Is everything really bigger in Texas? You bet it is! Totaling more than 260,000 square miles, and home to more than 26 million people and 1,215 cities, Texas is the nation’s second largest state by land size and population. No other state has more cities with a population over 700,000 and no other place in the U.S. salutes a staggering six flags (Spain, France, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Confederate States, and the United States). Finally, the Lone Star State is so big, a single ranch (The King Ranch in South Texas) is larger that the entire state of Rhode Island.
So, what does all of this have to do with breaking into the fashion industry? Plenty. The country’s biggest states (by population) typically offer more opportunities from education and careers to art, culture, shopping, and more. Aspiring Texas fashion designers can find an abundance of opportunities in places like Houston—the state’s largest city, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and more.
The state of Texas, and its many cities, also hosts hundreds of fashion events each year, such as Texas Fashion Week, Austin Fashion Week, Houston Fashion Week, and more. Aspiring designers will also appreciate inspiring venues such as Dallas Market Center, (100 acres including six buildings/6.9 million square feet—the largest wholesale merchandise resource in the world as recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records) and the Houston Design Center (more than 40 showrooms and design firms + continuing education opportunities). In addition, aspiring designers can rest easy knowing that the Lone Star State is home to more than 314,000 retailers.
Texas Fashion Schools
Texas is home to 252 Title IV degree-granting institutions—one of the largest collections of Title IVs in the country. Many Texas schools are listed among the largest in the nation. In fact, six Texas schools are on the National Center for Education Statistics’ (IES) list of 20 Largest Degree-granting College and University Campuses. Among them are
Texas A & M, University of Texas at Austin, and the Lone Star College System.
More than 300,000 students are enrolled in the state’s largest schools, with thousands enrolled in fashion programs at these schools. Just a few of the state’s top fashion programs are offered at Baylor University, Texas State University-San Marcos, and Northwood University. Take a look at the list below to review more top Texas fashion schools and what they have to offer.
Austin
The Art Institute of Austin – Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion & Retail Management, B.F.A. Fashion Design, Fashion Retailing Diploma
Austin
University of Texas, Austin - Degrees Offered: B.S. Textiles and Apparel with options in Apparel Design & Conservation/Apparel Design Specialization and Retail Merchandising; M.S. Textile & Apparel Technology (MSTAT)
Beaumont
Lamar University - Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion Retailing & Merchandising
Cedar Hill
Northwood University – Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Marketing, B.A. Fashion Management
Dallas
The Art Institute of Dallas – Degrees Offered: A.A.S. Fashion Design, B.F.A. Fashion & Retail Management, B.F.A. Fashion Design, Fashion Retailing Certificate
Denton
Texas Woman’s University – Degrees Offered: B.A. and B.B.A. (Dual Degrees) in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing, Fashion Merchandising and Management, Fashion Merchandising and Entrepreneurship; B.S. Fashion Merchandising with a Planning or Management Emphasis, B.S. Fashion Merchandising with a Marketing Minor and Management Emphasis, B.S. Fashion Merchandising with a Marketing Minor and Planning Emphasis; B.A. and B.S. (Dual Degree) Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising; B.S. Fashion Merchandising with a Marketing Minor + B.A. in Fashion Design (Double Degree); Minor in Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Merchandising
Denton
University of North Texas - Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion Design, M.F.A. Fashion Design, B.S. Merchandising, Home Furnishings Merchandising
Fort Worth
Texas Christian University (TCU) - Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Merchandising, Interior Design
Fort Worth
The Art Institute of Fort Worth - Degrees Offered: B.F.A. Fashion & Retail Management,
Fashion Retailing Certificate
Houston
The Art Institute of Houston-North – Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion & Retail Management, Fashion Retailing Diploma
Houston
The Art Institute of Houston – Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion & Retail Management, B.F.A. Fashion Design, Fashion Retailing Diploma
Huntsville
Sam Houston State University - Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Merchandising, B.S. Fashion Merchandising
Kingsville
Texas A & M University – Degrees Offered: B.S. in Human Sciences with a concentration in Fashion & Interiors Merchandising
Lubbock
Texas Tech University - Degrees Offered: B.S. Apparel Design and Manufacturing
Nacogdoches
Stephen F. Austin State University - Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Merchandising
San Antonio
The Art Institute of San Antonio – Degrees Offered: B.S. Fashion & Retail Management, B.F.A. Fashion Design, Fashion Retailing Diploma
San Antonio
University of the Incarnate Word – Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Management with a Merchandising or Design concentration
San Marcos
Texas State University-San Marcos – Degrees Offered: B.A. Fashion Merchandising, M.A. Fashion Merchandising
Waco
Baylor University - Degrees Offered: B.A. Apparel Design & Product Management, Apparel Merchandising, B.S.F.C.S. Apparel Design & Product Management, Apparel Merchandising
More Programs to Consider:
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Employment and Salary Trends for Texas Fashion Designers
The state of Texas is home to nearly 500 salaried fashion designers and more merchandise displayers than any other state. Many members of the fashion industry in Texas and around the world work independently. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not collect data for these individuals, so the number of people working in the industry here is significantly higher than 500.
Salaried, Texas-based fashion designers earn an average salary of $57,920 per year, down from $67,140 in 2006. The number of salaried designers dipped as well, but recovered quite well by 2013. The state was home to 590 salaried designers in 2006, 300 by 2011, and, as stated, Texas is home to nearly 500 salaried fashion designers today.
The Bureau projects a 10.4 percent increase in employment for fashion designers overall for the 2010-2020 decade. Average salaries are on the rise as well. In 2006, the annual mean wage for fashion designers nationwide was $69,270. A news release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics dated March 29, 2013 states that the average mean wage for fashion designers today is $72,620 per year. Self-employed designers might earn much less or much more than the national average. Some of nation’s top designers earn anywhere from the high six figures to tens of millions of dollars.
Merchandise displayers are doing well too. The U.S. is home to 73,490 salaried merchandise displayers, up from 62,580 in 2006. They earn an average mean annual salary of $28,860, up from $26,550 in 2006. The highest paid merchandise displayers earn an average salary of $43,940 yearly and the lowest paid displayers average $17,940 per year. Texas is home to 8,940 merchandise displayers averaging $25,500 per year.
