Self-Taught or Fashion Degree?

A reflection on my journey so far

Over the past ten years, I’ve taught myself to sew, make patterns and create my own business. I didn’t initially plan for it to become my career. But over time, it did. I first said to myself that I would never teach others how to sew, and now here I am with hundreds of students and an entire online sewing school.

Now, after almost a decade of working as a self-taught dressmaker, I’ve started something completely new: studying a Bachelor of Fashion Design.

So lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the question I get asked all the time:
“Do you really need a fashion degree, or can you learn it all yourself?”

My self-taught years

In a lot of ways, I’m incredibly grateful for the path I’ve taken. Being self-taught meant I could learn on my own terms. I followed my interests and worked with real people and real bodies, solving problems with my hands and intuition. I made things up as I went, tested ideas, and got better the hard way - through experience.

I didn’t have a teacher looking over my shoulder or marking my work. I had clients, students, and patterns that didn’t quite fit. I had late nights in the studio, moments of doubt and breakthroughs that made it all worth it. And somehow, over time, it turned into a business. A school. A community.

But there were things I didn’t know that I didn’t know.
I could make a garment beautifully, but I didn’t always have the language to explain why it worked - or why something didn’t. I knew how to draft patterns by hand, but not with software. And I felt the limits of learning alone. Working alone.

Why I chose to go to university now

I’m not going to lie, it felt strange applying for uni as a mature-aged student. I already had a business, I’d taught hundreds of students, and yet, I still feel drawn to take it even further.

Part of me just wanted to know: what would happen if I gave myself permission to be a student again?

I want structure. Mentorship. The chance to dive deeper into design, concepts and not just construction. And honestly, I wanted to challenge myself creatively in ways I hadn’t before.

I’m only at the beginning of this chapter, but so far, it’s already changing the way I think. (I'm already digging into the readings for my first few classes, lol) There’s something really powerful about going back to the basics with fresh eyes, especially when you’re surrounded by people all learning and experimenting alongside you.

So… which is better?

I don’t think one path is better than the other. They’re just different.
Being self-taught taught me resilience, creativity, and independence. It's the way I needed to be for a long time because it suited my life at the time. Studying formally is going to teach me design theory, industry language, and new ways of thinking about fashion.

For me, combining both is what makes this next part of my journey so exciting.

If you’re standing at the start of your journey wondering which way to go, I want to say this:

You don’t have to have it all figured out. And your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s, not even mine. Start where you are. Follow what tweaks your curiosity. Learn as much as you can from wherever you are right now.

And if, one day, you feel ready to take that next step - whether that’s enrolling in a course, starting your own business, or just learning one new skill - know that it all counts. Every stitch, every mistake, every little win, it’s all part of your story.

Thanks for being here while I share mine.

Andi xoxo