The Tucson Fashion Scene
Tucson is around half the size of Phoenix, but it still has an active fashion scene and a large population of fashionistas. For starters, Tucson is home to one of the state’s largest fashion weeks—Tucson Fashion Week. The event showcases designs from established and up and coming Tucson designers. Next, Tucson is home to an impressive collection of boutiques, vintage shops, and mainstream shopping venues. Tucson Mall, Foothills Mall, and Park Place are just a few to find department stores such as Macy’s and major retailers from Banana Republic and LOFT to Benetton and Wet Seal. Upscale shopping is plentiful at the outdoor Mall La Encantada, and boutiques that sell fashions by both local and worldwide designers can be found in the Fourth Avenue shopping district, Main Gate Square, and the El Presidio District in bustling Downtown Tucson.
Shopping venues and fashion events are not the only benefits Tucson has to offer aspiring fashion designers and fashion merchandisers. The city is home to several schools that offer fashion programs. The Art Institute of Tucson and Pima Community College are popular choices.
Career Opportunities & Employers in Arizona:
Tucson fashion designers typically work in apparel design, technical design, technical production, pattern making, administration sales, and retail. Fashion merchandisers work mainly in retail, but promotions, buying, and visual merchandising are also options. Employment opportunities can be found in department stores, retail shops, textile manufacturing facilities, production studios, design studios, and corporate offices. While it is possible to find employment anywhere in the city, try Tucson’s shopping districts and popular malls first.
Arizona Fashion Schools & Programs:
The state of Arizona is home to 78 colleges and universities. Although this is slightly less than the national average of 88, the state’s schools are nationally-recognized and competitive. The fashion programs are selective, with some of the highest placement rates in the region.
The Art Institute of Tucson offers a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising, and a diploma in fashion retailing. Pima Community College has a competitive fashion program that leads to an Associate of Applied Arts in Fashion Design. Students also have the option to take fashion design and clothing courses for transfer to a larger program at a four-year college or university. Other popular colleges for fashion students outside of Tucson include Phoenix College, Mesa Community College, and the Art Institute of Phoenix.
Employment and Salary Trends for Arizona:
As of July 2011, the Bureau of Labor Statistics had not reported employment or salary figures for Tucson fashion designers. Based on the number of retail venues, fashion events, and production facilities here, it’s safe to assume that Tucson is home to a sizable population of salaried and self-employed fashion designers. 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 either, but a significant part of the job involves creating window displays and managing the overall look and feel of stores. There are nearly 2,000 merchandise displayers in the state of Arizona. As of 2006, around 200 lived in Tucson. 2010 figures were not released as of July 2011.
Employment in the fashion industry overall is expected to grow by one percent for the 2008-2018 decade. Sewing and cutting jobs may decline as more designers and brands choose manufacturing companies overseas. However, employment of fashion designers is stable because many firms prefer to keep design work in house.
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 |