Master in Fashion Management (MPS)

Parsons School of Design in New York City – recently named the Best School for Art and Design in the US and ranked 2nd in the world – has offered innovative approaches to design education since its founding in 1896. Today, Parsons is the only major American art and design school within a comprehensive university: The New School. At Parsons, you can master establish established creative practices and spark new ones while studying across all university disciplines.

The new Master’s in Fashion Management at Parsons School of Design prepares students to advance and transform their careers in the evolving fashion business landscape. Through the course of this one-year Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree, students learn to challenge existing paradigms in the fashion world in order to create breakthrough ideas in fashion businesses, start-ups, and fashion-related services. Students graduate with in-depth knowledge and advanced skills in global and local manufacturing, ethical production, value chains, marketing, and merchandising.

Students in the program benefit from the academic leadership, resources, and industry networks that have placed Parsons at the forefront of fashion education.

Fashion Leadership for the 21st Century

The MPS in Fashion Management immerses students in the fashion industry as an interconnected system. The 12-month course of study addresses the rapidly changing fashion industry from a range of perspectives, including technology, innovation, leadership, entrepreneurship, consumer psychology, strategic management, and new business models. Students engage in conversations around the balance of creativity and commerce, how businesses and start-ups can reinvent existing systems, solutions for social media and e-commerce, and the crucial need for sustainability and social responsibility at all levels of the industry.

Designed for Makers and Managers

The program is designed to attract a dynamic cohort of working professionals with previous fashion industry experience as well as individuals with undergraduate degrees and backgrounds in other disciplines relevant to retail and consumer goods industries. Students combine creativity and commerce to develop insights and strategies that influence consumers’ perceptions, shopping habits, and interactions with brands and designers. Guided by expert faculty and experienced industry practitioners, students identify business opportunities, new ways to streamline processes for profitability and efficiency, and methods for rapid innovation that unlock emerging opportunities in retail.

Professional Relevance for Fashion Business

The curriculum consists of a series of intensive course modules. Throughout the program, students gain real-world experience with New York City fashion companies and ateliers through case studies, internships, and site visits, providing them with a portfolio of experiences that can be immediately applied to careers advancing innovation within the fashion industry.

Future Opportunities

Graduates are prepared to pursue a variety of careers in the fashion and brand management fields, including Fashion Styling, Fashion Production, Fashion Editorial, Fashion Merchandising, Brand Management, Fashion Marketing, Advertising, and Visual Merchandising.