Students will work alongside world-class fashion designers to explore their creative talents & develop needed skills to pursue a career in fashion over the 15-month program

Norwalk, Conn. (November 13, 2023) — World-class fashion designers and brands are helping to shape the next generation of cultural innovators in Norwalk, Connecticut, the home of the new RED Fashion School (RED).

Opening its doors to the first enrolled class on November 15, 2023, RED offers Connecticut’s first recognized certificate program in Fashion Design. The second enrollment for the program begins on January 2, 2024.

Over the course of 15 months, students will work hands-on to design, market and produce their own fashion collection, while learning the entire vertical design process — including sample room production and sales.

The program is ideally suited for those who want to pursue a career in fashion as a designer, stylist, fashion illustrator, trend forecaster, CLO-3D designer and more.

Students will also work alongside established fashion professionals to explore their creative talents and personal style, while building the necessary skills to launch their own brand or work in a fashion house.

Among the industry-recognized design instructors is the School’s Founder, Irina Simeonova, who has showcased collections at New York Fashion Week, been featured on French Fashion TV and sold her collections across the U.S. and Canada.

She also founded the New England Fashion+Design Association (NEF+DA) in 2006, an organization based in South Norwalk that offers fashion design education to children and adults — which ultimately provided the inspiration for launching RED.

“After 17+ years of working with talented design students, I saw a need for an intensive, fast-paced program focused on the skills to gain employment or transition back into the workforce quickly afterward — whether that means launching your own fashion brand or working with a major label,” Simeonova said. “Our new Fashion Design Certificate at RED helps fill this void, while redefining fashion design education through a unique vertical education model that focuses on Research, Education and Design.”

Simeonova also noted that RED’s location in Norwalk plays an important role for graduates and the community alike:

“RED is poised to elevate educational offerings within our region while injecting fresh talent and collaborative endeavors into the local community,” Simeonova said. “We're dedicated to bolstering new and existing businesses by empowering our graduates to stay within the area, thereby fostering increased manufacturing and cultural enrichment in our Norwalk town and the surrounding areas.”

RED Fashion School is currently accepting and reviewing student applications. Interested candidates who hold a high school diploma or GED®, are at least 18 years of age and have an innate interest in fashion design can apply at www.redfashion.school.

About RED Fashion School

RED Fashion School (RED) is a non-profit educational institution that brings together contemporary style design education and the insights of working designers to educate the next generation of cultural leaders and innovators. RED offers a uniquely vertical model of education, a co-operative enterprise where students are educated through the process and practice of working with world-class designers.

To learn more, visit www.redfashion.school.

About NEF+DA

Established in 2006, the New England Fashion+Design Association (NEF+DA) is an educational organization based in South Norwalk, Connecticut, that offers design education to children and adults, including fashion illustration, pattern making, stage and costume design and more.

The NEF+DA approach draws inspiration from the timeless traditions perfected in European Couture Houses, as well as contemporary design techniques. All of our instructors and guest lecturers are established professionals in the field, ensuring that our students gain a modern and trendsetting understanding of the fashion industry while also nurturing diverse design ideas.

To learn more, visit www.nefda.studio.