As a graduating high school student I’ve already decided to take fashion design as my next step to college. People were pointing College of Saint Benilde and that instant I was sure to go to CSB and take their Fashion Design and Merchandising program. Something happened though, I switched my first choice - Fashion Design and Merchandising to Multimedia Arts. I somehow wonder why I did, someone just persuaded me to take MMA first and study Fashion after. That someone? is my Daddy dearest. Haha. The reason probably is so I can find my one true love.. Hahaha. (Thanks Dad! :P Hahahaha)

So fast forward today, I’ve been employed as Web & Graphic Artist. I’ve been working for 3 years since and I know deep down inside is that I’m not 100% happy. I know in my heart I would really want to try Fashion, that I wanna be in the fashion industry. I want to make clothes and I want to see people wear my creation.


(image source: dollarphotoclub)

That is why I’ve been looking for the perfect fashion design school here in the Philippines to help me with my dream and to finally start studying this year. I’ve been google-ing fashion schools in the Philippines and here are the schools I was able to find.
Read more to see the fashion schools!

(Warning this might be a loooong post)

School of Design and Arts, College of Saint Benilde (CSB)

2544 Taft AveMalate, Manila1004 Metro Manila

• Established in 1980 by Br. Andrew Gonzalez
• Nurtures students to develop their interests
• First in Philippines to offer degrees in Fashion Design

College of Saint Benilde’s Bachelor of Arts major in Fashion Design and Merchandising program is a well-rounded course focusing on design philosophy, development, marketing procedures, and production. Their core is fashion business, enabling you to pick up a few useful skills while harnessing your creative potential.
Notable Alumni: Veejay Floresca, Rajo Laurel

School of Fashion and the Arts Manila (SoFA)

399 Enzo Building,, Senator Gil Puyat Ave, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

• Philippine’s first specialized design college
• Opened in 2007

One of the most popular fashion schools in the Philippines. SOFA Manila provides a European approach to fashion. The school offers a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree and two-year Associate Degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising, diploma courses and certificate courses.
Notable Alumni: Kaye Morales, Danika Navarro, Pristine de Guzman, Vania Romoff, Tipay Caintic, Tal de Guzman

Slim’s Fashion and Arts School

2nd Flr, 2310 Chino Roces Avenue 1209 Makati City, Metro Manila Philippines

• Oldest fashion school in the Philippines
• Founded by Filipino couture designer Salvacion Lim-Higgins and her sister

Slim’s has provided in-depth courses in fashion design, dressmaking, and patternmaking. Slim’s highly technical lessons provide the solid foundation every designer needs to embark on a fashion career or to establish his or her own shop. The school offers diploma and certificate courses in fashion design and dressmaking/patternmaking. They don’t offer courses on the business side of fashion. I have a feeling that slim’s is the best place to hone design and sewing techniques, they’ve been in the industry for 50 years.
Rate/Tuition Fee:
Fashion Design (Beginners P31,500 & Advanced P31,500) - P63,000
Dressmaking/Patternmaking & Fashion Design Package (Preparatory/Beginners) - P59,900
Dressmaking/Patternmaking & Fashion Design Package (Secondary & Advance) - P69,500
Notable Alumni: Michael Cinco, Cesar Guapo

La Salle College International

# 150, 8th flr. / Penthouse, G.C. Corporate Plaza Legaspi Street
Makati, Kalakhang Maynila

• Opened November 2000
• Branch of Montreal, Canada’s La Salle International

La Salle College International boasts of being the only international fashion school in the Philippines. LCI provides students with an immediate advantage in terms of connections, relationships, and job opportunities abroad. La Salle College International offers several courses, includes a two-year international Diploma in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing; one-year International certificates as pattern maker, fashion stylist and fashion buyer; and certificate courses in basic fashion design, fashion illustration, pattern making, and visual merchandising.

Fashion Institute of the Philippines

Ortigas, Makati, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro

• Established by Canada/Paris-based designer Shanon Pamaong
• Opened July 2003
• Short, brief and straightforward

Fashion Institute of the Philippines offers the most practical and affordable courses for beginners, advanced students, or office workers. Shanon Pamaong envisioned FIP as a school where courses are short, brief and direct to the point so students can learn what they need in the shortest amount of time. Courses include basic fashion design, basic pattern-making, fashion embellishments, bag making, haute couture, fashion styling, fashion buying, fashion merchandising and fashion photography.
Rate/Tuition Fee:
Professional Designer Program/Elective Courses 1/Sewing Courses -
One (1) course P12,000 | Two (2) Courses P11,500 each - P23,000 | Three (3) Courses P11,000 each - P33,000 | Full Package (4) Courses P10,000 each - P40,000
Elective Courses II - One (1) course P6,000 | Two (2) Courses P5,750 each - P11,500 | Three (3) Courses P5,500 each - P16,500 | Full Package (4) Courses P5,250 each - P21,000
Notable Alumni: Francis Libirian, Happy Andrada, Oliver Tolentino

Style Studio Fashion &  Design School Philippines

6th Floor. No.48 Polaris Center Polaris St. cor. Jupiter St., Bel Air, Makati City

• Founded by Fashion Designer Divine Grace Paguila
• Opened January 2009

I’ve discovered Style Studio Fashion & Design School through Facebook and have little info about the school. They offer courses in  Fashion Design, Pattern Making, Fashion Sewing, Fashion Illustration, Fashion Draping, Fashion Embellishment, Fashion Styling, Fashion Makeup and Fashion Photography. They’ve just recently expanded to offer evening and weekend courses to suit busy people who need flexible time.

Cora Doloroso Career Centre

3/f Pamana Languages Building, 926 Pasay Road,Makati City, Metro Manila
Honestly, I couldn’t find any information about Cora Doloroso’s fashion courses online. But, there are a lot of people telling me about it. I’ve found a site saying that Cora Doloroso indeed provides fashion design and pattern making classes. If you guys know about the school do share them.


Okaayyy, so how was going through all that. :3

You might not reach this part of the post but if you did, hoooray!! Thank you! I appreciate you for staying with me.

I saved a day to visit some of the fashion design schools located in Makati listed above and if you’ve noticed the only schools with tuition fee info are FIP & Slim’s. Those schools are the ones I visited. I wanted to go to Style Studio to inquire but due to it’s location I didn’t push thru.
I’ll see if I’ll be able to update this post for the rates of the other schools.

Choosing where to go is quite a difficult decision to make, SoFA was really my choice but I had to consider my budget and the location plus time. So where did I go?

I went to the school that would fit my needs and schedule, and the one nearest to my Dad’s office so I can get a pleasurable ride. With God’s blessing, I'm happily pursuing my dream at Fashion Institute of the Philippines (FIP). Hello Dream! :3

I’ve started my first class last week which I will be sharing soon.