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a thread of fashion designers who studied in another industry before fashion:
yohji yamamoto- law
yamamoto graduated from keio university with a degree in law in 1966. he went on to helping his mother with her dressmaking business where he learned tailoring and eventually studied fashion design at bunka university, graduating in 1969.
yamamoto graduated from keio university with a degree in law in 1966. he went on to helping his mother with her dressmaking business where he learned tailoring and eventually studied fashion design at bunka university, graduating in 1969.
raf simons- industrial design and furniture design
simons graduated in both industrial and furniture design from LUCA school of arts in genk in 1991. he worked as a furniture designer after interning for walter van beirendonck from 1991-93.
simons graduated in both industrial and furniture design from LUCA school of arts in genk in 1991. he worked as a furniture designer after interning for walter van beirendonck from 1991-93.
van beirendonck took simons to paris in 1991 where simons saw his first fashion show- the all-white show by margiela- which inspired simons to become a fashion designer
roksanda ilinÄiÄ- architecture
roksanda studied architecture and design at the faculty of applied arts at university of the arts in belgrade, serbia. she then went on to studying her MA in womenswear at CSM under the tutelage of louise wilson.
roksanda studied architecture and design at the faculty of applied arts at university of the arts in belgrade, serbia. she then went on to studying her MA in womenswear at CSM under the tutelage of louise wilson.
prior to studying her MA, roksanda visited london just to see CSM. she then pleaded with louise wilson on advice as to how to get into CSM where louise apparently told her âwhy would i want to tell you thatâ. roksanda also took up modelling to help pay for her MA.
amie victoria robertson- fine art
amie victoria robertson had founded her label, AV robertson in 2015 having graduated from CSM the previous year with an MA in fashion design. she previously studied fine art and interned for marc jacobs. she went on to collaborating with ASOS.
amie victoria robertson had founded her label, AV robertson in 2015 having graduated from CSM the previous year with an MA in fashion design. she previously studied fine art and interned for marc jacobs. she went on to collaborating with ASOS.
virgil abloh- civil engineering and architecture
virgil studied civil engineering from the university of wisconsin-madison in 2002 before studying MA architecture at the illinois institute of technology in 2006. after graduating he interned at fendi in the same class as kanye.
virgil studied civil engineering from the university of wisconsin-madison in 2002 before studying MA architecture at the illinois institute of technology in 2006. after graduating he interned at fendi in the same class as kanye.
casey cadwaller- architecture
cadwaller studied architecture at cornell university before getting into fashion where he worked at loewe and acne studios. in 2017, he landed the role as creative director of mugler.
cadwaller studied architecture at cornell university before getting into fashion where he worked at loewe and acne studios. in 2017, he landed the role as creative director of mugler.
glenn martens- interior architecture
martens studied interior architecture at sint-lucas ghent before studying fashion at the royal academy of fine arts antwerp. he later became a junior designer at gaultier before taking over y/project in 2013.
martens studied interior architecture at sint-lucas ghent before studying fashion at the royal academy of fine arts antwerp. he later became a junior designer at gaultier before taking over y/project in 2013.
carolina herrera- biochemistry and biopsychology
herrera studied at vassar college in poughkeepsie, new york where she studied biochemistry and biopsychology. she later received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the fashion institute of technology.
herrera studied at vassar college in poughkeepsie, new york where she studied biochemistry and biopsychology. she later received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from the fashion institute of technology.
christian dior- political science
dior studied at Ă©cole des sciences politiques in paris where he studied political science
dior studied at Ă©cole des sciences politiques in paris where he studied political science
gianni versace- architectural drafting
versace studied architectural drafting at the reggio calabria technical school whilst working for his mother as a buyer where he attended fashion shows across europe.
versace studied architectural drafting at the reggio calabria technical school whilst working for his mother as a buyer where he attended fashion shows across europe.
giorgio armani- medicine
armani studied medicine at the university of piacenza for two years. he learned about fashion when he worked at la rinascente, a department store in milan. he then worked for nino cerruti and others as a freelance designer.
armani studied medicine at the university of piacenza for two years. he learned about fashion when he worked at la rinascente, a department store in milan. he then worked for nino cerruti and others as a freelance designer.
miuccia prada- political science
miuccia attended the university of milan where she gained a PhD in political science. she trained as a mime for five years at piccolo teatro.
miuccia attended the university of milan where she gained a PhD in political science. she trained as a mime for five years at piccolo teatro.
issey miyake- graphic design
miyake studied graphic design at faculty of graphic design at tama art university in tokyo before studying haute couture at ecole de la chambre syndicale in paris.
miyake studied graphic design at faculty of graphic design at tama art university in tokyo before studying haute couture at ecole de la chambre syndicale in paris.
oscar de la renta- painting
de la renta studied painting at the academy of san fernando in madrid. he then apprenticed with cristobel balenciaga.
de la renta studied painting at the academy of san fernando in madrid. he then apprenticed with cristobel balenciaga.
vera wang- art history
wang studied art history at sarah lawrence after studying abroad in paris at the sorbonne.
wang studied art history at sarah lawrence after studying abroad in paris at the sorbonne.
tory burch- art history
burch studied art history at the university of pennsylvania in philadelphia.
burch studied art history at the university of pennsylvania in philadelphia.
mary katrantzou- architecture
katrantzou studied architecture at rhode island school of design before studying MA fashion at CSM where she specialised in print. to her CSM interview, she wore all black as she focused more on her portfolio contents than her outfit.
katrantzou studied architecture at rhode island school of design before studying MA fashion at CSM where she specialised in print. to her CSM interview, she wore all black as she focused more on her portfolio contents than her outfit.
pierre balmain- architecture
balmain briefly studied architecture at Ă©cole des beaux arts but left to become an assistant to lucien lelong before opening up his namesake label.
balmain briefly studied architecture at Ă©cole des beaux arts but left to become an assistant to lucien lelong before opening up his namesake label.
thierry mugler- interior design
mugler formally trained as an interior designer at the strasbourg school of decorative arts. he then moved to paris at 24 and by 26 was working as a freelance designer for many well-known brands in paris, london, milan and barcelona.
mugler formally trained as an interior designer at the strasbourg school of decorative arts. he then moved to paris at 24 and by 26 was working as a freelance designer for many well-known brands in paris, london, milan and barcelona.
tom ford- architecture
ford graduated from parsons with a degree in architecture but a year later realised he wanted to be a fashion designer and started to pursue that and claimed âarchitecture was just too seriousâ.
ford graduated from parsons with a degree in architecture but a year later realised he wanted to be a fashion designer and started to pursue that and claimed âarchitecture was just too seriousâ.
pierre cardin- architecture
cardin studied architecture after he moved to paris in 1945. he worked with the fashion house paquin after World War II before working for schiaparelli and dior. he almost returned to architecture in 2012 by working for his nephew.
cardin studied architecture after he moved to paris in 1945. he worked with the fashion house paquin after World War II before working for schiaparelli and dior. he almost returned to architecture in 2012 by working for his nephew.
cardinâs nephew, an actual architect, made plans with cardin to create a new building in venice but the plans were cancelled in 2013.
