Los Angeles Offers Start for Young Fashion Designer

by Joe Cooper
Online Education Columnist

From the throngs on Rodeo Drive to the wildly colorful garment district, Los Angeles offers a great deal of opportunity for young fashion designers starting their career in fashion design. One fashion designer got his start at fashion design school in Los Angeles and now serves as a mentor to young fashion designers.

Designer Dean Renwick Makes a Splash in LA
Dean Renwick, now a successful fashion designer, started his career in fashion design in an auspicious city of red carpets and expensive boutiques. He went to fashion design school in Los Angeles and spent the next 15 years in the city, doing everything from custom fashion design for upper-class women to luxury evening gowns for award winners. With a fashion degree and a few years' experience in fashion design, he scored a number of very enviable fashion design jobs.

Late in 2003, he returned to his hometown of Regina, Canada, to open his own studio. Now, not only does he create his very own fashion designs, he also mentors young fashion designers looking to start or rejuvenate their career in fashion design.

First Fashion Design, Then Fashion Mentoring
Renwick, 42, convinced 29-year old Danika Wright of Regina, as well as 20-year old Rebecca King to get their careers in fashion design going with a fashion design show in Regina where they could join forces and showcase their work. Their show included sexy and contemporary fashion design, with dresses appearing in black and metallics, as well as other sparkling garments.

Renwick said he enjoyed the mentoring, and merely wanted to encourage the young women to do what they were "born" to do. The fashion design show was put on by a fashion design school--further evidence that the start of a great career in fashion design begins with a fashion degree.

Sources
The Star Phoenix

About the Author
Joe Cooper is a freelance education and design writer and edits medical literature. He holds a bachelor's in American Literature from UCLA.

Back to Fashion School Articles