Fashion High

A Brief History of Fashion

Fashion had its origins in 1926 in a garment center loft on West 31 Street. Its initial purpose was to train a work force for the many different trades of the fashion industries. Most of its students were immigrants or children of immigrants who were trying to make new lives for themselves in a new country.

As part of a WPA project, construction of a new school was begun in 1938. In 1941, Central Needle Trades High School opened its doors. The curriculum was almost entirely vocational, stressing sewing, machine work, and fashion design. It’s many ties to the labor movement in New York, is illustrated in the landmark murals in the auditorium of the school.
The school changed as the fashion industry of New York changed. It adopted its present name (High School of Fashion Industries) in 1956 to reflect the new variety of vocational majors offered. Majors in fur manufacturing, haberdashery, upholstery, shoe manufacture and repair, foundation wear, have come and gone over the years.

Today, a student may major in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Textile and Interior Design, Illustration and Graphics, or Jewelry Design. In addition, our academic program prepares all students for the new Regents graduation standards and the rigors of post secondary education.
The school’s advisory board, the Fashion Crafts Educational Commission, helps to keep the school up-to-date and supports the school and students through various scholarship programs. In addition, in recent years the school has developed many ties with the fashion business community in New York City and local colleges. These external resources have enabled the school to enrich the education provided to our students.

The school is located in the Chelsea section of Manhattan and has close ties to the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) via student acceptance into their programs.
There is a six step application process and a portfolio requirement for admission into the school.


Student Population
The student population at Fashion Industries H.S. is still a mixture of immigrants and is predominately female at an estimated ratio of 85% female to 15% male. In addition to the vocational diploma (14 credits) the students are required to earn an academic diploma for a total of 40 credits. The students at Fashion are as diverse as the programs and they are talented. In addition to earning their diplomas they also design, construct and model for an annual fashion show during the month of May. The fashion show is coordinated by one of the fashion design teachers with the help of contributing staff members.

My Responsibilities
I am a graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology and still have a connection to the college as a tutor and part-time instructor in the pattern making department which is being re-structured even as I write this synopsis.

As a fashion design teacher at Fashion Industries H.S. I teach grades 9-12 in any given semester. Presently I am teaching 11th grade draping 2 periods, 11th grade computer pattern making 1 period and 10th year construction 2 periods. I infuse technology in all of my classes as a part of my teaching curriculum. Because my students are primarily creative or interested in the design aspect of fashion we design and create portfolios for presentation to the class. I also give group project assignments which enable the students to work together and learn from each other.


Bibliography
http://fashionhighschool.net/
http://schools.nyc.gov/OurSchools/Region9/M600/newsandinfo/News/NewsInfo1.htm

Hello Ally Mac

Could you tell us about your school, your students and what you teach on this blog as a post? I'm sure our friends in Long Island, London and Taipei would be interested in the Fashion Institute.