Ripped Off? Fashion Students Question The Value Of An Elite Education.

Last year, online learning and remote classes became the norm for thousands of students around the world. Countless universities, governments and bodies decided that, where in-person teaching had once been deemed essential, zoom lessons would have to suffice.

Perhaps inevitably, it caused an eruption in student anger. Lied to, ripped off, cheated – the criticism of elite institutions came quick and fast. It wasn’t the first time the ‘worth’ of a university education had been questioned, but it was perhaps the loudest.

And fashion schools proved no exception.

For decades now, going to the ‘right’ school – usually an expensive and elite one – was seen as a standard route – even the sole route - into the industry. But change is, as ever, afoot.

If there is one good thing to be said about the internet, it is almost certainly that it is an almost limitless source of free information. Whether it be in the form of free online courses, social media forums or countless how-to guides, the online fashion world is ever growing and young, aspiring designers intend to take full advantage of it.

Even those who were able to access higher education are now questioning whether or not it was worth it. After taking a class from the Open Education institute, Fashion Graduate Sophie Walker revealed that she ‘learned more from the fashion and waste seminar than I did in my whole uni experience’.

It’s no doubt a tough pill to swallow for a young woman who has spent thousands on a degree. But it might just be the anger of students and graduates – those who have spent thousands on elite educations with little obvious reward – that prompts a shift in the industry.

Next up, Moncler Joins Forces With JW Anderson