The Baltimore Fashion Scene
Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland, so it has a lot on its shoulders—especially when it comes to fashion. Fortunately, the city has embraced the responsibility and handles it with grace.
Over the years, the fashions here have gone from plain and conservative to creative and gorgeous, with high-end boutiques sprouting up all over the city. The homegrown fashion scene is a mix of self-taught and design-school trained fashion designers, with styles you just won’t see anywhere else. And each year, locals and industry professionals from all over have the opportunity to see the best of the best unveiled at Baltimore Fashion Week.
In addition to an inspiring fashion scene and boutiques galore, Baltimore has a number of shopping venues that appeal to all styles and tastes. Eastpoint Mall (140+ stores) and Harborplace & The Gallery (mix of local and national stores) are just a few popular shopping venues for the masses. The number of large shopping venues and small designer shops make it easy for aspiring fashion designers and fashion merchandisers to find employment as buyers, visual merchandisers, assistant designers, and more.
Career Opportunities & Employers in Maryland:
Many Baltimore fashion designers work independently, while others work for large retail chains, department stores, boutiques, design shops, or production facilities. Fashion merchandisers work mostly in retail, but they can also find work in consulting, promotions, or sales. Employment opportunities can be found all over the city from downtown to the outskirts of town, and in surrounding areas such as Bel Air and Stevenson.
Maryland Fashion Schools & Programs:
Maryland is home to 60 colleges and universities. Although this is less than the national average of 88, the state is home to a number of colleges that offer fashion programs. Many are located in and around Baltimore. Some of the most popular options are:
- Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Baltimore
- Baltimore City Community College, Baltimore
- Stevenson University, Stevenson (15 miles from Baltimore)
- Harford Community College, Bel Air (33 miles from Baltimore)
Employment and Salary Trends for Maryland:
As of July 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics had not reported employment figures for Baltimore fashion designers, but the state of Maryland is home to around 100 salaried fashion designers. It’s safe to assume that many live in Baltimore based on the size of the city and the number of events and shopping venues here. The Bureau did report salary information for Baltimore designers. They earn an average of $68,550 per year, which is higher than the national average of $61,160.
Employment of fashion designers across the nation is expected to grow by 1 percent between 2008 and 2018. Nationwide, fashion designers average around $61,160. The lowest paid fashion designers average $32,150, and the highest paid salaried designers average $124,780 per year.
Figures for fashion merchandisers have not been reported, but a significant part of the job involves creating window displays and managing the overall look and feel of stores. More than 900 merchandise displayers work in the state of Maryland. Nearly 500 live and work in Baltimore.
For more information about the fashion design and fashion merchandising industry, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at bls.gov.
| Number of jobs | Mean hourly pay | Mean annual pay | Job Outlook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fashion Job |