What is a Fashion Designer
Does the glamour and excitement of the fashion industry intrigue you? Do you think that you have what it takes to be a fashion designer? If you are interested in a young, fresh, fast-paced world, then a career in fashion could be perfect for you. The fashion industry is extremely competitive, but tremendously rewarding as well.
Everybody knows what a fashion designer is, and if you don't, just look at the clothes you are wearing. A fashion designer somewhere is responsible. Fashion, however, is a broad term that encompasses much more than just clothes. Someone wanting to specialize in different niches of the fashion industry could choose to focus on accessories, footwear or clothing design. Also, a career in fashion is also a relatively broad term. Some people are more interested in men's apparel, others could want to specialize in sports apparel. Whatever the clothing type, there is a place for you in the fashion world.
The Fashion Design Process
Fashion is a cutting edge industry and is always changing and evolving. Designers must stay ahead of the curve in order to remain competitive. From initial conception to the final product, the design process could take anywhere from 18 to 24 months. Research on current trends is the first step in this process, and in this stage, it is imperative for the fashion designer to make predictions on future trends. The designer will also be sketching out designs to help visualize the final product. To help their research, designers will visit trade shows and textile manufacturers to update themselves on the latest trend predictions and to choose appropriate fabrics swatches and samples for their design.
Once the sketches and textile samples have been selected, designers are ready for the prototype article. The prototype will typically use cheaper materials and then tried on by a model for adjustments to the garment. After the designer has edited the garment, the design is ready to come to fruition. Samples of the garment are made and presented to clothing retailers. Fashion and trade shows are also venues where designs are shown a few times a year. Retailers then place orders on the items, which are then manufactured and sold through the retailers.
This is generally the process for most fashion designers who work for large fashion design companies; however, some designers choose to work for themselves and market to individual clients. Other high-fashion (haute couture) designers sell in their own boutiques or cater high-end department stores.
Some fashion designers choose to specialize their talents in making costumes for television, movies and performing arts. Costume designers generally operate within a pre-defined concept, and within a strict budget as well.
How to Become a Fashion Designer
A bachelor's fashion degree in fine arts with is recommended; however, any sort of education from an accredited design school or fashion design institute will do. Some fashion designers also get degrees in business, marketing or fashion merchandising in order to further their own personal careers and businesses.
The National Association of Schools of Art And Design accredits over 200 postsecondary schools and design colleges and fashion universities with programs in art and design. After a few years of education, aspiring fashion designers will usually seek an internship with design or manufacturing firms in order to further their knowledge and gain valuable hands-on experience. Other options for beginning designers are working for retailers as personal stylists or tailors.
Some of the fashion courses you will be studying while pursing your fashion design career are color study, textiles, sewing and tailoring, fashion history, fashion technology, computer-aided design (CAD), and design of different types of clothing such as menswear and footwear. There are many schools of fashion from which you have to choose.
Fashion Design Jobs
In 2006, fashion designers held approximately 20,000 in the US. A large concentration of this number are all located in major fashion centers throughout the nation. In 2006, the highest concentrations of fashion designers were located in New York and California.
The fashion industry is highly competitive and jobs in the fashion world are not easy to land. Growth within the fashion industry is said to bet he slowest among all other industries, and growth of the fashion industry as a whole compared to others is also known to be slow. Job opportunities in cutting and sewing are also on the decline due to the overseas outsourcing of these tasks.
Fashion Design Salary
In may 2006, middle 50% salary numbers ranged from $42,140 - $87,510 with the lowest starting salaries being less than $30,000. Senior designers had salaries above $100,000.
A job in the fashion industry does not just mean becoming a fashion designer. There are other fashion majors you can also focus while getting your education. Fashion merchandising is a more business-associated major that is related exclusively to the fashion industry. Some fashion colleges offer majors such as Fashion Buyer, Fashion Editor or Fashion Coordinator. You can also gain an education through online fashion schools.
|
