Fashion Design

Fashion Designer Overview

A career as a fashion designer is fast-paced, demanding and highly competitive. Fashion designers may work for large corporations, retail chain stores, or high-end department stores. A few fashion designers are self-employed and design clothing that is known as haute couture, or high fashion. These pieces usually sell for large amounts of money to specific clients.

The field of fashion design can be hard to break into but the benefits are numerous. Fashion designers enjoy an immense amount of creativity and self-expression. Successful designers are often household names, and those designers hired with large firms are well-paid professionals.

Fashion Designer Education & Training

Though some fashion designers are hired without higher education, it is recommended that people who are pursuing a career in fashion design start with at least a degree in design or art.

Most colleges and universities require students to earn credits in basic courses before granting entry into a fashion design program. It is important for a fashion designer to understand the basics of the business as well as the methods used in design. Successful fashion design students need to have an extensive knowledge of textiles and fabrics, fashion trends, and consumer interest. A four-year degree in fashion design is usually preferred by those companies hiring fashion designers as it demonstrates this knowledge and capability to the employer.

Fashion designers must also possess natural aptitude toward creating fashion pieces. They must know how to sew and create patterns. All fashion designers will need to utilize these skills in some way. Some fashion designers will have a team under them that sees to sewing and pattern-making, but it is the fashion designer’s responsibility to convey ideas using technical terminology. Without these skills, the fashion designer cannot communicate with the rest of the team.

Fashion Design Career & Salary Outlook

The field of fashion design is highly competitive. There is very low turn-over and very few new jobs being created. The occupation is projected to grow very slowly over the next decade. Most hiring will happen in companies that market to retail chains and department stores.

Many people are attracted to fashion design due to the glamorous image of the work. Those who break into the field can expect to make an average of $62,610 per year. Fashion designers working for a company as an in-house designer also enjoy benefits such as health insurance, pension plans, and life insurance.

The top 10 percent of fashion designers make an average of more than $117,120 annually. Those who work in high fashion earn even more. The lowest 10 percent of fashion designers earn less than $30,000 each year.

Characteristics of a Successful Fashion Designer

Successful fashion designers will have a natural eye for the aesthetic. They will be able to create an image on paper and bring it to life through the use of fabric and other textiles. A flair for communicating with a team is highly desired. Fashion designers will need to work with the marketing team, merchandisers, and assistants. Further, it is extremely important that fashion designers understand and take into consideration the critiques of others in their company. Their designs will often need to pass through many people’s hands before being approved. Those who do not take criticism well or who refuse to make changes in to their work will not succeed in this cut throat business.

Fashion designers must be aware of the latest trends, fashions, and technologies. Those who can reflect the changing culture in their work are considered talented and innovative. Having a dynamic personality in order to exchange ideas with a variety of other people will be beneficial to the fashion designer. Fashion designers should enjoy traveling and attending conferences and trade shows.

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