"Every day is a fashion show and the world is the runway." -Coco Chanel

Are you interested in learning more and being involved in the fashion world? Now in Detroit, Michigan, the College for Creative Studies is making that dream a reality! The College for Creative Studies is one of the leading design schools in the United States and is sure leaving its mark in the fashion world. The College for Creative Studies is the only school in the mid-west to provide a Fashion Accessories major, and there is such a high demand for designers in this field!

The brand new Fashion Accessories Design major just began in the Fall of 2015 and is already making quite a statement. Handbag and shoe designer Aki Choklat is the Chair of the Fashion Accessories Department. Aki teaches the class to come up with inspiration, sketches, make pattern pieces, sew and to create the most beautiful work. The major provides workshops with handbag and pattern maker Darrin B., who works as a pattern maker at Detroit's Shinola factory located inside of College for Creative Studies' Alfred Taubman building. Workshops with shoe designer and maker Brandi D., who designs, makes and reconstructs leather products, specializing in and known for her custom work with shoes, are also available.

The Fashion Accessories Design department at CCS has the best tools, machinery and materials available to create beautiful works of art. But the best tool that the school has is the students' brains. Students are encouraged to find their inspiration and generate new ideas that are interesting to them and the market. Fashion is where you take functional and usable things and make them beautiful and the new Fashion major is allowing students to do just that! The Fashion Accessories Design department provides the students with the skills and knowledge to pursue a career in such areas as Handbag Design, Footwear Design, Leather Goods Design, Soft Goods Design, Lead Pattern Making, Trend Forecasting, Trend Analysis, Product Research, Product Merchandising, and Color and Materials Specializing.

When you think of fashion accessories, what is the first thing that pops into your head; shoes, purses, scarves? Though these things definitely are accessories, there are many more that you couldn't even imagine. Bags (purse, duffel, briefcase, satchel), backpacks, wallets, shoes, hats, gloves, scarves, watches, keychains, capes, umbrellas, sunglasses and endless other opportunities!

Currently New York, L.A., Miami and Dallas are the fashion capitals of the United States. They better watch out, though, because Detroit is on its way to the top!