Fashion Accessories Design
The one accessory that goes with everything.
Fashion accessories is a $51 billion global industry and one of the largest in the United States. Yet only a handful of US schools focus on accessories design as a viable and vibrant career path and only one in the Midwest: College for Creative Studies.
The Fashion Accessories Design program at CCS gives you head-to-toe preparation in the industry and helps you develop a broad set of skills in the key areas of vision, craft and business — how to conceive, make and merchandise handbags, small leather goods, footwear and accessories hardware. From the initial concept and design to the full range of fabrication techniques, supply-chain management and distribution, you’ll learn how to forecast trends, market your designs and manage a fashion brand.
Handbags
Leather goods
Accessories hardware
(i.e., buckles, hooks, appliques, etc.)
Footwear
What Sets Us Apart?
One of a kind
The CCS Fashion Accessories Design program is the first and only of its kind in the Midwest.
Minors
Students can choose from one of three minors: Fashion Business, Footwear and Handbags.
Industry Supported
The program’s Advisory Council represents a broad cross-section of the industry and leading brands and the program was developed in collaboration with Detroit-based company Shinola.
Career Choices
Accessories Designer
Color & Materials Designer
Color Specialist
Fashion Designer
Fashion Historian
Fashion Merchandiser
Footwear Designer
Handbag Designer
Jewelry Designer
Merchandiser
Patternmaker
Product Developer
Leather Goods Designer
Shoe Designer
Soft Goods Designer
Textile Designer
Trend Analyst
Trend Forecaster
Advisory Council
Linda Dresner, Linda Dresner
Nicole Eisenberg, CCS Board Representative
Catherine Forbes, The Forbes Company / Somerset Collection
Jen Guarino, Shinola
Akiko Inui, PVH
Sara Kozlowski, Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA)
Barbara May, B. May Bags
Cal McNeil, Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA)
Tracy Reese, Tracy Reese
Angela Scott, The Office of Angela Scott
Ambassador: Anna Sui, Anna Sui
Ambassador: Jonci Cukier, Eileen Fisher
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Contact Us
Fashion Accessories Design Department
T. 313.664.1640
F. 313.664.1490
Department Chair
Aki Choklat