WMCAT.ORG HOME

FASHION DESIGN

FASHION DESIGN

fashion at your fingertips

This textile studio teaches students how to create wearable designs from concept to production. Youth develop fashion ideas first on paper and then bring them to life while practicing techniques like croquis design, sewing, fabric dyeing, felting, and more!

enroll today

teaching artist | john cox

John Cox joined WMCAT as a fashion design teaching artist in 2008. He specializes in color, design, and textiles. He owned an arts retail business in Grand Rapids for 12 years and worked as an artist in Japan. John has displayed his work at galleries throughout West Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Kendall College of Art and Design with additional studies in textiles, industrial design, and art history.

2025 fall + 2026 Spring offerings

FALL | MONDAY + WEDNESDAY

Fashion Design

Eligibility: 9-12 grade GRPS students  

Enter the world of fashion and create wearable designs! Develop your fashion idea from concept to production, including illustrating your design, creating prototypes, and sewing your idea into reality. You’ll connect with the Grand Rapids Art Museum for inspiration for final designs which will be modeled at a fashion show in the spring. 

FALL | TUESDAY + THURSDAY

Fabric Dyeing

Eligibility: 9-12 grade GRPS students  

Love tie-dye? This studio is for you! Learn how to dye fabric using traditional Japanese methods. In this class, you will practice several dyeing techniques and use them to color bandanas, scarves, t-shirts, and bags. Take your skills a step further and learn how to transfer personal drawings onto fabrics. Style your original accessories with the art of dyeing.

SPRING | MONDAY + WEDNESDAY

Fashion Design

Eligibility: 9-12 grade GRPS students  

Enter the world of fashion and create wearable designs! Develop your fashion idea from concept to production, including illustrating your design, creating prototypes, and sewing your idea into reality. You’ll connect with the Grand Rapids Art Museum for inspiration for final designs which will be modeled at a fashion show in May.

SPRING | TUESDAY + THURSDAY

Fashion Design

Eligibility: 9-12 grade GRPS students  

Enter the world of fashion and create wearable designs! Develop your fashion idea from concept to production, including illustrating your design, creating prototypes, and sewing your idea into reality. You’ll connect with the Grand Rapids Art Museum for inspiration for final designs which will be modeled at a fashion show in the spring.

teen arts + tech enrollment

Studios are first come first served! Students are placed in studios on a rolling basis.
We recommend turning in your materials ASAP to secure a spot!  

learn more + enroll