How to become A Fashion Designer

They design dreams; they create original clothing, accessories, and footwear, which encourage people to dress how they wish to be addressed; they present their clients with attractive options without dictating taste...they are Fashion Designers!

• Apparel Fashion Designer
• Clothing Designer
• Clothing Fashion Designer
• Accessory Fashion Designer

What do Fashion Designers do?

A Fashion Designer would typically need to:

• Study Fashion trends, anticipate designs that will appeal to consumers, then decide on a theme for a collection and create it, while deriving inspiration from their regular surroundings, the cultures they have experienced, places they have visited, and various art media
• Sketch designs manually or use computer-aided design (CAD) programs to present design ideas to the creative director
• Visit manufacturers or trade shows to get fabric samples, and select fabrics, patterns, embellishments, colors, and style for each garment or accessory
• Work with other Fashion Designers or team members to create prototypes of design pieces with less expensive material than will be used in the final product and possibly showcase the pieces in Fashion and trade shows
• Adjust designs as needed and oversee their final production before marketing them to clothing retailers or directly to consumers

Most Fashion Designers work in larger cities. The working environment varies between companies and can range from a Victorian-style factory to a modern purpose-built office or a small design studio. Freelance Fashion Designers may work from home or in a rented studio. Travel within the working day, overnight absence from home, and overseas work are occasionally needed. There is scope for a trip abroad to attend trade shows or to meet suppliers. Smart casual in blacks and whites seems to be the preferred dress code among Fashion Designers.

Fashion Designers employed on a salaried basis usually work between eight to ten hours daily in a standard five-day week. Extra hours are likely during seasonal peaks and deadline pressures. Those who freelance generally work under a contract and tend to work longer hours and adjust their workday to their clients’ schedules and deadlines. Designers trying to establish themselves in the market need to spend a significant amount of time out of the office, networking, socializing, and publicizing their work.

Employment opportunities, permanent as well as freelance, are often secured via speculative applications and effective networking with more established Fashion Designers and companies. Recruitment agencies, specialist publications, and Fashion networks are essential sources of contacts and vacancies. Some Fashion Designers find work with their counterparts based in other countries.

Fashion Designers are generally employed by:

• Wholesale or Manufacturing Establishments
• Apparel Companies
• Retailers
• Theater or Dance Companies
• Design Firms

Professional associations and organizations are a crucial resource for those interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications as a Fashion Designer.

• Decrease in traditional ways of shopping that is at physical retail stores, because of digital technology and online ordering trends
• Lack of innovation, poor marketing, and price competition compounded by insufficient business acumen, unreliable manufacturers, and design copycats
• Staying current by adapting to trends as well as consumers and their needs while maintaining sustainable practices and social responsibilities
• Stress due to the pressure of deadlines and intrusion on private life due to unsocial and long work hours

To sharpen the skills needed to execute a design from an idea to the finished product, students need to participate in an internship program with a design firm, clothing manufacturer, or personal stylist. You can gain experience by volunteering as an Assistant Designer for a Fashion house.

You have to create a portfolio, demonstrating your skills and creative sensibilities to showcase your talent as a Fashion Designer to potential employers. Students can fill their portfolio with the projects which showcase their designs. They need to treat every assignment as if they were going to show their work to a future boss. Students studying Fashion Design often have opportunities to enter their designs in student or amateur contests, helping them develop their portfolios

Pre-entry Fashion Design courses aim to give students an idea of what to expect through practical teaching and industry links. Due to the technical nature of the work, a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Fashion Technology, Fashion merchandising, textiles, fabric design, or related subjects from accredited schools would be highly preferable.

Many schools require students to have completed basic art and design courses before entering a program. Applicants usually have to submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability. Certificate programs, both traditional and online, allow students the opportunity to concentrate on a specific area of study over a shorter overall period than a degree program would require.

Voluntary certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain professional credibility, stand out in a competitive job market, increase your chances for advancement, and help you become an independent consultant. It is often seen as evidence of the Fashion Designer’s drive and motivation, giving them a leg up for raises and promotions.

Career progression of self-employed Fashion Designers is mainly dependent on the specific area of design they trained, their work experience, talent, portfolio, and reputation. You will probably begin your career as an assistant. Progression is then to a role with more creative input, involving proposing concepts and design ideas, although you are unlikely to have much influence on major decisions. It could take up to five years' related experience to secure the position of an established Fashion Designer.

Progression for salaried Fashion Designers is based on the size of the company, organizational hierarchy, location, individual’s experience, and performance. Progression may be slow, particularly at the beginning of your career. Being proactive and making contacts in the industry is essential, especially in a sector where people frequently move jobs to flourish professionally. There is a lot of pressure to produce new ideas that are commercially viable.

Typically, Fashion Designers with ten or more years of experience may opt to work independently, under exclusive arrangements with select brands, or design their own-label creations and sell them through branded stores, boutiques, or online platforms. With several years of design experience behind you, progression is possible by way of Senior Designer roles to the position of Head Designer. Technical Director and Quality Management positions represent alternative progression routes.

Fashion Designers are increasingly becoming involved in homeware and gift design, which can open up new career paths. Fashion Designers may also consider becoming self-employed or moving into related occupations such as retail buying, photography, fashion styling, and journalism.

Those with formal education in Fashion Design, excellent portfolios, and industry experience will have the best job prospects.

Fashion Designers need to keep abreast of trends by regularly reading industry journals and magazines as the fashion industry changes from season to season.

Training in the fashion world is all about gaining hands-on experience. To begin with, you may work under the supervision and guidance of an experienced professional. Some established Fashion Designers take on a selected number of interns or assistants who work with their mentors for two or more years, before branching out on their own.

The training available to a Fashion Designer depends not only on the courses taken before employment but also on the employer. Large and established clothing companies may provide more structured training programs, including rotations across different design functions and training sessions that teach people how to use specialist design software.

Several organizations offer specific training and support for setting up a Fashion business. A range of specialist short courses and one-day workshops related to Fashion are offered by accredited universities.

Categories of Fashion Designers

Fashion Designers may be categorized as Clothing Designers, Footwear Designers, Accessory Designers, and Costume Designers. They may specialize in haute couture, high street Fashion, or designer ready-to-wear Fashion. Larger apparel companies typically employ a team of Fashion Designers headed by a creative director.

Competition

Competition for Design jobs is intense throughout the industry, particularly in womenswear design. Other areas, such as children's wear and menswear, are less competitive because smaller numbers of Fashion students specialize in these areas.

Releasing Designs

The Design process may vary by specialty but generally takes six months from the initial design concept to final production when either the spring or fall collection is released. Some companies may release new designs as frequently as every month and release designs during the spring and fall.

Marketing Products

Internet and e-commerce allow Fashion Designers to offer their products outside of traditional brick-and-mortar stores. They ship directly to the consumer without having to invest in a physical shop to showcase their product lines. Freelance Fashion Designers can market their work through trade fairs and via agents, or by making contact directly with buyers from larger businesses or niche clothing outlets.

The T-shirt is one of the most popular clothing items the world over - nearly 2 billion are sold annually!

Fashion, which is about suspense, surprise, and fantasy, has been enchanting youngsters for ages. It is not about rules. It’s about unique, functional, and stylish ideas coveted by people of all ages across the globe. Besides the glitz and glamour, Fashion Designers get to enjoy the constant challenge to be their creative best!

Create your signature style, one that can be identified, one that highlights your strengths as a Fashion Designer but also echoes like a chorus throughout your collections and brand. And remember - simplicity is the keynote of all pure elegance.