The Pros and Cons of Fashion School + a HUGE Resource List for Learning Fashion Design from Home

Over time I have built this collection of books, documentaries, and other resources that have furthered my skills and knowledge in Fashion Design. I’ve decided to share this list with you all to help you learn as much as you want about fashion design without needing to go to fashion school. I hope you learn something new!

Watch the full video, or keep scrolling for the list of resources. I’ve noted (top pick) next to the resources that I think are most useful.

Fashion Design Principals

Books:

• Fashion Design by Sue Jenkin Jones (top pick)

Practical (Sewing/ garment making)

Books:

• Sewing Basics by Sandra Bardwell

• The Complete Book of Sewing by DK Publishing

• Reader’s Digest Guide to Sewing and Knitting

• Sew Your Own Wardrobe (formerly The Dressmaking Book) by Alison Smith

Patternmaking

Books:

• Patternmaking for Fashion Design (5th edition) by Helen Joseph Armstrong (top pick)

• Pattern Magic, Pattern Magic 2, Pattern Magic 3 by Tomoko Nakamichi

• Pattern Magic for Stretch Fabrics by Tomoko Nakamichi

• Drape Drape, Drape Drape 2, Drape Drape 3 by Hisako Sato

Surface Detail and Textiles

Books:

• The Fashion Designers Textile Directory by Gail Baugh

• Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire B Shaeffer

• The Art of Manipulating Fabric by Colette Wolff

• Any embroidery or beading book

• Also think about dyeing, painting on fabric, printing on fabric etc.

Fashion Sustainability

Books:

• Textile Visionaries by Bradley Quinn

• Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press
  

Documentaries:

• River Blue (2016)

• The True Cost (2015)

Videos:

• Zoe Hong’s Fashion Sustainability playlist on Youtube 

(Google and read as many articles as you can, this is important!)

Fashion history

Books:

• Smithsonian’s Fashion The Definitive History of Costume and Style

• World Dress Fashion and Detail from the Victoria and Albert Museum

Videos:

• Zoe Hong’s Fashion History playlist on Youtube

Fashion Illustration and Technical Drawing

Books:

• Fashion Source Book by Kathryn McKelvey (for trade sketching)

• Fashion Illustration by Anna Kiper

• Essential Fashion Illustration by Maite Lafuente

• 9 Heads by Nancy Riegelman (top pick)

• Masters of Fashion Illustration by David Downton

• Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simbley

Videos:

• Zoe Hong’s Illustrating Specific Fabrics/Textiles playlist on Youtube

Business and Marketing

Books:

(Watch this space)

Videos:

• Zoe Hong’s Fashion Business playlist on Youtube

Exploring Other Fashion Designers

Books:

• Vivienne Westwood (biography)

• Romance Was Born (photo book)
  

Bonus:

• Get yourself some art books or go to galleries

• Research independent designers and big designers you like. This could expand past fashion designers to other types of designers and artists.

• If you can intern, do it. You might need to pay for your own insurance. Practical experience is invaluable plus you never know the contacts you might make.

Feel free to share this resource list with anyone who might find it helpful! I will try and update it whenever I can.

Please note, some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission from any purchases you make, with no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me by buying through these links!