Fashion and Textile Design (BS): Textile Design Concentration
You might not have heard of textile design before, but you’ve certainly seen it, from the color and knit of your favorite cozy blanket to the prints that made brands like Marimekko, Lilly Pulitzer and Anna Sui famous. Textile designers make all the choices that decide the look, feel and performance of memorable and functional fabrics and trims.
Textile Design is one of two concentrations open to students majoring in fashion and textile design. You’ll start out in a first-year studio learning the fundamentals of design before becoming more focused on your textile design experience in our state-of-the art labs and studios. Your college career culminates with a debut collection that you’ll exhibit in a public showcase.
Contact
For answers to questions about the admissions process, please contact:
Heather M. Lyerly
Senior Director of Academic Services
Wilson College of Textiles
919.515.1177
hemurphy@ncsu.edu
Meggie Metcalf
Associate Director of Academic Services
Wilson College of Textiles
919.515.0596
meggie_metcalf@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation | |||
| T 101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 | |
| Mathematics and Sciences | |||
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 | |
| or MA 141 | Calculus I | ||
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 | |
| or MA 241 | Calculus II | ||
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| PY 211 | College Physics I | 4 | |
| or PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | ||
| TMS 211 | Introduction to Fiber Science | 3 | |
| Major Requirements | |||
| TT 105 | Introduction to Textile Technology | 3 | |
| TTM 106 | Yarn Formation, Classification and Numbering Systems | 1 | |
| FTM 217 | The Textile Industry | 3 | |
| FTD 200 | Design Skills Workshop 1 | 3 | |
| TT 252 | Formation and Structure of Textile Fabrics 1 | 4 | |
| FTD 201 | Computer-Aided Textile Design and Color Studio 1 | 6 | |
| FTM 282 | Marketing and Brand Management Fundamentals in Textiles and Apparel | 3 | |
| PCC 302 | Technology of Textile Wet Processing | 4 | |
| FTM 310 | Entrepreneurship & New Product Development in Textiles | 3 | |
| ADN 281 | Drawing I | 3 | |
| D 100 | Design Inquiry I: Methods and Processes | 3 | |
| D 101 | Design Inquiry II: Methods and Processes | 3 | |
| FTD 104 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio I | 6 | |
| FTD 105 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio II | 6 | |
| Concentration Requirements | |||
| FTD 373 | Yarn Design Studio 1 | 3 | |
| FTD 374 | Surface Design and Texture | 3 | |
| FTD 375 | Woven Textile Design Studio I 1 | 3 | |
| FTD 376 | Knitted Textile Design Studio I 1 | 3 | |
| FTD 475 | Woven Textile Design Studio II | 3 | |
| FTD 476 | Knitted Textile Design Studio II | 3 | |
| FTD 479 | Senior Textile Design Studio | 6 | |
| 18FTDFAS Advised Electives | |||
| FTD Advised Elective | 6 | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| Acad Writing Research 2 | 4 | ||
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
C or better
FTD Advised Elective
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTM 220 | Principles of Retailing and Supply Chain Management in Textiles | 3 | |
| FTM 310 | Entrepreneurship & New Product Development in Textiles | 3 | |
| FTM 315 | Fashion Product Design | 3 | |
| FTM 317 | Computer Aided Fashion Design | 3 | |
| FTM 318 | Fashion Development Processes | 3 | |
| FTM 320 | Retail Merchandising in Fashion and Textiles | 3 | |
| FTM 380 | Management and Control of Textile and Apparel Systems | 3 | |
| FTM 382 | Brand Management in Textiles and Apparel | 3 | |
| FTM 384 | Visual Merchandising Principles and Management | 3 | |
| FTM 385 | Fashion and the Consumer | 3 | |
| FTM 387 | Textile Brand Communications & Promotions | 3 | |
| FTM 400 | Major Fashion Designers | 3 | |
| FTM 415 | Fashion Product Development | 3 | |
| FTM 416 | The Fashion Industry | 3 | |
| FTM 420 | Retail Buying in Fashion and Textiles | 3 | |
| FTM 431 | Quality Management and Control In Textile Manufacturing | 3 | |
| FTM 460 | Textile Market Research | 3 | |
| FTM 480 | Operations Management Decisions for Textiles | 3 | |
| FTM 481 | Product Costing in the Textile and Apparel Industry | 3 | |
| FTM 482 | Global Brand Management in Textiles and Apparel | 3 | |
| FTM 483 | Global Trade & Sourcing | 3 | |
| FTM 484 | Strategic Planning and Decision Making in the Textile and Fashion Industries | 3 | |
| FTM 485 | Textile Computer Integrated Enterprise | 3 | |
| FTM 486 | Supply Chain Management in the Textile Industry | 3 | |
| FTM 487 | Human Resource Management and Leadership in the Textile and Fashion Industries | 3 | |
| FTM 490 | Development Projects in Textile and Apparel Management | 1-3 | |
| FTM 491 | Special Topics in Textile and Apparel Management | 1-4 | |
| FTM 494 | International Industrial Internship in Textile Management | 3 | |
| FTM 497 | Senior Fashion Collection Studio | 6 | |
| FTM 499 | Textile Senior Project | 4 | |
| PCC 201 | Impact of Industry on the Environment and Society | 3 | |
| TT 341 | Knitted Fabric Technology | 3 | |
| TT 380 | Management and Control of Textile and Apparel Systems | 3 | |
| TT 431 | Quality Management and Control In Textile Manufacturing | 3 | |
| TT 451 | Advanced Woven Fabric Design | 3 | |
| TT 480 | Operations Management Decisions for Textiles | 3 | |
| TT 485 | Textile Computer Integrated Enterprise | 3 | |
| TT 486 | Supply Chain Management in the Textile Industry | 3 | |
| TT 499 | Textile Senior Project | 4 | |
| TT 551 | Advanced Woven Fabric Design | 3 |
Acad Writing Research
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acad Writing Research | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| WLEN 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| Transfer Sequence | |||
| ENG 202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 3 | |
| ENG 1GEP | 3 | ||
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
Critical Path Courses: Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| TT 105 | Introduction to Textile Technology | 3 |
| D 100 | Design Inquiry I: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| FTD 104 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio I (CP) | 6 |
| T 101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| D 101 | Design Inquiry II: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| FTD 200 | Design Skills Workshop 2 | 3 |
| MA 131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| FTD 105 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio II (CP) | 6 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTD 201 | Computer-Aided Textile Design and Color Studio (CP) 2 | 6 |
| FTM 217 | The Textile Industry | 3 |
| PY 211 | College Physics I | 4 |
| TTM 106 | Yarn Formation, Classification and Numbering Systems | 1 |
| ADN 281 | Drawing I | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| TMS 211 | Introduction to Fiber Science | 3 |
| TT 252 | Formation and Structure of Textile Fabrics (CP) 2 | 4 |
| FTD 373 | Yarn Design Studio (CP) 2 | 3 |
| FTD 374 | Surface Design and Texture (CP) | 3 |
| MA 231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTM 310 | Entrepreneurship & New Product Development in Textiles | 3 |
| FTD 375 | Woven Textile Design Studio I (CP) 2 | 3 |
| FTD 376 | Knitted Textile Design Studio I (CP) 2 | 3 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FTD Advised Elective | 3 | |
| FTM 282 | Marketing and Brand Management Fundamentals in Textiles and Apparel | 3 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| FTD Advised Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTD 475 | Woven Textile Design Studio II | 3 |
| FTD 476 | Knitted Textile Design Studio II | 3 |
| PCC 302 | Technology of Textile Wet Processing | 4 |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FTD 479 | Senior Textile Design Studio | 6 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
C- or better
- 2
C or better
Career Opportunities
From art galleries to Nordstrom and The North Face to MIT, our textile design graduates are sought out by leading employers in just about every industry. Here are just a few of the places our alumni work.
- Apparel: The North Face, Kohl’s, J. Crew, Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch, St. John Knits
- Home Textiles: Valdese Weavers, Glen Raven, Mohawk Flooring
Career Titles
- (Assistant, Associate) Textile Designer: Develop printed or woven fabric designs that align with the larger creative direction of a brand or line. This includes trend research, mood board development, and yarn and color selection before developing a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) file for review. Associate and lead designers have more say in setting the creative direction than assistant designers.
- Print Designer: Create surface print designs for fabrics used in apparel, interior design and more, work with the creative team to make sure those designs fit within the company’s larger brand, and then communicate those designs effectively to overseas vendors.
- Knit Designer/Knitwear Designer: Develop knit fabric designs – taking into account yarns, colors, stitches – for home and apparel uses.
- Woven Designer: Use knowledge of yarns, textile processing, woven technology and more to develop woven textile designs for home, apparel and other applications.
- Product Designer/Developer/Manager: Design products (eg. backpacks, scarfs, pillows, shoes) with a special focus on the textile and raw materials and work with merchandising, production, technical design and more to ensure the product design is executed correctly.
- Materials Developer: Develop the custom material and fabric for a product while considering technical performance needs, testing, sustainability and sourcing.
- Trims Developer: Design trims (zippers, piping and more) and branding elements (how logos are displayed) for apparel, home and automotive industries.
- Color Specialist: Conduct consumer research and apply knowledge of color theory, fiber science, and color science to build a brand’s color palettes and make sure those colors are represented correctly in a product.
- Studio or Lab Manager: Makes sure all machines are operating, oversees purchasing of studio materials and equipment, and ensures students, artists or other employees reach their production goals.
- Freelance Designer/Entrepreneur
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