Pratt Institute

New York, United States

Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York, and another campus in Manhattan. It is known for its programmes in architecture, graphic design, interior design, industrial design and fine arts, and it has a fashion design department.

About the school

Pratt was founded in 1887 by Charles Pratt, an American industrialist and oil businessman, with programmes primarily in engineering, architecture and fine arts. It now comprises six schools. Its early courses for women included home economics and fashion.

Fashion

Pratt offers a BFA in Fashion Design, with a textiles minor. Its catalog describes fashion design education at Pratt as interdisciplinary, with the study of fashion crossing over with art and design disciplines and grounded in visual and material studies. The department is part of the School of Design and presents an annual runway show, Pratt Shows: Fashion.

Notable fashion alumni

Laura Kim (BFA Fashion Design, 2004), co-creative director of Oscar de la Renta and Monse at the time, was honoured with a Pratt Fashion Visionary Award in 2017. Sophie Andes-Gascon and Claire McKinney (both BFA Fashion Design ’15) were included in The New York Times Style Magazine’s article on emerging designers, according to Pratt. Betsey Johnson also studied at Pratt before graduating from Syracuse University.

Recognition

In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, Pratt Institute was 7th in the world for Art & Design. QS ranks institutions as a whole, so this is not a fashion-specific ranking. Pratt also says it was listed among the best fashion schools in the US by Vogue.

At a glance

Founded
1887

Location
Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York

Type
Private university

Fashion
BFA in Fashion Design

Visit official site ↗

Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org); Pratt catalog, Fashion Design (catalog.pratt.edu); Pratt news, Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia honoured (pratt.edu); Pratt Daily Hub, Andes-Gascon and McKinney (pratt.edu); Pratt Daily Hub, Vogue listing (pratt.edu); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org); QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Art & Design (topuniversities.com). Details can change, so check with the school before applying.

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