Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - VSC Will Respond to All of Them
At Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC), we receive over a hundred questions each week, and we attempt to answer all of them. For complicated questions, or if you want to know the cost and program duration of any specific Fashion Design Long Program, we strongly encourage you to contact us through email at https://sewingclassesvancouver.ca/contact/ to arrange a meeting in-person with one of our instructors. We would be happy to spend time with you to answer all of your questions at our fashion design facility. Since we have so many lessons to teach throughout the day, we will not be able to answer all of your questions over the telephone. Please contact us through our email for an in-person consultation.
Please carefully read and review all of the relevant information on our website before you contact us, so you can make a well-informed decision. Otherwise, you are wasting your own time by asking the same questions that we have repeatedly answered on our website, blogs, and Facebook page. We believe that we are much more open and transparent than any other fashion design school or sewing studio.
From time to time, we do have clients, who had requested an in-person consultation appointment far in advance, not show up, without emailing or calling us, on the day of the scheduled appointment, effectively ghosting us. This is not acceptable and unprofessional. If someone treats us that way, we will not work with that person again. Our time is just as precious as your time.
And, finally, we do have people ask us for industry contacts without enrolling in one of our programs. Unfortunately, our industry and supplier contacts are reserved only for our paying clients. We have spent many years and a lot of time and money building our network of contacts all over the world, and we simply cannot provide that information to anyone if they are not a paying client of ours. In addition, please do not ask for a discount on any of our programs because, if you are looking for an inexpensive, lower quality program and you don’t care about what and how you learn, we are not the right fit for you. At VSC you get exactly what you pay for, which is a high-quality education and practical life skills training.
QUESTION: Is Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) a school?
Answer: NO. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) is NOT a school, college, or university. We take it as a compliment when someone compares us to a fashion institution, but we are NOT a school. We cannot accept international students or student loans, and we cannot process your student visa or government grant. We are a private fashion design facility, and we exist to help to train people to become professional fashion designers so they can work and make a living in the apparel industry, without wasting 1 to 4 years in school. We have helped many designers start their own businesses and do their production in Southeast Asia at a fraction of the usual cost. Google Maps decided to list us under the Schools category without our consent, and there is nothing we can do about that; it is what it is.
QUESTION: Can I pay online or over the phone for any of the programs?
Answer: No, you cannot pay online or over the phone. You must pay in-person at our fashion design studio when you register in-person. We do not accept credit card payment OR e-transfer over the phone for security reasons.
QUESTION: Can I drop-in at Vancouver Sewing Classes and watch your lessons for free?
Answer: No, VSC does not allow drop-ins, and we do not allow anybody to watch our lessons without paying.
QUESTION: Does VSC allow walk-ins/drop-ins?
Answer: No, VSC does not accept walk-ins or drop-ins; for all enquiries, registrations and bookings, you must make an appointment with us first. You can send an email to us at https://sewingclassesvancouver.ca/contact/ OR call us at (604) 879-2100, to book or schedule your appointment so you can register and pay in-person. We are open, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, 7 days a week, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, including weekends and holidays.
QUESTION: How do I book online for the classes or register in-person to pay?
Answer: Firstly, you need to email us at [email protected] OR you can call us at (604) 879-2100, to set-up an in-person appointment at our fashion design studio. You must register and pay in-person at our fashion design studio for the program that you have chosen to enrol in. Once you pay for the program in-person, you can then book the lesson whenever you want. Unfortunately, you cannot book ANY lesson online without paying first (pre-paid program) in-person. After you pay for the program, you can book your lesson in-person at the time of your registration OR you can call us at (604) 879-2100 OR you can email us and make a request at https://sewingclassesvancouver.ca/contact/.
Please note this: There are ONLY THREE spots available for registration each month. “Spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis.” All programs start the first week of every month and registration dates start from the 15th to the 20th of each month. However, you can register and pay in-person EARLIER and BEFORE the registration period (the 15th-20th of each month), if you want to book and reserve your space ahead of everyone else.
QUESTION: Can I register online or over the phone, and if I register in-person how long will it take?
Answer: No, you cannot register online or over the phone. You must register and pay at our fashion design studio ONLY in-person. You can call us first at (604)879-2100 OR you can email us at [email protected] to set-up your appointment for your in-person registration and pay for the program. The in-person registration will only take about five minutes of your time at our fashion design studio. When you register in-person, you can pay by cash, credit card (Visa or Mastercard), debit, cheque, or bank draft. If you are paying by credit card (Visa or Mastercard), we will have to charge you an additional 3% on top of the total bill because Visa and Mastercard Merchant is billing and collecting from us the 3% commission, all of which it gets to keep. If you are paying by cheque or bank draft, please make sure that you make the cheque payable to “Vancouver Sewing Classes”.
Please note this: There are ONLY THREE spots available for registration each month. “Spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis.” All programs start the first week of every month and registration dates start from the 15th to the 20th of each month. However, you can register and pay in-person EARLIER and BEFORE the registration period (the 15th-20th of each month), if you want to book and reserve your space ahead of everyone else.
QUESTION: What are VSC hours for all the classes?
Answer: Our lessons schedule is usually from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. We are open, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY, 7 days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, including weekends and holidays. If you are unable to make it to your lesson for whatever reason, you must inform us by e-mail at least 48 hours (two days) in advance; otherwise, you will lose that prepaid class credit.
QUESTION: Does VSC offer any discount on any of the programs?
Answer: NO. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) does not provide or offer discounts on any of our programs. If you are looking for a discounted or inexpensive program, we are not the right fit for you. VSC teaches ONLY one-on-one, and we offer a very flexible schedule, so our clients can have the perfect balance of work, study and play. We give away Free Bonus Gifts, worth up to $17,000, so our clients can become successful sewers/fashion designers in their chosen field. Furthermore, we customize and tailor all of the programs for each of our clients, individually, so they can learn at their own pace and more effectively. We spend countless hours preparing each client’s lessons, individually, so they can have more time to focus and learn new life technical skills. Many fashion design institutions and sewing studios will force their clients to prepare their own lessons and, as a result, their clients will not have time left to learn any sewing or pattern drafting. In the end, you will learn far less or nothing at all. You will end up wasting your own time, money, and resources. At VSC, we treat our clients like VIPs. We only provide quality education, training, and industry contacts to our clients. This is what you are paying for – “quality service”, which you will not receive anywhere else. Our motto has always been, “your success is our success”. We always deliver excellent results for our clients!
QUESTION: Does Vancouver Sewing Classes send out weekly email promotions and notices?
Answer: NO. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) does not and will not send out weekly junk emails and promotions to our clients. We do not harass and stalk our clients, like so many fashion schools and sewing studios. Many fashion schools and sewing studios are desperate, so they harass their clients by sending them a whole barrage of junk emails to get them to enroll in their programs. At VSC, we will never stoop that low to chase and pursue our clients in that manner. If you contact us, we will respond to all of your emails; however, if you don’t respond to our email message after we respond to yours, we will not contact you again. At VSC, we believe that, when a client approaches us, they want to learn technical life skills from our fashion instructors, who have vast experience working in the fashion industry with a strong proven track record of success and an impressive repertoire. No client will want to learn from someone who just graduated from a fashion institution, or does not have any experience doing clothing production in North America and Southeast Asia, or does not have experience operating a successful fashion business or starting a fashion line.
QUESTION: Does Vancouver Sewing Classes deliver weekly emails to their paying clients to remind them of their upcoming lessons?
Answer: Yes. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) does send out brief emails to remind our paying clients about their upcoming lessons on a weekly basis. We know our clients live a hectic life, which is why we send them a weekly courtesy email to remind them of their upcoming lesson with the scheduled date and time, and a list of what to bring to class, as well as what is being taught in each lesson. At VSC, we keep our clients well informed.
QUESTION: Does Vancouver Sewing Classes provide free complimentary snacks and drinks for each lesson?
Answer: Yes. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) does provide plenty of free snacks and drinks for our clients in every lesson. At VSC, we treat our clients like VIPs.
QUESTION: Can I record the entire lesson on my iPhone at Vancouver Sewing Classes?
Answer: Yes. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) does provide three tripods for our clients to record their entire lesson. We strongly encourage our clients to record all of their lessons on their iPhone or other device so, this way, they do not need to make any notes during the lesson. These recordings are very helpful when our clients are doing their homework and assignments at home. Unfortunately, no fashion school or sewing studio allows you to do this. We recommend that all clients bring their own phone charger and make sure that they have enough memory on their iPhone or other device to record each three-hour lesson.
QUESTION: Does VSC charge any extra fee if my lesson goes 20-30 minutes overtime?
Answer: NO. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) does not charge overtime if you are enrolled in any of our programs. We are not greedy and petty like other sewing studios and fashion schools. Many sewing studios and design schools will charge you an extra fee if your lesson goes over time. In fact, these sewing studios and fashion schools will charge and gouge you for everything and anything.
QUESTION: Does VSC provide FREE textbooks for any of the Short Programs and the Fashion Design Long Programs?
Answer: Yes. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) will provide free up to 100 current and coloured digital fashion textbooks, when our clients enrol in any of the Short and the Fashion Design Long Programs. We only provide the most current and up-to-date textbooks.
QUESTION: Does VSC give away FREE industrial sewing machines, dress forms and equipment for all its Fashion Design Long Programs?
Answer: Yes. Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) does give away up to $17,000 in FREE BONUS GIFTS, such as brand-new industrial sewing machines, designer dressmaker forms, ironing boards and irons, complete sewing kits, complete drafting kits, and so on, when the clients sign-up for any of the Fashion Design Long Programs. The FREE bonus gifts will be shipped and delivered directly to the client’s home/studio front door.
QUESTION: What are the FREE Bonus Gifts when I sign up for the Fashion Design Long Programs?
Answer: Depending on the Fashion Design Long Program selection our client chooses, we are giving away up to $17,000 worth of FREE BONUS GIFTS! The bigger the program you choose, the more bonus gifts you will receive, such as: a *FREE NEW Juki Industrial Sewing Machine, a NEW Juki Industrial Serger, a NEW Italian-Made Battistella or Reliable Iron Board, a NEW Italian-Made Battistella or Reliable Industrial Iron, a NEW Juki MO644D Portable Serger, a NEW Juki MCS-1500 Coverstitch Sewing Machine, a NEW Singer Domestic Sewing Machine, a NEW Designer’s Dress Form with Legs, NEW Sewing Feet Attachments for an Industrial or Domestic Sewing Machine, NEW Professional Drafting and Sewing Kits PLUS many other industrial sewing machines!
QUESTION: Does Vancouver Sewing Classes (VSC) give away FREE Bonus Gifts for ALL of their programs, no matter how big or how small the programs are?
Answer: YES! Depending on the Mini, Short or Long Program selection our client chooses, we are giving away up to $17,000 worth of FREE BONUS GIFTS! The bigger the program you choose, the more bonus gifts you will receive. We do give away FREE BONUS GIFTS all the time, no matter how big or how small the programs are. You get to keep and own brand-new sewing machines (both domestic and/or industrial), designer dressmaker dress forms, sewing tools, drafting tools, fabrics, notions, trimmings, laces, beads, ironing boards, industrial irons with boilers, threads, art supplies, and so. You get to keep and own them 100%. We have given away over $850,000 in FREE BONUS GIFTS so far, and we will continue to do so to support our clients in achieving success in the fashion industry! In fact, we are the ONLY organization in the world that is doing this! We are very proud of this huge accomplishment!
QUESTION: Will VSC provide a discount if I do not want the FREE brand-new sewing machine?
Answer: No, VSC does not provide any discounts or price reductions if you don’t want the FREE brand-new sewing machine to keep and own. We offer FREE brand-new sewing machines because our instructional programs and sewing lessons are structurally based on these FREE brand-new sewing machines not the client’s sewing machine. In order to obtain consistent results, we encourage our clients to use our FREE brand-new sewing machine, instead of their own sewing machine. Because every sewing machine has a different stitch length dial feature and different tension dial settings, it can create quite a bit of confusion for the client if they use their own sewing machine.
QUESTION: Will I get to keep the FREE brand-new sewing machine for the short program?
Answer: YES, you get to keep all of it 100%, and you do not need to return it, ever.
QUESTION: Do I have to return the FREE brand-new sewing machine and the sewing kit when I complete the short or long program?
Answer: No, you do not need to return anything at the end of the short or long program. You get to keep everything 100%.
QUESTION: Do I need to bring back the FREE brand-new sewing machine for every class/lesson?
Answer: No, you do not need to bring back your own sewing machine to every class. We have many sewing machines in our fashion design studio already, which means you do not need to bring back your own sewing machine, or your sewing kit tools to every lesson.
QUESTION: Does VSC give away a FREE brand-new Singer sewing machine when I sign up for the Professional Sewing Techniques Short Program?
Answer: Yes, you will receive a FREE brand-new Singer sewing machine and a FREE sewing tool kit to keep!
QUESTION: Does VSC offer a special payment plan or installment payments?
Answer: Yes, depending on the size of the program that our client chooses, we do provide a special payment plan or installment payments for any of the Fashion Design Long Programs. Please enquire in-person about this.
QUESTION: Once I have paid for the program, how many classes can I book for each week?
Answer: Once you have paid for your program, you can book from one to four lessons per week. There is plenty of homework to do for each of your lessons, so you may not want to over book yourself; otherwise, you will not be able to complete all of your assignments or homework on time.
QUESTION: Is there a lot of homework if I enrol in the short program or the Fashion Design Long Program?
Answer: Yes, you will receive plenty of homework, either for the Short Program or the Fashion Design Long Program. On average, the Short Program homework is usually 1 to 3 hours of homework per lesson, while the Fashion Design Long Program is usually 3 to 6 hours of homework per lesson, depending on your learning ability and capacity.
QUESTION: Does VSC only teach “one-on-one” and in-person?
Answer: Yes, VSC only teaches “one-on-one” in-person. VSC does NOT teach online OR virtually OR any group lessons.
QUESTION: Does VSC teach young kids under 10 years old?
Answer: NO, VSC does not teach kids under 15 years old, simply because they are too young and VSC is not the right fit for them. Kids who are in this age bracket usually have very short attention spans, which makes it extremely challenging to teach them for three continuous hours because they are not able to stay focused for that long.
QUESTION: Does VSC teach technical garment and Tech Pack?
Answer: Yes, and yes. We have over 150 programs for you to choose from and we can also customize any program that is not listed on our web site to fit your budget and needs.
QUESTION: HOW DOES THE SCHEDULE AND CLASSES WORK AT VSC?
Answer: Just Follow These THREE SIMPLE STEPS
1. Make a decision on which program you would like to enrol in at VSC.
2. Call us at (604) 879-2100 or email us at [email protected] to set up a date and time for you to meet, register and pay in-person at VSC.
3. Once you have registered and paid in person at VSC, you are ready to start your ONE-ON-ONE lessons; you can book your class(es) anytime you want ONLINE.
Please Note: Once you have pre-paid for all your classes in-person at our fashion design studio then you can then book all your classes online whenever you want to commence your program.
VSC offers the most flexible schedule possible. Because we teach all classes One-On-One, you can ‘pick and choose’ your own date and time when you want to start your class/lesson, anytime of the week or month after you pay and register. Our classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., seven days a week, including holidays. For your convenience, we highly recommend that you book all your lessons at least one week in advance on our web site at https://sewingclassesvancouver.ca/contact/. You will get an e-mail confirmation of all your classes within 24 hours of booking online.
QUESTION: WHEN CAN I REGISTER OR SIGN UP FOR ANY OF THE PROGRAMS?
Answer: All programs start in the first week of every month and registration dates start are from the 15th to the 20th of each month. For example, if the client registers and pays in-person between March 15 and March 20, she/he will have the option to commence her/his first class anytime between April 1 and April 15.
VSC does not accept registration online or over the phone. Please register and pay in person. Please MAKE AN APPOINTMENT to meet and discuss details with us in person by calling us at (604) 879-2100 or by e-mailing us at [email protected] to arrange your appointment.
QUESTION: HOW DO PAYMENTS WORK AT VSC?
Answer: Depending on which program you registered for, we have different payment plans. Please keep in mind that you must register for any of the mini, short or long programs in person. You can either call ahead at (604) 879-2100 or e-mail us at [email protected] to schedule an appointment for any in-person registration or inquiry. For the short programs, we require that our clients pay in full, while for the long programs we split payments into four installments, which means that our clients have 6 to 12 months to pay the entire tuition fee. All clients are required to pay a 30% deposit when they first register for any of the Fashion Design Long Programs.
QUESTION: DOES VSC ACCEPT STUDENT LOANS?
Answer: No. Because VSC is NOT a school, we are unable to accept student loans.
QUESTION: DO I HAVE TO PAY THE ENTIRE FULL TUITION FEE AT ONE TIME WHEN I REGISTER?
Answer: No. If you are enrolling in a Fashion Design Long Program, you can pay in four separate payments over 6 to 12 months.
QUESTION: ARE ALL THE PRICES LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE FOR ALL OF THE SHORT/LONG PROGRAMS?
Answer: Yes and no. We have all of the prices listed for the short programs, but not for the Fashion Design Long Programs. Under Canadian law, we are unable to provide prices and the number of classes online over the phone for all of our Fashion Design Long Programs. Under existing Canadian law, we can provide you with prices and the total number of classes ONLY in person at our design facility in Vancouver for all of our Fashion Design Long Programs. Please MAKE AN APPOINTMENT to meet and discuss details with us in-person by calling us at (604) 879-2100 or by e-mailing us at [email protected] to arrange your appointment.
Whether you are a beginner, a recent fashion graduate or a professional, VSC offers many fun and practical courses/programs for fashion enthusiasts to learn new technical trade skills. We have short and long programs for beginners, intermediate and advanced learners, as well as professionals. There are over 150 programs to choose from and we can customize any course and program to meet your personal needs. Please note that we do not list all of the programs on our website: we only feature the most popular programs requested by our clients. For more information about other programs that we do not feature on our website, please contact us by e-mail at [email protected].
QUESTION: IS THE SCHEDULE FLEXIBLE AT VSC?
Answer: Yes. We offer a great, flexible schedule so our clients can enjoy and take their time to hone and master the craft of sewing, pattern drafting, French draping and pattern grading skill. We want our clients to have a balanced lifestyle of work, study and play, whereas a normal school will not be able to offer their students that option.
QUESTION: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO REGISTER AT VSC?
Answer: At VSC, there are ONLY three spots available for registration each month. Spaces are available on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Book early and reserve your spot.
All programs start in the first week of every month and the registration dates are between the 15th and the 20th of each month. For example, if the client registers and pays in-person between March 15 and 20, then she/he will have the option to commence her/his first class anytime between April 1 and April 15.
QUESTION: WHAT IS THE LATEST PERMISSIBLE NOTIFICATION, IF I AM UNABLE TO COME TO CLASS?
Answer: If you are unable to make it to class, you must inform us by e-mail at least 48 hours (2 days) in advance; otherwise, you will lose that prepaid class credit.
QUESTION: DOES VSC OFFER PRIVATE TUTORING, ONE-ON-ONE?
Answer: Yes, we do. Private tutoring is available on request. In-house design studio tutoring is $125.00 per hour, with a minimum booking of 3 hours. Private tutoring includes notions, muslin and paper patterns (white and Manila papers).
QUESTION: DOES VSC RENT OUT THEIR STUDIO SPACE?
Answer: Yes, we do rent out our space. The rate is $100.00 per hour plus taxes, with a minimum booking of 3 hours.
QUESTION: DOES VSC ACCEPT PRIVATE CONTRACT WORK FROM AN INDEPENDENT DESIGNER OR COMPANY?
Answer: Yes, we do. We do accept contract work on an hourly ($150.00 per hour) basis for any pattern drafting and sewing. VSC can assist you in developing paper patterns and sewing the prototype samples for your fashion line. Please call and make an appointment at (604) 879-2100.
QUESTION: IS VANCOUVER SEWING CLASSES (VSC) A SCHOOL?
Answer: VSC is NOT a school. VSC is an industrial fashion studio located in the heart of Vancouver. We offer over 150 short/long programs, and we can customize a program to meet your budget and expectations. We create our programs to meet our clients’ specific needs and niches. All our programs are 100% hands-on learning. We help train our clients and equip them with the right skills, knowledge and experience so they can achieve their objectives and be successful in their careers.
The BC government has been pressuring VSC for years to convert our fashion design facility into a regular fashion institution, but we have chosen not to. We do not want to become another cookie cutter fashion institution that scams people. Many of our clients are happy with their success and results, so why should we change, when our system is better than the way most schools operate their business? Ironically, most established fashion institutions often receive unfavorable reviews from their own current students and recent graduates.
QUESTION: WHY ARE THERE SO MANY FASHION GRADUATES FROM OTHER FASHION INSTITUTIONS COMING TO VSC TO RELEARN EVERYTHING FROM GROUND ZERO?
Answer: Fashion graduates come to VSC because the fashion schools have failed to deliver results for their clients, which is why their students are coming to redo their entire fashion training. Over the years, VSC has taught and mentored numerous clients, including beginner students and recent graduates from other fashion institutions, such as:
- Central Saint Martins
- Parsons School of Design
- Fashion Institute of Technology
- Ryerson Polytechnic University
- George Brown College
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Blanche Macdonald Centre
- The Art Institute of Vancouver
- Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design
- VCAD: Visual College of Art and Design Vancouver
- University of the Fraser Valley
- Vancouver Community College
- LaSalle College Vancouver
- John Casablancas Institute
QUESTION: WHY ARE THERE SO MANY FASHION GRADUATES FROM EVERY FASHION SCHOOL HAVING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING A JOB IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
Answer: Fashion schools are not providing their students with enough skills, knowledge or experience to meet industry standards. Sadly, 95% of fashion institutions do not meet garment industry standards, which is why so many students fail at their job interviews when potential employers test them on their pattern drafting, sewing, French draping and pattern grading skills. At VSC, we work with our clients to help them develop professional-level skills for direct entry into the fashion industry.
QUESTION: WHY HAS VSC DECIDED NOT TO USE A GLOSSY AD CAMPAIGN ON TV AND ONLINE LIKE OTHER FASHION SCHOOLS AROUND THE WORLD?
Answer: Our success is through word of mouth. We believe in honesty and no frill ads. We deliver real results and we do not need to mislead clients, like certain fashion institutions. We see more and more fashion design institutions using glossy ad campaigns on TV, online and in print to lure the young and naive into a web of false promises. These institutions often fall far short of their promises of delivering actual results for their graduates. Incredibly, many graduates of fashion design colleges and universities are leaving school with little or no knowledge of skills in sewing, pattern drafting, French draping or grading. This deficit has a long-lasting detrimental effect on a student’s future employment and business opportunities.
QUESTION: DOES MY ENGLISH HAVE TO BE GOOD WHEN I LEARN FASHION DESIGN AT VSC?
Answer: No, your English does not have to be perfect or fluent. There are NO exams, tests, quizzes, essays or written research at VSC. Everything our clients learn is all hands-on and visual learning. VSC is NOT a school, so English is not a mandatory requirement at our fashion industrial design studio.
QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE FREE BONUS GIFTS I WILL RECEIVE ONCE I COMMIT, REGISTER AND PAY FOR THE PROGRAM?
Answer: VSC is the only fashion facility and organization in the world that helps our clients to set-up their own business and give them FREE professional tools, dress forms and machinery to help them get ahead of their competitors and become successful in their chosen apparel specialty.
Depending on the program selection our client chooses, we are giving away up to $17,000.00 in FREE BONUS GIFTS! The bigger program you choose, the more bonus gifts you will receive such as the following items below PLUS a lot more that are not listed here (please visit our Bonus Gifts page here):
*FREE BRAND-NEW Juki Industrial Sewing Machine DDL-8700-7 Single Needle Drop Feed Automatic Machine with Thread Cutter and Automatic Foot Lifter, Table, Light and Motor (Retail Value $3,500)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Juki Industrial Sewing Machine DDL 8300N, including Table, Light and Motor (Retail Value $1,650)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Juki Industrial Serger MO 6800 Series, including Table, Light and Motor (Retail Value $2,300)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Italian Made Battistella Iron Board (Retail Value $1,150)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Italian Made Battistella Industrial Iron (Retail Value $1,250)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Italian Made Reliable Iron Board (Retail Value $1,150)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Italian Made Reliable Industrial Iron (Retail Value $1,250)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Juki MO644D Portable Serger (Retail Value $650)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Juki MCS-1500 Coverstitch and Chain Stitch Machine (Retail Value $1,200)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Singer Domestic Sewing Machine (Retail Value $249)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Designer’s Full Body Dress Form With Legs, Size 6 or 8 (Retail Value $1,500)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Sewing Feet Attachments for the Sewing Machine – up to 35 (Retail Value $600)
*FREE BRAND-NEW Drafting and Sewing Kits, which include metal L-shape ruler, metal French curve, metal meter stick, pattern notcher, tracing wheel, 24” see-thru ruler, measurement tape, Kai 8” dressmaker shears, Kai 6 ½” sewing scissors, thread clippers, bobbin case, bobbins, pattern awl, Japanese tailor’s ruler, Hong Kong designer’s curve ruler, measurement tape, seam ripper, sewing machine needles, tailor chalk wheel, magnetic gauge, fabric markers, sewing machine zipper foot, bias tape maker, sewing pins and drafting pencils (Retail Value $1,250)
QUESTION: IF I HAVE AN EXISTING SEWING MACHINE AT HOME ALREADY, WHY WOULD I NEED ANOTHER FREE SEWING MACHINE FROM VSC?
Answer: It is always a huge bonus to have a second sewing machine in your home or studio, especially when you are working on a garment that has colour contrast thread. This will save you a lot of time changing the thread colour or winding the bobbin or needle if you are working with woven and knit fabrics at the same time. No schools or sewing studios are offering any freebies these days.
QUESTION: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LEARNING ONE-ON-ONE AT VSC?
Answer: All classes are taught “ONE-ON-ONE” at VSC, which means that you are able to learn a lot more content, techniques and trade secrets than you would in a regular classroom setting, and you always receive undivided “ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION” in each individual lesson. Plus you get to learn at your own pace with no stress and pressure.
Far too often, many fashion schools and sewing studios accept too many students into their programs. As a result, many students don’t get the instructional time and attention they deserve and pay for. They are neglected and deserted, and, worst of all, they learn very little and achieve poor results at the end.
To ensure and maintain consistent high standards of quality education and training at VSC, we only accept three new clients each month. Just check out our Google Reviews, and see why our clients choose us over other fashion design schools and sewing studios. We prefer quality to quantity, when it comes to learning. VSC does not believe in treating our clients as if they were a herd of cattle!
QUESTION: WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE VSC FOR MY FASHION TRADE SKILLS TRAINING?
Answer: First of all, VSC is NOT a school and, secondly, we always deliver 100% what we promise. In addition, we deliver real and instant results! Check out the rave Google Reviews from our clients who have completed our fashion and sewing programs.
At VSC, you can achieve excellent results in less than six months, while in a typical fashion institution, it would take two to four years, and, even with that, most students receive inadequate technical skills training from established fashion schools. Fashion schools focus far too much time on exams, essays, Mickey Mouse projects and trash courses that have no relevance to the fashion industry and business.
QUESTION: ESSENTIALLY AND ULTIMATELY, EXACTLY WHAT SKILLS DO I REALLY NEED TO LEARN TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL FASHION DESIGNER?
Answer: You only need to master your pattern drafting, sewing, French draping, and pattern grading skills to become a successful designer.
QUESTION: DO I NEED A DEGREE/DIPLOMA IN FASHION DESIGN FOR EMPLOYMENT?
Answer: Today, you no longer need a degree or a diploma to become a successful fashion designer. What you truly need is a strong foundation in Pattern Drafting, Sewing, French Draping and Pattern Grading skills, plus relevant experience in the field.
QUESTION: IS THERE HOMEWORK TO DO AT VSC?
Answer: There is plenty of hands-on homework that our clients need to complete in their own time when they enrol in any of the short or long programs. Practice is the best way to build your long-term memory, expand your knowledge, build your confidence and gain more experience.
QUESTION: WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO LEARN THE BASIC FOUNDATIONS OF SEWING, PATTERN DRAFTING, FRENCH DRAPING AND PATTERN GRADING?
Answer: Every garment skeleton is created from the basic foundations of sewing, pattern drafting, French draping and pattern grading. Without the basic foundations, fashion design and clothing would not exist in this world. Knowing the basic foundations will provide you with a greater depth in knowledge and confidence, so it allows you to be able to do more with your skills than just sewing tote bags and pajamas.
QUESTION: WHY DO I NEED TO LEARN SEWING, PATTERN DRAFTING, FRENCH DRAPING AND PATTERN GRADING SKILLS WHEN I CAN PAY SOMEONE TO DO ALL THAT?
Answer: The reasons why every designer should master the skills of sewing, pattern drafting, French draping and pattern grading are to save money, make big profits, and to maintain quality control. If you do not have knowledge of garment construction, how do you know whether your garment is poorly constructed or badly fitted? How would you know whether you overpaid contractors for their work on your line? These are questions that only a skilled designer would understand and be able to answer.
QUESTION: WILL VSC’S FASHION INSTRUCTOR CHECK, INSPECT AND CORRECT ALL OF MY PATTERN DRAFTING OR SEWING PROJECTS IN EVERY CLASS?
Answer: Yes, to ensure that our clients fully understand and learn the topic or the subject content, our fashion instructor will routinely inspect all of their projects and homework in all classes and lessons.
QUESTION: HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO START A FASHION LINE?
Answer: These days, you no longer need to create a collection or a line to be successful in the fashion industry. You can start with three to six good fitted and marketable pieces in different colours and sizes. Your start-up costs for your line and business in your first season will be around $12,000 to $30,000.
Why spend all of your money with a fashion design institution that cannot guarantee your career success, while you have no money left to start-up your own fashion line or business because the school has already taken all of your money, and you have no real practical fashion design skills to even get a job in the apparel industry?!?
Rather than spending between $45,000 to $320,000 of your savings or loans on a program of study at a fashion design institution, you can invest a small portion of that money in learning REAL practical fashion design trade skills at VSC, then use the remaining money to fund your own fashion line or business. We strongly encourage all of our student clients to invest 50% to 70% of their school tuition fees into their business equity, capital and branding, rather than handing over 100% of their hard-earned money to a fashion college or university.
QUESTION: IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO DO ALL OF MY SAMPLING IN CANADA OR IN NEW YORK?
Answer: It is a bad idea to do your sampling in North America. The labour cost is extremely high. Your best option is to do all of your sampling in Southeast Asia, where you can save a lot of money in your first year of business. Get rid of the middlemen in New York and contact the factory directly, if you want to save time and money.
Luckily, VSC is not a school, and we have helped save many clients from becoming victims of this scheme. At VSC, we deliver real, practical results, without breaking the bank. We help our clients connect with real contacts, referrals and fashion industry people. In addition, we help our clients to set up their own businesses and give them FREE professional tools, dress forms and machinery to help them get ahead of their competitors and become successful in their chosen apparel specialty.
QUESTION: DO I NEED A LAWYER AND AN ACCOUNTANT TO HELP STRUCTURE MY BUSINESS/COMPANY INITIALLY?
Answer: Yes! Proper preparation will save you a ton of headaches, money and stress in the long run.
QUESTION: WHY DO I NEED TO HAVE MULTIPLE CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTIONS TO SELL MY CLOTHING PRODUCTS?
Answer: Having multiple channels of distribution for your clothing line will make your cash flow a lot healthier and make it easier to manage your business. Most designers fail in the first three years of a new business because they do not have multiple sources of income, as a result of not having a local or global network with multiple channels of distribution.
QUESTION: HOW LONG DOES IT TAKES TO LEARN THE CAD AND ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR SOFTWARE IN FASHION DESIGN?
Answer: If you have no fashion trade skills, the CAD and Adobe Illustrator will take you six to eight weeks to learn; however, if you already have knowledge and experience in fashion design, it will take about one week to learn. You do not need to waste two to four years in college to learn the software.
QUESTION: AS A NEW FASHION DESIGNER, IS IT BETTER TO WORK FOR SOMEONE ELSE, OR START YOUR OWN FASHION LINE?
Answer: Start your own fashion line if you can, and did not spend all of your money on school! With absolute certainty, you will make far, far more money working for yourself than for someone else.
QUESTION: HAVE MANY OF THE FASHION INSTRUCTORS WHO TEACH IN THE WELL-ESTABLISHED FASHION UNIVERSITIES OR COLLEGES WORKED IN A REAL GARMENT FACTORY IN CANADA OR IN SOUTH EAST ASIA?
Answer: Unfortunately, there are not many garment factories left in Canada. Sadly, 95% of the fashion instructors from most fashion institutions have never worked in South East Asia because they do not speak or understand the local language. Many of the younger fashion instructors and fashion graduates have never actually worked for Canadian garment manufacturers, which is why they do not really know or understand what they are teaching in schools.
QUESTION: DO I NEED TO LEARN QUARTER-SCALE OR HALF-SCALE IN PATTERN DRAFTING?
Answer: No, you do not need to learn the quarter-scale and half-scale pattern. The majority of the garment factories these days are using full-scale patterns in sampling and production overseas.
QUESTION: DO I HAVE AN ADVANTAGE IF I HAVE A FASHION DESIGN DEGREE OR A DIPLOMA WHEN I APPLY FOR A JOB IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY?
Answer: No. When it is time for employment, your future employer is solely interested in your skills, not your degree or diploma. You must always remember that without your technical skills, you have nothing of value to offer to your potential employer, and that will make you less desirable for any future employment. You can sugar coat your resume and cover letter, but you cannot fake your skills. You can brag all you want about the school you graduated from, but your future employer will not be impressed.
QUESTION: WILL MY EMPLOYER CARE IF I DON’T HAVE A FASHION DEGREE OR A DIPLOMA?
Answer: Your employer does not care if you have a degree or a diploma. At every job interview, your future employer will test your technical trade skills right on the spot.
QUESTION: DO I NEED TO DO FASHION SHOWS?
Answer: No. You should NEVER do fashion shows like Vancouver Fashion Week or Vancouver Eco’s Fashion Week. Why? In the past, fashion shows were effective, but nowadays, fashion shows are more like entertainment events where people get together to socialise, party, be entertained and receive freebees. A lot of people use designers’ fashion show events as platforms to network their way into the business. Don’t waste your time and money doing fashion shows. You should use that money to invest in wholesale trade shows. A trade show is where you will make all of your money.
QUESTION: DO I NEED MANY GOOD BLOCKS/SLOPERS IN PATTERN DRAFTING?
Answer: 100% YES! Every new fashion graduate should have at least 25 completed perfect pattern blocks/slopers when they leave school. If the fashion graduate does not have 25 completed blocks/slopers, she/he will have a difficult and challenging career. Completed pattern blocks/slopers are a designer’s lifeline. They are their bread and butter when it comes to generating income. These days, every designer needs many good blocks/slopers to create a well-fitted and designed garment for their future clients and to become successful in their chosen niche.
QUESTION: HOW ACCURATE IS THE GERBER CAD VS. MANUAL FLAT PATTERN DRAFTING?
Answer: Unfortunately, the Gerber CAD is only 75% to 80% accurate most of the time, but not all the time. The CAD software runs into many problems calibrating if there are many variables involving stretches, eases, asymmetry, intricate cuts and styling in the design. The Gerber CAD is most effective when used in simple basic design with straight line and basic contour shaping. Therefore, if you want your pattern to be perfect in the first draft, use the manual flat pattern technique to achieve accuracy and perfection. All commercial pattern companies use CAD software to create all of the patterns that you purchase from fabric stores, which is why many sewers complain that commercial patterns do not always match up when they try to stitch garments together.
QUESTION: DOES VSC TEACH ABOUT TECH PACK, SAMPLINGS AND OVERSEAS PRODUCTION?
Answer: Yes, we do teach our clients how to prepare Tech Pack, samplings and overseas production. In fact, VSC is the only Canadian fashion resource centre that has all of the manufacturer contacts from South East Asia. We can help you to connect with the right suppliers and garment manufacturers overseas.
