A fashion designer produces designs for clothing and accessories and brings these designs to fruition, either by stitching them on their own or by hiring employees or manufacturers to oversee their production.
Every fashion designer has their own style, and that aesthetic evolves over time as patterns shift and the vision of the designer changes.
Being a designer of clothing requires more than just sketching a design. Designers often use advanced computer-aided design software, have sewing experts, and are acquainted with color theory and the many different types of materials used to make clothes and accessories. You also need to be mindful of the fashion business side, including sales and merchandising.
A fashion designer is trained to sew and sketch, as well. Photo credits to: https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2018/05/04/celebrities-turning-fashion-designers/.Training to Become a Fashion Designer
Most fashion designers are trained at a college or university through a fashion design program. Many attend fashion design research colleges, while others prefer traditional, college-based programs. Degrees in fashion design are available at the level of associate, bachelor, and master. Many universities also offer MBA programs concentrating on the fashion industry’s business side.
Before applying, those who would like to join a fashion design program are often expected to develop essential skills. A fashion program can allow prospective students to submit their portfolio when applying for design and sewing tests.
Students in fashion design programs are provided with CAD software to learn about textiles, sketching, sewing, draping, and pattern creation. They also learn about fashion history, trend prediction, and fashion business. As a senior project, students will create their own set.
Collections and other work for students can be useful contributions to the portfolio of a designer. Designers may also pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees that concentrate on a specific type of design such as kids’ wear, intimate apparel, knitwear, or sportswear.
Average Salary as a Fashion Designer
The overall job opportunities for starting fashion designers are expected to remain flat between 2010 and 2020, with no net additions to the approximately 21,500 fashion design jobs reported as of May 2010.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the lowest 10% of full-time fashion design wages, which includes starting designers’ salaries, averaged less than $32,500 per year as of May 2010, while the upper 10% were paid more than $130,890 per year. And the average salary was $64,530 per year.
Jobs for a Fashion Designer
Fashion designers working for design houses or merchandisers may shift into more creative-controlled roles, such as the lead designer or creative director. Some very successful designers are hired to set the artistic direction of that house by established high-fashion design houses.
Many fashion designers, like magazine and style blog editors, are self-employed and succeed in the industry by catching the attention of prominent voices. Successful independent designers may open their own shops or have merchandisers produce and sell their designs.
Fashion designers can start their own businesses or be self-employed. However, if you are looking for a day or regular job, here are some websites you can scan over.
- Indeed – Indeed is a popular job search platform as it is. Check out this site for open positions.
- Glassdoor – Glassdoor is another well-known job search platform. Click here for job openings.
- Naukri Gulf – Naukri Gulf is a popular job search website in the UAE.
Conclusion
Before becoming a fashion designer, you must show love for passion and style. Gain experience in the field and get to know more people in the industry. For more jobs in design, click here.
