California College of Arts
Programs: Fashion Design, Textiles, Jewelry Design
California College of Arts
Founded in 1907 and situated in Oakland, California, CCA is a private, non-profit coeducational, residential institution with 2,000 students from all over the world. The 4-acre campus is located in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, next to the city’s design district. The focus of attention is on the Future of Fashion and producing emerging innovative design leaders.
What to Expect from CCA
This BFA in Fashion Design aims at boosting your creativity. Top industry experts teach you how to apply critical thinking to the design process, and nurture your craftsmanship in professionally-equipped classrooms and workrooms. There, you are learning to question traditional industry practices through sustainable and conceptual design courses. You will be taught about everything; from fundamental knitting and draping skills to inspired illustration and experimental fabric-manipulation techniques. Your body of work will make you career-ready.
Internship Opportunities
Previously students have interned and then joined some of America’s most-recognized fashion firms such as Ralph Lauren, Narciso Rodriguez, Thom Browne, Isabel Toledo, DKNY, Jones of NY, J.Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, Levis, Gap and The North Face. During the studies there will be on-location opportunities to get involved actively in creative processes outside the classroom. At the Annual Fashion Show you’ll unfold your talent in practice.
Successful Alumni
Alumni with important achievements include Johnny Paul Vera (scholarship/internship with Nicole Miller), Sachi Henrietta (Liz Claiborne Fashion Scholarship Award), Laura Schmits (J.Crew; Madewell; Surface Magazine Emerging Talent Award; Liz Claiborne Fashion Scholarship honorable mention), Andrew Hague (designer for John Varvatos; CFDA Scholarship honorable mention in 2006; now an independent designer) and many more.
Top Ranks in Fashion
Fashion-Schools.org ranks CCA’s Fashion Design Program #10 on its list of Top 75 Fashion Design Programs in the US and #2 on its list of Top 10 Programs on the West Coast. In terms of salary potential, PayScale ranks CCA the top art and design college in the United States. BusinessWeek magazine calls CCA one of the world’s best design schools. CCA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
Schools in CA
- Woodbury University
Burbank, CA WU
- Santa Monica College
Santa Monica, CA SMC
- Otis College of Art & Design
Los Angeles, CA Otis
- Fashion Institute of Design
Los Angeles, CA FIDM
- Academy of Art University
San Fancisco, CA AAU