Technology in apparel design – what is being used?

Abstract

<p>Undergraduate fashion and apparel programs strive to keep up with the changing needs of fashion industry employers, especially with respect to technology. Experience using design software is one necessary skill for fashion designers, but which software program or programs to teach is a question fashion faculty must grapple with as they strive to keep curricula current and relevant. While some software packages may be donated to schools as a gift, there are still substantial hardware, training, and support costs involved with maintaining and teaching specialized software solutions at a university. To this end, an examination of industry requirements for apparel design technology was conducted to determine if curriculum offerings are aligned or mismatched with industry needs.</p>