The School of Fashion Design, founded in 2023 upon the previous Department of Fashion and Textile Design, has its earliest foundation dating back to the year of 1928 when the Department of Patterns was established in China Academy of Art (CAA) as one of the earliest departments launching undergraduate, master and doctoral education. In the 1950s, the Department of Dyeing and Weaving was set up under the School of Crafts. Based on such a solid foundation, the Department of Fashion and Textile Design was formally founded in 1996, rapidly developing into one of the few first-class, high-level programs in China that provides professional talent training for graduate students majoring in dyeing, weaving and fashion design.

Based on the mentality of establishing a Fashion Ecosystem, the School of Fashion Design focuses on interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional innovation, aiming to cultivate designers with critical thinking, interdisciplinary innovation, global vision and social responsibility. The subject-based teaching for undergraduates, masters and doctoral students centers on the interdependence of Fashion Design Ecosystem to build a featured, high-end industrial chain and recognizable brands amid the industrial transformation and upgrading, leading the new direction of domestic fashion design education. Guided by the fundamental mission of reviving oriental culture, the School also pays attention to the frontier development of design based on research on Sustainable Development and Local Oriental Discourse system, and integrates them into the industry in real time. Through the cross-integration of design, management and technology, the School provides undergraduates, masters and doctoral students with a personalized, market-oriented and systematic education curriculum.

The School of Fashion Design is equipped with a strong faculty, and among the in-service teachers is one national Thousand Talents Program professional, one State Council Special Allowance expert, three third-level awardees of New Century 151 Talents in Zhejiang Province, and one Young and Middle-aged Academic Leader in Colleges and Universities in Zhejiang Province. In addition, many teachers have won honors such as National Outstanding Teachers, Young and Middle-aged Experts with Outstanding Contributions in Zhejiang Province, Young and Middle-aged Literary and Artistic Practitioners with Virtue and Art in Zhejiang Province, Five Groups Talents of Zhejiang Publicity and Culture System, Zhejiang Famous Teachers, etc. In recent years, the faculties have led the completion of major research projects including those funded by the National Social Science Fund of China (for art), and led or participated in large-scale national construction projects, such as the carpet design of the China Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo, the costume design of volunteers at the G20 Summit, the design of floats at the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC, the design of formal wear for the Asian Games in 2023, etc. Numerous works created by faculties have been awarded in top exhibitions and competitions at home and abroad, such as the National Art Exhibition and the International Creative Pattern Design Competition.