"Fashion
is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the
sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live,
what is happening."
- Coco Chanel
So you want to be a designer. You like flipping through the glossy magazines, the latest Vogue. What you see in those print ads is so much more than expensive shoes or the latest fashion trend. You see a career. A design made from a thought and made into something of reality using cloth, some thread and perseverance. So what does it take to get into this industry anyway? And what kind of jobs are the hot jobs in the fashion world?
Fashion Designer
Fashion designers work within a certain area of the industry. The top choices are haute-couture (high end market), designer ready-to-wear and high-street fashion. Many designers choose a specialization for whom their designs are made for, say men's clothing, women's dresses etc.
There is a lot of opportunity to show of your creative capacity within this career. You may decide to be a freelance designer, or become self-employed. You may also work for a high-street store, or sell your designs to other companies.
What this career involves- Producing concept boards
- Analyzing trends in fabric, colours, shapes etc.
- Sample garments: making of them, developing pattern, etc.
- Estimating cost of production
- Relations with suppliers, sourcing their involvement
- Overseas travel
- Runway shows
- There are many deadlines, you must work well under pressure
- Good eye for fashion - colour, texture, shape
- Know how fabrics react, how they complement the body
- Enthusiasm
- Logistics
- Able to spot developing trends
- Able to take long hours
You would be employed by manufactures and higher retailers. You support the design and buying teams and have a part in the stages of product development from design to manufacture. You make sure that the most appropriate design and methods are used.
What the career involves- Advising others on designs and fabrics
- Overseeing fabric testing and fittings
- Looking over budgets
- Product questions and communication
- Seeing when there are faults in the product and why
- Having a critical eye
- An eye for detail as well as shape, texture etc.
- A very good sense of textile and how it works
- Your hours can increase during busy times, so be aware
- While working abroad, you have to make sure the collection is produced on time and is in good hands
- Footwear Designer
- Handcraft Tailor
- Pattern-cutter
- Pattern-Grader
- Production Manager
- Sample Machinist
Companies will employ and hire graduates that have relevant degrees. This means that you should look for courses that have something to do with technical skills or design in particular. Work experience is also something that you should look into. Make sure that you are always keeping your portfolio in mind.
Keep track of your projects or things you've created. This will become a great help to you when you're applying for jobs. Also, make sure to keep some actual garments that you've produced. It's great to bring these along as samples.
Qualifications for fashion jobs take a mixture of experience, skills as well as education as far as the industry goes. Courses and relevant degrees are offered in many places and at tons of institutions. UK higher education institutions tend to be the most highly sought schools, Domus in Milan is highly regarded as one of the world's best to study at.
Specialized degree courses that focus on different subjects and design concepts may also help you to focus your trade. Keep in mind also the transferable skills you will need to communicate when applying for jobs…
- Time Management
- Knowledge of garment technology
- Research into the trends, fads
- Production management
- Communication skills
- Commercial Awareness
"Best of luck in the Fashion Industry!"
Photo 1 by wolfiewolf
Photo 2 by Looking Glass
Photo 3 by Peter Dohun
