FIDM Library
Not your typical college library
The FIDM Library is the largest specialized fashion library in the western United States. Besides its vast collection of books, periodicals, and trade publications, the Library is noted for its Textile Division and Interior Design Workroom, both of which give students exclusive access to materials and industry resources to complete their class projects.
Books
The collection of over 2.5 million print and electronic
titles encompasses all subject areas, with emphasis
on fashion, interior design, retailing, and costumes.
Periodicals
The Library subscribes to over 160 international and
national periodicals offering the latest information on art,
design, fashion, graphics, beauty, business, and current events.
Visionaire
Visionaire is a multi-format album of fashion and art produced three to four times a year in exclusive limited editions. Each issue is hand-numbered and released as a collector’s item. A different theme each issue offers a forum for works by both famous and emerging artists, designers, personalities, and image-makers. FIDM maintains a subscription to Visionaire, and it is available for viewing in the library.
Trade Publications
The Library’s collection of trade journals, press kits, and trend reports and forecasts provides current information on the business of apparel manufacturing and design, as well as any industry-related developments.
Newspaper Clipping Files
The Library searches and clips newspaper articles relating to FIDM’s different academic majors.
Fashion Trend Reports
The Library subscribes to various fashion, interior, and
graphics forecasting services that predict trends in color,
fabric, and silhouette up to 18 months in advance of the
season, as well as showcasing current bestsellers.
Visual Presentation Materials
The Reference collection includes a selection of catalogs of
props, mannequins, store fixtures, and other visual
presentation and display materials for retail.
Vintage Collection
The Vintage Room of the Library houses 19th and 20th century fashion magazines, out-of-print books, original fashion sketches by renowned designers, and material on the California apparel industry.
Visual/Audio Media Fashion Video Division
This department features well over 4,000 videos, DVDs, slides, audiotapes, CD-ROMs, film strips, and transparencies. Most popular are the current collection of influential fashion designers featured in a video magazine format.
Textile Division
This extensive division of the Library offers draping forms, fabric swatches, examples of trimmings and findings, 3-yard cuts for draping practice, and fabric and trim samples for student projects.
Interior Design Workroom
An unparalleled resource, the Workroom contains a sample collection of wall coverings, window treatments, flooring, and upholstery. All materials are available for students to use in their projects. The samples are updated regularly to provide current source material.
The Library also serves the information needs of non-FIDM students, educators, scholars, researchers, industry, and press. The Library staff welcomes inquiries by mail, phone, fax, e-mail, and in person. Please contact the Library at 213-624-1200 ext. 3361 to make an appointment.
