How can I get out of the "working with dead animal skin" class requirement?

[Dia7]

:hi: I think I'm going to a fashion design school in the fall and one of the class requirements is a class soley on working with animal skins. Will I be able to get out of this? Should I write a letter to the head of the dept before I take the class asking if I can use synthetic materials in place of skins?

Thanks guys.

[epski]

I think that's a good idea. Remind them that Stella McCartney doesn't use animal skins.

http://www.stellamccartney.com/

Good luck!

[EquiPro]

To which school are you going? Are you already accepted?

If you are going to an elite school, I wouldn't raise the issue until I already had some time under my belt, especially if you haven't been accepted yet.

After you have been in the school for a little bit, you will know your student advisor as well as many of the professors. This course probably isn't a first year course, so you have little time. When the times comes to take the class, discuss your situation with your advisor and, perhaps, the professor.

If it is a requirement without which they will not allow you to graduate, and if they are a more elite school (they are often more fussy about these things because the think so much of themselves - trust me, I know), you may be stuck.

I wouldn't get into it until you have figured out how things work there and who your friends are.

[epski]

I wonder who Stella apprenticed for. Maybe you could apprentice with her...

[VeggiTash]

Oh how awful. Why don't people realise that animals aren't fabric??

Remember you don't have to do anything you don't want to. No-one can force your hands to thread a needle and sew together bits of animal hide! Hopefully they'll respect your opinions :)

Good luck!

[pearlofgaia]

There are more fashion designers that will not use fur... perhaps arm yourself with a list, Stella McCartney is a VERY good start.
Perhaps they can allow you to use fake fur in the class (I consider that to be a choice alternative, perhaps they don't have you really working on real animal skins a lot at all, since that could be expensive...

[Dia7]

I'm going to Kent State's Fashion School for my BFA in fashion.