Classes + Course Requirements

KCAI’s fiber arts classes cover a broad range of traditional and experimental practices in a variety of textile-related areas that are unique to the U.S.

1st year

Your journey starts in the Foundation program where you will explore new techniques and find passions that you never knew you had.

2nd year

  • Intro to Surface & Color
  • Textile Construction: Weaving
  • Fiber Properties
  • Basic Sewn Construction

3rd year

  • Hand Construction & Digital Tools
  • Advanced Textile Processes

4th year

  • Senior Fiber/Textiles
  • Senior Thesis Seminar
  • Professional Practice

"The quality education that I received at KCAI has allowed me to work in the arts. It has opened a lot of doors for me.”

Lexie Millikan (‘15 Fiber)

Lecturers

Emily Chase
Rebecca Vaughan

Fiber Wharehouse

The Warehouse

The 10,000 sq. foot Warehouse, located a block from campus, provides students with one of the best-equipped fiber programs in the nation. The building includes a gallery, a dedicated studio for each student, and classroom space.

The equipment and facilities encompass a variety of technology including hand, mechanical, electronic, and industrial tools: including:
Multi-harness floor looms
Electronic knitting machines
CAD lab for designing woven, printed, embroidered, and knitted fabrics
State-of-the-art Jacquard loom
Fully-equipped dye lab
Surface design/silkscreen studio with custom-made print tables

Career Paths + Career Outcomes

Fiber Arts Program graduates work as Textile Designers, Fashion Designers, Wallcover Designers, Visual Merchandisers, Sustainable Production Artists, Gallery Owners, Fine Art Professors, Art Therapists, Knitwear Designers, and Arts Administrators. Alumni work for Spanks, Artists Inc, 705 Union, Asiatica, Peruvian Connection, and HBO Max.

KCAI's Professional Practice Center will help you prepare for your career.

Spend Senior Year Creating a Body of Work

Show off what you’ve learned by spending your senior year creating a body of work and then show it to to the world at the Senior thesis exhibition and the Annual BFA Exhibition at H&R Block ArtSpace and KCAI Gallery.

Fiber Alumni

Fiber Arts School alumni are leaders in their fields.

HungLe_800x1200 Hùng Lê ('22 Fiber)
NickCave-Fiber_CMYK Nick Cave (‘82 Fiber)
A+Real+Nice+Lady_Whitney+Manney764 Whitney Manney ('12 Fiber)