Curriculum Outline 

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Introduction to the Sewn Products Industry 

Students are introduced to the structure of the fashion and sewn products industries and the relationship between design, manufacturing, merchandising, retail, and operations.

• Apparel Product Development

• Non-Apparel Products

• Sectors of the Sewn Products Industry 

• Fashion Industry Terminology

• Design, manufacturing, merchandising, retail, and operations

• Career and entrepreneurial pathways within the sewn products industry

Construction Fundamentals

Students develop foundational skills required to construct and evaluate sewn products.

 

Topics include:

• Fundamentals of sewing

• Sewing equipment and machine operation

• Construction Techniques

• Supplies, Findings, and Notions

• Construction of apparel and non-apparel products

• Writing and Using Specifications 

Needles, Threads and Textiles

Students learn to select appropriate materials and construction components based on product design, function, and performance.

 

Topics include:

• Types and sizes of sewing machine needles

• Hand and machine needles

• Thread types, weights, and applications

• Using the trio compatibility method 

• Textile Fundamentals

• Woven, knit, and specialty fabrics

• Fiber and fabric characteristics

• Textile selection for apparel and non-apparel products

• Fabric preparation, handling, and care

• Relationship between textile selection, construction, cost, and product performance

Pattern Engineering 

Students are introduced to pattern development as a technical component of product development. 

 

Topics include:

• Introduction to flat pattern drafting

• Pattern terminology and tools

• Measurements and specifications

• Pattern markings and symbols

• Industry standards vs. Individual Company Standards

• Identifying production ready patterns for samples and mass production 

• Prototype evaluation

Design & Product Development

Students move from creative concept into an organized product-development process.

 

Topics include:

• Creating and developing design concepts

• Designing with Croiques

• Design interpretation

• Pattern Cards

• Writing specifications

• Identifying Fitting Concerns for apparel 

Pre-Production and Production Processes 

Students learn how an approved design is moved through the development process for mass production.

 

Topics include:

• Pre-production planning

• Sample Approvals

• Consumption and Costing

• Quality-control checkpoints

• Production workflow

• Introduction to the AFI Workforce Production Cycle™

Merchandising & Online Retail

Students are introduced to the merchandising activities required to move a developed product from production into the marketplace. This portion of the program focuses specifically on supporting the student's own product or small product collection.

 

Topics include:

• Introduction to fashion merchandising

• Identifying the target customer

• Product positioning

• Retail pricing and profit considerations

• 6-month merchandise planning

• Style numbers, SKUs, and basic inventory organization

• Product descriptions and specifications for retail

• Preparing products for an online store

• Basic e-commerce store organization

• Packaging, fulfillment, shipping, and returns

• Customer service considerations

• Developing a basic product launch plan

Online Laboratory

Online laboratory participation provides students with supervised time to apply technical skills introduced during instruction.

 

Online Laboratory activities may include:

• Sewing and construction demonstrations

• Pattern development and correction scenarios

• Textile and material portfolio exercises

• Technical sketch and specification development scenarios

• Prototype troubleshooting

• Fit and quality-control evaluation scenarios

• Product-development coaching

• Practicum preparation

 

Students participate in scheduled instructor-led online lab sessions and complete assigned independent laboratory work.

Independent laboratory activities are documented through project submissions, photographs, videos, technical documents, pattern cards, specifications, or other evidence of completed work.

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Online laboratory participation becomes part of the student's program record and may be used to document progress toward practicum readiness.

Practicum 

The practicum is the culminating requirement of the Online Fashion Design Program.

Students demonstrate their ability to execute by independently moving an assigned sewn product using the end-to-end product-development process.

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Each student develops an assigned apparel or non-apparel product and completes the stages of the development process, summarizing:

1. Product concept and target customer

2. Design development

3. Technical flat sketch

4. Textile, supplies, and findings selection

5. Pattern development

6. Pattern card and technical documentation

7. Written product specifications

8. Prototype/sample construction

9. Fit, construction, and quality evaluation

10. Product revisions

11. Basic product costing and retail pricing

12. Style/SKU identification

13. Product photography and presentation

14. Online product listing or mock online storefront

15. Packaging and fulfillment plan

16. Final product presentation

 

The practicum demonstrates the student's ability to integrate design, technical development, manufacturing preparation, merchandising, and retail presentation into a complete product-development cycle.

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Successful completion of the practicum is required for program completion and certificate eligibility.

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