Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Made Institute a real school?- Yes! We are licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education State Board of Private Licensed Schools.
Does Made Institute offer a degree?- No. While we are a Private Licensed School, Made Institute is not accredited. We have found that many of our students are not looking for a degree, but rather an expedited education that will get them closer to their fashion design goals more quickly. Upon completion of the Designer Development Program, students will receive a certificate in addition to the opportunity to launch their collections in our annual fashion shows with Philly Fashion Week.
All kids and teens, membership, workshops, masterclasses and Jump Start programming is not governed by the Board of Private Licensed Schools.
Designer Development Program
Does Made Institute offer financial aid?- No. Because we are not accredited, we are not eligible for financial aid. We have tried to keep the tuition as low as possible, while still providing an amazing environment for our teachers, students, and community to learn in. Most of our students take out small personal loans with their banks, family, or pay out of savings.
We do offer a payment plan which breaks the total tuition into 2 or 3 payments, which we hope will make the payments approachable for our students. Ideally we'd like to see you leave Made debt free, and ready to begin your career. See the "Tuition" tab for more details.
What will I gain from taking the Designer Development Program?- Our classes are specifically focused on giving our students a well rounded, technically excellent, and industry relevant education. We specialize in helping aspiring fashion design entrepreneurs launch successful fashion businesses of their own. Through community building, networking events, and one on one mentoring, students will gain access to the competitive fashion world in Philadelphia, NYC, and beyond.
Upon completion of the Designer Development Program students will have professional portfolios, logos, websites, social media platforms, and will be eligible to show their completed capsule collections in our annual fashion show in partnership with Philly Fashion Week.
What if I only want to take a beginner sewing or drawing class?- Not interested in taking all of the courses in the Designer Development Program? No problem! Take any of our courses a-la-carte when they're offered. We have all of our classes listed under "Certificate Classes" so you can pick and choose which classes are most relevant to you.
What if I don't know how to sew or draw?- We actually prefer beginners in all of our level 1 courses. We specialize in getting total beginners to a very high level quickly and painlessly :)
Do I need to bring a sewing machine to class?-No, we provide all the machinery you will need in class. You will need a machine at home for homework. We recommend the Singer Heavy Duty 4411.
How much homework will I have?- This will vary depending on how many classes you're taking at once. If you are enrolled in the program, you can expect 4-6 hrs of homework per week in addition to class time. Remember, practice makes perfect!
How many times per week do we have classes?-
Daytime and Evening - Each class we offer is held 1x per week for 6-8 weeks (depending on class). If you are enrolled in the program you can expect to be at the studio 2-3 times per week, totaling 6-9 hrs per week. Additional time will be spent on homework.
Will I be able to get a job after taking your classes?- Yes! If you excel in our classes, and have great attendance, we can recommend students for jobs in retail, fashion design, graphic design, styling, tailoring, garment construction, and even costume construction.
I have a full time job, can I still make it to my classes?- We offer classes on nights (6:30-9:30pm) and weekends to accommodate most 9-5 work schedules. We do ask you to allow enough time for homework in addition to the in-class hours required.
Memberships
What is a membership?- We offer memberships to our graduates and anyone from the design community to use our space and machinery for their continued needs. We understand how expensive studio space and equipment can be. Take advantage of 3 levels of membership depending on your specific needs.
Sewing Classes
What is the minimum age requirement to take Sewing classes? - Students should be a minimum of 13 years old to take the in-studio Sewing classes.
Do I need to bring a sewing machine to class?-No, we provide all the machinery you will need in class. You will need a machine at home for homework. We recommend the Singer Heavy Duty 4411.
Can I pay with PayPal Buy Now Pay Later?
Yes, when you select to use your PayPal account at checkout, you will be redirected to PayPal wallet, where Pay in 4 is offered as a payment option if it's available for your account. If you are not eligible, try checking out with Affirm instead.
I want to take a class, but I have accessibility needs. What should I do?
Please email info@made-institute.com about your accessibility needs and we will respond within 48 business hours. Made Institute is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible space.
Online Courses
Who should take these courses? - We've created these online courses for aspiring fashion designers, sewing/design hobbyists, and dabblers looking to gain some new skills. We offer courses for all levels and welcome beginners to our community.
What tools/equipment do I need? - We recommend that students have a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer, as well as a smart phone to upload photos of their weekly classwork and homework assignments. Additional course specific supply lists will be provided with each course.
What will my schedule look like for the Certificate courses? - Our certificate courses will have a weekly drip schedule that will release that week's lessons, classwork submission prompts, and homework submission prompts. Students will then have access to weekly live office hours via Google Hangouts to speak with their instructor for questions and real-time feedback. Students will be expected to submit their assignments by midnight the evening before the next lesson release.
What will my schedule look like for Hobbyist projects and workshops? - Once you purchase our online workshops and hobbyist projects, your schedule is your own. You will not receive a grade, so you can complete each project at your leisure.
Will I receive a grade for taking a course? - Only students taking our Certificate Courses will receive grades. Passing grades will count towards Made Institute's Designer Development Program. Upon completion of the Certificate Courses, students will receive a Certificate of Completion via their online portal.
How long will I have access to the course materials? - Our Certificate Courses enrollment last for 90 days from the start date, check the course page for more details. You will have access to the lessons through on-demand videos and weekly live sessions. Our hobbyist projects and workshops will be available for 1 year from the day you sign up.
Registration is easy! Click on the course you want to take, register/create your account and purchase the course. You will receive a welcome email with specific supplies and extra info!
What is the Refund Policy?
Individual classes (Studio classes, Workshops, Masterclasses, Made Jr Club + Camp, Online Classes, Bundles):
100% refund will be given if you need to cancel your order up until the original registration deadline.
50% refund will be given if you need to after the original registration deadline has passed, but before the first day of class.
0% refund will be given if you cancel on or after the first day of class.
Memberships:
No refunds will be issued for our memberships.
Jump Start:
You will have 24 hours to decide if Jump Start is right for you. We do not issue refunds after that point, and we do not offer the option of partial enrollment. This course is perfect for creatives looking to commit to reaching the next phase in the fashion business.
Store, Sewing supplies + Made Merch:
No refunds will be issued for items bought via our online or in studio store.
Refunds by credit card should take 5-7 business days.
To request a refund email: info@made-institute.com
Still need a little more info?
Email us at info@made-institute.com
Read our Reviews!
“I loved how I could express all of my creativity throughout different parts of the course. Especially in the final project!” - Online Student
“Having an accessible instructor really helped me in this area. She helped me adjust my croquis to fit my drawing style!” - Online Student
“This was a great tool to learn how to draw and break down illustration in a way that was easy to understand and quickly came to life as sketches.” - Online Student
