About Us

Fashion Education for the Nation

Portland Fashion Institute was founded in 2002 as Portland Sewing with a beginning sewing class for just four students. Now, PFI offers beginner, intermediate and advanced sewing classes as well as three certificate programs in apparel business.

Our graduates have gone on to do beautiful things. They hold executive positions at apparel manufacturers, compete (and win) at the highest level, and run their own thriving businesses. They fuel the fashion industry in Portland and around the world.

PFI courses can help you become industry proficient in clothing design, patternmaking, construction, manufacturing and production. All of our teachers work in apparel and are well-versed in current techniques. We are apparel people teaching apparel people. We welcome you to join us!

Portland's Only Fashion Design School

PFI is accredited by the Accreding Council for Connuing Educaon and Training (ACCET), a statement that the school’s teaching and programs meet rigorous educaonal standards. Accreditaon means PFI can soon offer financial aid and grants to its enrolled cerficate career students. PFI also can accept 529 plans such as Oregon College Savings Plan funds, help foreign students with visas and pursue contracts and affiliaons with welfare, rehabilitaon, and other workforce development programs. In its evaluaon process, ACCET noted PFI’s strengths in the quality of its classes and teachers, its connecon to the Portland’s apparel companies and its graduaon and placement rates. ACCET accredits connuing educaon and training programs at more than 214 schools naonwide. It was officially recognized in 1978 by the U.S. Department of Educaon.

In 2022, PFI become a non-profit and is currently seeking 501(c)3 status. PFI’s moo remains “#schoolwithoutdebt and will connue to offer an aainable apparel educaon into the future.