Fashion Careers College was started in 1979 by Patricia O’Connor, who saw a need in the fashion industry for trained employees. After contacting numerous industry employers who encouraged her, she opened the college with 60 students in a Fashion Merchandising Diploma program.

In 27 years, the college has grown to offer specialized associate degrees and certificates in Fashion Business and Technology and in Fashion Design and Technology. The college has successfully graduated thousands of students into the fashion industry, who have been a consistent source of further employment for future grads.

The college is a “fashion only” college and the first and oldest of its kind in San Diego, said Andrew Bisaha, CFO and vice president of the college.

The students create an evening of glamour for the San Diego fashion industry through their presentation of the Golden Hanger Fashion Show and Awards Gala. This event will take place this year at the Town and Country Resort on Friday, Oct. 27, and will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The show debuts the fashion design students’ collections and is produced by the fashion business students. For more information and tickets, contact the college.

Bisaha has lived in San Diego since 1981 and has been with FCC since 1986. He lives with his domestic partner, Jared Ivy, who owns Salon Edera in Encinitas, and the couple has three dogs.

Bisaha, who was a volunteer at Mama’s Kitchen for five years and was a member of Project Lifeguard and of the Buddy Program, said he believes the gay community is a vital part of the fashion industry. He has been instrumental in creating FCC’s scholarship program for the GLBT community. Anyone interested in applying for a GLBT scholarship should contact Bisaha at FCC.