Considering a career in fashion? Regardless of your specific career goals, your first stop should be fashion school. A degree in fashion design or merchandising can turn your passion into a lucrative career by giving you the training and benefits that only a formal education can provide.

Obviously, fashion school can provide the technical background and knowledge you need to succeed. But color swatches, textiles, and sewing skills aren't the only benefits of a career training program in fashion design or merchandising. Check out these three great reasons to go to fashion school:

 

• Fashion school provides the building blocks of your big-picture career goals.
  You already know you love fashion, but what's the best market for your talent? What does it take to be a fashion merchandiser? Can you make it as a designer in your hometown, or will you need to move to a different city? Fashion school can reveal the practical points of your dream job.

• Your design portfolio needs a boost.
  The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that competition is expected to remain keen for workers in the industry, such as fashion designers. Fashion school helps bolster your credentials, working with you to improve your portfolio as you sharpen your skills.

• You want to explore the full range of possible careers.
  Fashion merchandising is an excellent degree choice for stylish fashion school students with an eye for business, but the range of options within the merchandising business may surprise you. From textile buyers to product promoters to wholesale merchandisers, the business side of fashion is booming.

In the competitive fashion industry, education goes a long way. While no degree program can guarantee a career, pairing your existing skills with the practical training of a fashion degree may help get your foot in the door.