Do You Have to Go to Fashion School to Belong in Fashion? Here's Why You Don't.

When you think about breaking into fashion, it's easy to assume you have to go to a big-name fashion school first.

But you don't.

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Welcome to the third edition of Sim de la Mode // Fashion Startup Logs — where I share insights from my market research and how it's shaping the Sim de la Mode app, designed for anyone dreaming of launching their own fashion brand or building a career in the industry.

I recently surveyed over 250 students who dream of building a career in fashion — whether by launching their own brand or working for a fashion label.

Only 7.6% said they were studying fashion, and about 30% were studying business or entrepreneurship. But the biggest group — more than 54% — weren't studying fashion at all.

Fashion isn't just a major. It's a passion, a way of seeing the world — and it doesn't always fit into a classroom.

The truth is: if you love fashion, you already belong here.

No permission slip required.

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You Don't Need a Degree to Start

Look at Virgil Abloh — he studied architecture, not fashion design, and still changed streetwear forever with Off-White and Louis Vuitton. Or Rihanna, who turned her vision into the powerhouse brand Fenty, without a formal fashion education.

They built their empires with creativity, hard work, and guts — is this something you have too?

While fashion schools can provide structured learning and industry connections, they're just one path among many. What truly matters is your vision and determination to bring it to life.

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Fashion is About What You Create, Not What You Studied

Fashion has never been more open to new voices. Today, your Instagram feed, your ideas, your designs, your storytelling — that's what matters. Not what's written on a degree.

If you feel that spark when you think about starting your own brand, styling your own shoots, or building a fashion business from scratch, or joining a well-known fashion house — you're already part of this world.

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Where to Start (Spoiler: You Already Have)

• Start building now. Your first sketch, your first logo idea, your first moodboard — it all counts.

• Learn by doing. Take online courses, follow YouTube tutorials, intern at local boutiques, collaborate with photographers, or practice through simulation with Sim de la Mode. Real-world experience often teaches more than classrooms.

• Stay curious. The fashion industry is changing fast, and that's exciting. You don't have to "catch up" — you're growing with it.

  
  

That's exactly why I'm creating Sim de la Mode — a fashion simulation game where you can learn hands-on by building your own brand from the ground up. You'll get step-by-step guidance through everything you need to know to create a successful (and sustainable) fashion business — without needing a degree first. And it'll be fun.

If you believe fashion should be more inclusive, more creative, and more about what you bring to the table — I'd love your support as I launch this project.

Early supporters get 50% off and exclusive in-game perks. Check out Sim de la Mode on Indiegogo before this limited offer ends.

Let's build the future of fashion — together. 🚀

👗 Stay stylish,

Ekaterina