Textiles (MFA)

Program Overview

Parsons' MFA Textiles program cultivates a community of textile makers, designers, and scholars dedicated to exploring and creating innovative textiles across various disciplines. Led by renowned faculty, the rigorous curriculum empowers students to develop their unique creativity, authenticity, and expertise in textiles, preparing them for diverse career opportunities in fields ranging from fashion design to healthcare and beyond.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The MFA Textiles program at Parsons is a community of makers, designers, and scholars exploring and creating textiles—from locally crafted materials to 3D knitted matter to hand-embellished fabrics—and introducing innovation in textile-based industries and theory. You investigate these dynamics, dissolving the boundaries between technology and craft. In the process, you prepare for the growing array of creative and professional opportunities related to textiles in fashion design, product design, interior design, textiles research, set design, fine arts, architecture, and hybrid fields.

Teaching:

Textiles faculty represent a broad range of expertise and are acknowledged as leading practitioners and scholars in their fields. They are committed to developing the next generation of textile designers and innovating new approaches to textile production — keeping in mind issues of sustainability, health, emotional wellbeing, and socio-cultural responsibility.

Careers:

Graduates are prepared to take on roles ranging from textile design for fashion, interiors, and theater to ubiquitous computing, automotive design, acoustic design, healthcare, and consulting. They explore opportunities to reimagine textile production and design businesses, lend studio skills to companies, launch a business as an independent designer, fiber artist, or pursue advanced studies.

Other:

The rigorous studio-based curriculum spans foundational textile knowledge, exploratory textile making, and critical, scholarly approaches to textiles. While valuing humanity and the environment through conscious making and innovation, you learn to harness the power of textiles to raise awareness and transform art and industry.