Top 10 Fashion Designing Colleges in Mumbai 2025: Rankings & Fees

Mumbai’s vibrant fashion culture, bustling markets, and thriving media industry make it one of the most exciting places in India to study Fashion Designing. As the financial capital, the city attracts thousands of creative aspirants each year who dream of designing trends, styling celebrities, and launching their own labels. According to a FICCI - EY report, India’s fashion and design industry is growing at a rate of 10 - 12% annually, resulting in increased demand for skilled designers and professional training. 

Choosing the right college plays a significant role in securing internships, and gaining industry exposure. Students often explore the top fashion designing colleges in Mumbai, compare specialised fashion designing institutes in Mumbai, and seek mentors to guide their creative journey. In this blog, we’ll help you shortlist the best fashion designing colleges in Mumbai based on learning quality, exposure, and career opportunities.

Why Choose Mumbai for Your Fashion Designing?

Studying fashion design in Mumbai gives you an experience that goes far beyond classroom learning. The city is home to fashion houses, modeling agencies, textile markets, designer studios, and media production units, meaning you’re constantly surrounded by creativity and business together.

One of the biggest fashion designing in Mumbai benefits is the chance to intern with real designers, assist on photoshoots, or work backstage at fashion shows while still studying. You’ll find endless fashion designing opportunities in Mumbai through celebrity stylists, costume designers, and boutique brands that regularly seek fresh talent.

You can also network effortlessly:

• Trend exhibitions
• Flea markets
• Design conclaves
• Fashion week events

These interactions connect you with photographers, stylists, merchandisers, and influencers. College fests are often sponsored by brands, providing students with a platform to showcase their collections and styling work.

So, why study fashion designing in Mumbai?

Because the city pushes you to think bigger, stay updated with trends, and build a portfolio rooted in real industry experience. It’s fast, exciting, and perfect for anyone ready to turn creativity into a career.

Top 10 Fashion Designing Colleges in Mumbai (With Key Highlights)

Mumbai is home to some of the best design schools in Mumbai, blending creativity, industry exposure, and hands-on learning like no other city. With film, media, textile, and fashion markets, brand showrooms, and couture houses all around, students gain real access to the fashion world while studying.

If you’re exploring the top 10 fashion designing colleges in Mumbai, the curated list below will help you compare programmes, placements, culture, and faculty strength based on fashion designing college ranking Mumbai insights.

1) ITM Institute of Design & Media, Navi Mumbai

Courses: Fashion Design, Interior Design, Visual Communication, Animation & VFX, UX Design
Placements: Strong recruiter network across media, retail brands, apparel houses, and design studios. Internship-to-placement conversion is consistently high.
Unique Features:

• Portfolio mentorship
• Hands-on garment labs
• International designer workshops
• Annual fashion shows

Why It Stands Out: Known for practical training, trend research, styling projects, and strong recruiter confidence, students build portfolios that feel industry-ready, not just academic.

2) NIFT, Mumbai

Courses: Fashion Design, Textile Design, Communication, Apparel Production
Placements: Strong recruitment from apparel giants, export houses, and luxury brands
Unique Features: Global exchange, design internships, Bollywood alumni network

3) Pearl Academy, Mumbai

Courses: Fashion Styling, Fashion Design, Luxury Brand Management
Placements: Good track record with Myntra, H&M, Future Group
Unique Features: Trend labs, portfolio reviews, internship clinics

4) Raffles Design International

Courses: Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing
Placements: Domestic + international internship opportunities
Unique Features: Singapore-based pedagogy, visiting global faculty

5) Sophia Polytechnic

Courses: Fashion Technique & Design, Textile Design
Placements: Export houses and production houses
Unique Features: Handcrafted focus, sustainable fashion orientation

6) SNDT Women’s University

Courses: Fashion Communication, Apparel Design, Textile Science
Placements: Textile companies, merchandising roles
Unique Features: Research-driven coursework, women-centric academic culture

7) INIFD

Courses: Fashion Design, Styling, Interior
Placements: Styling agencies, boutique brands, production houses
Unique Features: Lakmé Fashion Week tie-ups, celebrity stylist mentors

8) Whistling Woods International

Courses: Fashion & Costume Design
Placements: Excellent visibility in film and media styling
Unique Features: Bollywood studio collaborations, wardrobe labs

9) Garware Institute (Mumbai University)

Courses: Fashion Design, Apparel Merchandising
Placements: Buying houses, retail agencies
Unique Features: Practical merchandising training, field visits

10) VLCC Institute

Courses: Fashion CAD, Boutique Management
Placements: Freelancing + boutique roles
Unique Features: Skill-based learning, short-term certifications

How to Shortlist

• Check portfolio-building support
• Compare internship tie-ups
• Review alumni portfolios
• Evaluate participation in fashion shows
• Ask about styling/photoshoot exposure

For balanced academic and industry contact, ITM Institute of Design & Media, Navi Mumbai stands out across Mumbai’s design landscape.

ITM Institute of Design & Media, Mumbai  - A Leading Choice

With over 30 years of academic legacy, the ITM institute of design & media Mumbai has established itself as a trusted name in creative education. Students describe the campus atmosphere as buzzing - workshops full of sketches, textiles, and prototypes, studio corners lit with mood boards, and peers collaborating for runway looks.

The ITM fashion designing courses are structured to teach:

• Garment construction
• Styling & draping
• Trend forecasting
• Visual merchandising
• Textile science
• Branding & fashion communication

The curriculum is industry-linked and updated with feedback from designers, merchandising heads, and retail leaders. International partnerships keep learners connected to global trends and sustainable fashion practices.

Placements at ITM

Top recruiters include:

• Zara
• H&M
• Raymond
• Reliance Retail
• Myntra
• Film & media styling teams

Competitive packages, strong portfolio training, and live project experience drive itm fashion designing placements year after year.

Student Life

Expect:

• Annual fashion shows
• Portfolio showcases
• Photoshoot assignments
• Styling battles
• Design competitions

Campus culture encourages collaboration across design disciplines, helping students develop teamwork skills critical in industry.

Admission is merit-based and requires meeting ITM fashion designing eligibility norms, including creative evaluation and interviews.

For fashion aspirants wanting industry-ready exposure, ITM offers the perfect launchpad to shine.

Admission Process for Fashion Designing Colleges in Mumbai

Understanding the fashion designing admission process Mumbai becomes simple when broken down:

Step-by-Step

1. Complete Class 12 (any stream)
2. Meet the minimum percentage requirement
3. Appear for entrance tests
4. Submit a portfolio (optional but helpful)
5. Participate in interviews or creative rounds
6. Secure admission + pay fees

Common fashion designing entrance exams Mumbai

• NIFT Entrance
• NPAT
• UID
• College-level creative tests

Required documents

• Mark sheets
• ID proof
• Passport photographs
• Certificates (if any)

Tip: Build a portfolio early - sketches, mood boards, DIY garment ideas - it improves selection odds.

Track deadlines because seats at reputed colleges fill fast.

Fashion Designing Program Structure Offered by Mumbai Colleges

A typical fashion designing course in Mumbai lasts 3 - 4 years and is divided into foundation, specialization, and industry-exposure stages.

Foundation Modules

• Design principles
• Colour theory
• Garment construction basics
• Textile studies

Advanced Subjects

• Pattern making
• Draping techniques
• Fashion illustration
• Visual merchandising
• Luxury fashion studies

By the third year, the fashion designing program in Mumbai becomes project-oriented with:

• Runway presentations
• Photoshoot styling
• Market visits
• Sustainability workshops

Students also learn CAD tools like:

• Adobe Photoshop
• CLO-3D
• Illustrator
• Fashion CAD

Graduation concludes with a portfolio and a ramp showcase, which helps students secure internships and jobs.

List of Top 10 Fashion Designing Colleges in Mumbai with Fees Structure

Understanding fashion designing fees in Mumbai is essential while planning your education budget. Fees vary based on infrastructure, labs, faculty experience, industry exposure, and portfolio support. Below is a quick fashion designing college fees comparison to help you evaluate the top options:

For students seeking affordable fashion designing colleges in Mumbai, compare ROI, portfolio mentoring, and placement support - because long-term career outcomes matter more than fees alone.

Placement Opportunities in Mumbai Fashion Designing Colleges

When it comes to fashion designing placements in Mumbai, opportunities flourish because the city itself is a fashion ecosystem.

Top recruiters in fashion designing

• Zara
• Shoppers Stop
• Pantaloons
• Myntra
• Vogue teams
• H&M
• Lakmé Fashion Week departments
• Raymond

Students get hired for roles like:

• Fashion stylist
• Visual merchandiser
• Product developer
• Costume designer
• Trend analyst

Internships often convert into full-time roles - especially during fashion weeks.

The average fashion designing salary Mumbai ranges between:
₹3 - –8 LPA depending on portfolio strength, specialization, and college brand.

How to Choose the Right Fashion Designing College in Mumbai

Choosing the right institute can be confusing. Here’s how to simplify your fashion designing college comparison:

Check:

• Accreditation
• Faculty industry experience
• Portfolio mentorship
• Internship tie-ups
• Alumni portfolios
• CAD lab availability
• Runway showcase opportunities

Visit campuses

Campus energy matters. Talk to current learners.

Red flags:

• Outdated curriculum
• No styling exposure
• Weak portfolio reviews

Follow these best fashion designing college selection tips and choose colleges that nurture vision, creativity, confidence, and industry readiness.

Conclusion: Pursue Your Fashion Designing Dream in Mumbai with ITM

Mumbai offers the perfect blend of culture, creativity, and opportunity for aspiring designers. With fashion shows, media houses, textile hubs, and styling studios around every corner, learning becomes a daily experience.

Studying fashion designing in Mumbai with ITM gives you access to industry mentors, modern labs, and project-based learning. Students appreciate itm fashion designing advantages like portfolio grooming, internships, photoshoots, and styling workshops.

If you’re ready to turn your design dream into reality, explore itm institute of design & media admissions today and begin your creative journey.

Visit ITM.edu to learn more.

FAQs on Top Fashion Designing Colleges in Mumbai

Which are the top Fashion Designing colleges in Mumbai?

NIFT, ITM Institute of Design & Media, Pearl Academy, Sophia Polytechnic, and INIFD are strong options.

What eligibility is required for Fashion Designing admissions?

Most institutes require a Class 12 degree and a basic creative evaluation; some also conduct aptitude tests.

Do Mumbai colleges offer good placements?

Yes! Many colleges partner with designers, retail brands, styling agencies, and media studios.

Are Fashion Designing fees expensive in Mumbai?

Fees vary based on exposure, labs, faculty, and brand value; - compare ROI carefully.

Is a portfolio important for admission?

Absolutely. Sketches, concepts, and garment ideas help showcase creative potential.