JPCatholic University to Launch Fashion Design Program: 'Clothing Can Lift the Mind to God'

On August 9, 2024, John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, Calif. announced the addition of a Fashion Design emphasis within their Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in visual arts, as well as a new minor in costume design.

The university aims for the fashion design program to begin in the fall of 2025, while courses are already available for the costume design minor. 

ChurchPOP spoke with Elena Chirkova, adjunct professor of Fashion Design, who will lead the program.

In the same university press release, Chirkova stated, “I am thrilled to be setting out with JPCatholic in the launch of this new program," she said.

“Fashion and costume design are such beautiful crafts; they serve as a unique expression of the human person, and play an important part in telling a cohesive story. The environment here is prime for the addition of these programs, and I cannot wait to help JPCatholic students grow as designers and build a successful career.”

Chirkova then noted the importance of offering small class sizes so each student has individual attention from their professors.

They have an enrollment goal of eight or more students to join in their close community of artists. Chirkova added that they expect students from other majors to participate in some of these classes as electives and even officially join the costume design minor. 

Chirkova shared that the idea of creating a fashion program and minor in costume design came out of student interest.

“While working on theater and film productions, our students were already taking initiative in creating and developing the costumes needed, and they expressed a desire for more formalized training in these areas," Chirkova said.

"We really think that a degree in Fashion Design fills a need within Catholic higher education, and ties in very strongly into our identity as the Catholic destination for the creative arts.”

The program's unique structure is a combination of fashion and costume design.

“Students will start off receiving a foundation in areas like fashion analysis, sewing, apparel construction, life drawing, and textiles," Chirkova stated. "Beyond that, students will have the flexibility to focus their electives more towards the fashion or costume side.” 

Aside from the already enticing program, many alternative opportunities are offered to students.

“JPCatholic’s existing creative arts programs provide some very exciting opportunities such as creating costumes for theatre productions and even full-length movies through the university’s Feature Film Program.

"On the fashion side, students will have opportunities to attend fashion shows, create a runway collection, and study the business of fashion. Through all these experiences, students will be well prepared for a variety of career paths, including product development, personal styling, retail management, entrepreneurship, digital design, and more.”

The new program is currently being developed as it prepares to officially launch next fall.

“As with all of our visual arts programs, internships and hands-on experience will be a vital aspect of the training students receive here. One of our students has actually already done a fashion internship in Los Angeles with an independent designer who creates celebrity looks, so she got to be involved in a dress for an actress in 'The Chosen' season four premiere.”

While society may consider fashion or theater far removed from any Catholic identity, there is a world in which they intertwine. 

“In modern society, faith and the arts may sometimes be perceived as conflicting. However, nothing is further from the truth, and JPCatholic is built at the intersection of these two facets of life," Chirkova said.

"For a long time, the Church was a leader in the arts, sponsoring masterpieces all over the West of painting, sculpture, and architecture. Our school’s mission is to point audiences toward truth, beauty, and goodness through storytelling and the arts, using vehicles like film, theater, and even video games.”

"Fashion even has a historical and cultural significance within the Church. When you look at the vestments of cardinals and popes, there is such an intricate and artistic detail, where each element contains deeper theological meaning. Even something as fundamental as clothing can lift the mind to God, or provide a source of inspiration, passion, and joy.”