College of Alameda > Academic Programs > Apparel Design and Merchandising

Apparel Design and Merchandising

The Apparel Design And Merchandising (ADAM) Program offers fundamental and advanced training in fashion design from collection development through production.  Our affordable, industry-driven curriculum meets current trends and technology in an ever-expanding field. Many classes reach maximum enrollment early. Register now so you can get the classes you need for your degree.

To analyze and identify current trends and trend forecasting, ADAM students receive a free, digital subscription to WWD (Women’s Wear Daily), the leading business publication for the fashion and beauty industries.

Whether you’re interested in becoming a fashion designer or just want to take a class and meet other creative people, this is the program for you. ADAM offers an affordable education and the opportunity of a creative and financially stable career. You can earn your AA degree in Fashion Design or Certificate in about 2 years. Many of our classes are also transferable to 4-year state universities.

  • Students will acquire the basic skills and knowledge needed to obtain, compete, and sustain gainful employment within the vast global field of the fashion industry
  • Students will be able to communicate and present oneself effectively and with confidence in the multi diverse fashion industry.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) may be assessed using:

  • surveys
  • questionnaires
  • review of collected data
  • other methods

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges to disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. The information provided in the link(s) below describes the graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information regarding gainful employment for the latest completed academic year (as of July 1). Full-time status is defined as a student that enrolls in 12 units for both the fall and the spring semesters of a given academic year.

https://web.peralta.edu/ge-assiciate/Apparel-Design-and-Merchandising.html

Our alumni are successfully employed in the Bay Area fashion industry working as:

  • senior designers – assistant designers – creative directors
  • senior bridal wear designers – assistant bridal wear designers
  • senior directors – senior product developers – business owners
  • creative consultants – stylists
  • garment technicians – technical designers – pattern makers
  • research and development fabric and finish technicians
  • textile conservationists
  • tailors
  • costume designers
  • fit specialists
  • fashion illustrators
  • project managers – production coordinators
  • instructors
  • handbag designers – accessory designers
  • sample sewers – graders – cutters and more
NYC – JJ – Creative Consultant
San Francisco – Fanatics, Inc – Sourcing Director
JanSport – International Market Developer
Lemon Twist – Designer & Owner
San Francisco – Jessica McClintock
NYC – Parker – Senior Designer
San Francisco – Research Associate
Duluth, Minnesota – Dock 5 – Textile Print Designer
San Francisco – Saks Fifth Avenue
San Francisco – Levi Strauss & Co. – former Product Development Specialist, and Technical Designer
Portland, Oregon – Wills Manufacturing – Pattern Maker & Owner
Sausalito – Giordano – Designer & Owner
Oakland – Kosa Arts – Pattern Maker – Designer & Owner
Detroit – Chrysler – Designer of trims, colors & materials
Oakland – Verrieres & Sako – PLAE – Designer
Mountain View – Azazie – 2017 ADAM graduate – Alterations Specialist & Quality Control
Benicia – High End Uniform – 1995 ADAM graduate – Designer & Owner
Oakland – Sagebox Studio/aesti – 2012 ADAM graduate – Designer & Owner
Oakland – Sagebox Studio/aesti – 2012 ADAM graduate – Pattern Maker & Owner
Berkeley – Erica Tanov – 2007 ADAM graduate – Designer
San Francisco – Triple Aught Design – 2009 ADAM graduate – Senior Designer
San Francisco – Byer – 1986 ADAM graduate – Manager of Technical Design
San Francisco – Gymboree – 1995 ADAM graduate – Technical Designer
Richmond – Design Veronique – ADAM student – Designer & Owner
San Francisco – Levi Strauss & Co. – Fit Developer Specialist
San Francisco – Levi Strauss & Co. – Manager of Fit Development
San Francisco – Levi Strauss & Co – 2017 ADAM graduate – Intermediate Sample Coordinator
Alameda – The North Face – 1998 ADAM graduate – Manager of Product Development
U.S. Navy veteran – San Francisco – Levi Strauss & Co – 2016 ADAM graduate – Innovations Developer
San Francisco – Levi Strauss & Co – 2014 ADAM graduate – Innovations Developer
San Francisco – Anomalie Custom Bridal – 2007 ADAM graduate – Chief Design Officer
Berkeley – Stella Carakasi Inc – 1995 ADAM graduate – Designer & Owner
NYC – Zac Posen – Pattern Maker
NYC – Ralph Rucci Atelier – sales
NYC – Alexander Wang – atelier director, head patternmaker/draper for all celebrity dressing, evening wear, soft pieces, dresses, tops and skirts
NYC – Kara Laricks Inc – NBC’s Fashion Star Winner, Season One – Designer & Owner
Los Angeles – The Fixx magazine – 2011 ADAM graduate – Executive Editor
1968 ADAM graduate – company owner – author – designer – pattern maker –

respected couture expert – lecturer and columnist

Alumni Success