters a unique learning environment that emphasizes hands-on and experiential learning outside the classroom, equipping them for inquiry, dialogue, and service in the community and world at large.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Students have use of 30,000 square feet of studio, lab and classroom space on Lehigh’s Mountaintop Campus and the facilities and resources of the Lehigh University Design Labs to help shape their own creative work.

Coursework

Any undergraduate student at Lehigh University can declare this minor.

To complete the minor, students will take 18-20 hours of coursework, usually five 3-4 credit courses from the following list:

DES/THTR 025 Costume Construction I

DES/THTR 026 Costume Construction II

DES/THTR 072 Textile Design I

DES/THTR 089 Introduction to Fashion Design

DES/THTR 129 History of Fashion and Style

DES/THTR 172 Textile Design II

THTR 175 Special Projects

DES/THTR 189 Costume Design

THTR 260 Design and Technical Practicum

DES/THTR 272 Advanced Textile Design Workshop

Apparel Design Degree Contact

Nicholas Sawicki, chair: nis408@lehigh.edu | (610) 758-3610

Pamela Mongi, coordinator: pgm0@lehigh.edu | (610) 758-3610