This study started with the need for transition to competency-based education as well as the witness of fast changes in fashion industry's job environment. The goals of this study were (1) to explore fashion designers' competencies that are necessary for a successful careers in global fashion industry, and (2) to establish fashion designer competency model. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 15 participants who have charged for design department and moreover have shown high performance in national, licence or designer brands in Korea fashion industry. Grounded theory was adopted to analyze data. As a result of analysis, the 4 core competencies emerged: problem-solving, research, inter-personal, and self-development. Each core competency has sub-competencies. Creativity, commerciality, control, decision making were sub-competencies for the problem-solving competency. Information management, innovation understanding & application, trend analysis & forecasting were sub-competencies for the research competency. Consumer, inside company, and outside company relationships were sub-competencies for the inter-personal competency. Self-awareness, self-management, expertise were sub-competencies for the self-development competency. In order to acquire these competencies, knowledge (academic, practical, multi-discipline), skills (sense, analysis, synthesis, communication), and attitude (interest, enjoyment, perseverance, personality) were essential. Based on these findings, implications for university fashion design education and further research areas were suggested.