Fashion Design vs. Fashion Technology: Which Course to Choose in 2025

Fashion design and technology are one of the most popular industries among students who want to have a career in creative fields. These two courses are a combination of creativity and innovation. Despite the similarity in the names, Fashion Design and Fashion Technology courses differ in terms of the topics they cover, the career paths and the skills that are required for these courses. In this article, we will discuss the differences between Fashion Design and Fashion Technology to help students choose the right course.

What is Fashion Design?

Fashion Design course is the most creative and sought-after course that students can pursue after 10+2. Fashion Design course is offered at undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma levels, such as BDes, MDes, BSc Fashion Design and MSc Fashion Design. This course prepares students to understand consumer preferences and current trends to create clothing, footwear, and accessory designs. Fashion Design course focuses on designing, fabrication, and fabric selection.

Fashion Design Curriculum:

• History of Fashion
• Traditional Textiles
• Elements of Design
• Fashion Art & Design
• Fashion Art Illustration
• Fashion Marketing & Merchandising

What is Fashion Technology?

Fashion Technology courses are offered in BTech and MTech degree programmes at various engineering colleges. The fashion technology course covers the scientific and technical facets of fashion. Modern equipment, software, and technologies are used to enhance textile and clothing manufacturing and quality assurance. This course focuses more on the technological developments that support the fashion industry's smooth operation.

Fashion Technology Curriculum:

• Textile Manufacturing and Processing
• Apparel Production Technology
• Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
• Fashion Engineering
• Quality Control in Fashion
• Supply Chain Management
• E-Commerce and Retail Technology

Fashion Design vs. Fashion Technology - Eligibility Criteria

Fashion Design:

• Candidates who want to pursue Fashion Design at UG or PG level, need to complete 10+2 in any discipline and bachelor's degree respectively.
• Candidates need to appear for the CUET, SEED, and UCEED for UG courses and CUET PG, and CEED exams for PG courses.

Fashion Technology:

• Students must have completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics for BTech in Fashion Technology and BTech or equivalent course for the MTech degree programme.
• They can also pursue BFTech which is generally offered by NIFT, and to pursue this course, they need to apply for NIFT entrance exam.
• Candidates are required to appear for the JEE Main exam for the BTech in Fashion Technology course and GATE for MTech in Fashion Technology courses.

Fashion Design vs. Fashion Technology - Colleges and Fees

Fashion Design courses are offered by a lot of private and government design colleges in India. In the table below, we have mentioned a few Fashion Design colleges and their fees.

Fashion Technology is offered by various technical and design colleges. In the table below, we have mentioned the Fashion Technology colleges and their fees.

Fashion Design vs. Fashion Technology - Career Options

Fashion Design:

• Fashion Design Career Options: Fashion Designers, Textile Designers, Fashion Illustrators
• Fashion Design Salary: In the beginning, the designers can get Rs. 3 LPA, however, it can gradually increase depending on their experience, and skills.

Fashion Technology:

• Fashion Technology Career Options: Fashion Consultants, Textile Technologists, Textile Engineer, Quality Assurance Manager.
• Fashion Technology Salary: Start from Rs. 4 LPA to Rs. 8 LPA, however, it can increase based on experience.

Conclusion

In the fashion sector, there are two distinct career paths: fashion design and fashion technology. Fashion design is the ideal career choice if you are passionate about creating clothing and being creative. Fashion Technology is a better choice, however, if you are interested in production, technology, and the scientific aspects of fashion. Candidates can choose between the two fields based on their interests and skill sets, and both provide good career options.