What is a Fashion Designer?
Fashion designers hold a special place in our world. Their talent and vision play a big role in how people look, and also contribute to the cultural and social environment.
They love to study fashion trends, sketch designs, select materials, and have a part in all the production aspects of their designs. They contribute to the creation of millions, if not billions of pieces of clothing and accessories purchased by consumers on a yearly basis.
What does a Fashion Designer do?
Fashion designers create women's, men's and children's apparel. This might include sportswear, maternity wear, outerwear, underwear, formalwear, eyewear, and footwear. There are also accessory designers who design belts, scarves, hats, handbags, and hosiery.
Fashion designers market their fashions through runway shows, as well as through their own retail stores. Some also lend their name to other licensed products in order to expand their brand identity. In fact, many celebrity fashion designers actually do very little designing of the collections that bear their name.
There are fashion designers at different levels of the fashion industry — from well-known couturiers, to unknown fashion designers working for ready-to-wear houses, or fashion stylists who might make only small changes in existing designs.
Fashion designers are now beginning to use new technologies such as body-scanning for a better custom fit, or seamless knitting technologies that can produce clothing with just a simple push of a button.
Similar to how the sewing machine changed the face of fashion in the past, the future will change due to new technologies, textiles, and consumer demands. High-tech textiles will enable fashion designers to create new product lines including those that incorporate sun protection and other unique qualities. New consumer demands and preferences may push for more function than fashion.
The design process from design concept to final production takes many months. Researching current fashion trends and making predictions of future trends is the first step in creating the design. Some fashion designers do their own research while others depend on trend reports published by fashion industry trade groups.
Trend reports let you know what styles, colors and fabrics will be popular for a certain season in the near future. Textile manufacturers use these trend reports to design fabrics and patterns while fashion designers begin to sketch designs. Designers then visit manufacturers or trade shows to get samples of fabrics and decide which fabrics to use with what designs.
A fashion designer takes part in just about every aspect of bringing fashion to the public. Creating the basic design can be done in different ways. It can involve storyboards with sketches, to working with a dummy and sewing pieces of material together. This creating phase is when the designer takes his/her vision that's swirling in the mind's eye and puts it into a visual expression. This first draft of the design is then worked on as the designer develops the first basic prototype.
Computer-aided design (CAD) is being used more and more in the fashion design industry. Although most designers initially sketch designs by hand, a growing number take these hand sketches and put them on the computer. CAD allows designers to look at designs on virtual models, and in many colors and shapes, therefore saving time by needing fewer adjustments later.
The next step is to take the rough sketch or model and develop a more specific working pattern. Typically, the fashion designer will make a rough model of the design by creating a toile. This is made by sewing inexpensive material (like muslin) to make a rough model of the design. When this is placed on a mannequin-like dress stand, the designer can see how the material will drape or hang on a human form.
Large design houses hire their own pattern-makers, tailors, and sewers who create the master patterns and sew the prototypes. Designers working in small design firms, or those new to the business, usually do most of the technical pattern-making and sewing tasks, in addition to designing the clothing. When the garment is complete, the designer will either modify, scrap, or approve the design for showing in a collection.
A fashion designer usually has full control of a fashion show, often picking the models, determining the price of each garment, and arranging how the garments will be presented. Most have assistants to help with all the many small details, but overall, the fashion designer maintains full control.
Are you suited to be a fashion designer?
Fashion designers have distinct personalities. They tend to be artistic individuals, which means they’re creative, intuitive, sensitive, articulate, and expressive. They are unstructured, original, nonconforming, and innovative. Some of them are also enterprising, meaning they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic.
Does this sound like you? Take our free career test to find out if fashion designer is one of your top career matches.
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What is the workplace of a Fashion Designer like?
A fashion designer that works for wholesalers or manufacturers creates designs for the world market. These designs are manufactured in various sizes, colors, and materials. A small number of high-fashion (haute couture) designers are self-employed. They create custom designs for individual clients, usually at very high prices.
Other high-fashion designers sell their designs in their own stores or cater to specialty stores or high-end fashion department stores. These designers create a mixture of original garments and also established fashion trends. Fashion designers employed by manufacturing establishments, wholesalers, or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings.
Some fashion designers specialize in costume design for the performing arts, movies, and television productions. The work of costume designers is similar to other fashion designers, except they must extensively research the styles worn during the period in which the performance takes place.
Fashion designers may also work with film directors to select and create certain attire. Costume fashion designers make sketches of designs, select fabric and other materials, and oversee the production of the costumes. They also must stay within the costume budget.
Designers who freelance usually work on a contractual basis, or by the job. They often have to adjust their workday to suit their clients’ schedules and deadlines, meeting with the clients during evenings or weekends.
Freelance designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller environments and are under constant pressure to please clients and to find new ones in order to have a steady income. Regardless of their work setting, all fashion designers occasionally work long hours to meet deadlines or get ready for fashion shows.
The nature of the fashion business requires consistent communication with suppliers, manufacturers, and customers all over North America and the world. Many fashion designers travel several times a year to trade and fashion shows to learn about the latest fashion trends. Designers may also travel frequently to meet with fabric and material suppliers and manufacturers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a prêt-a-porter fashion designer?
In the past, designer clothing was way beyond the reach of the masses — it was considered haute couture, and designer collections were only seen on catwalks and clothing made-to-order for only a select few. The general public could only view these pieces of clothing either in fashion magazines or on TV when worn by movie stars on the red carpet.
In the 1950's, prêt-a-porter clothing came into western fashion and proposed an alternative to haute couture for the general public. A prêt-a-porter (ready-to-wear) fashion designer provides the public with high-end clothing (a cross between haute couture and mass market) made in small quantities to guarantee exclusivity, but not made for individual clients.
Ready-to-wear clothing is intended to be worn without significant alteration, and made in standard sizes that fit most people. Designers use standard patterns, factory equipment, and certain construction techniques that keep costs lower when compared to custom-sewn versions of the same item.
Prêt-a-porter collections are usually presented by fashion designers and fashion houses twice a year during Fashion Week. These shows anticipate what the next year's trends and styles are going to be.
Collections are typically grouped in spring/summer, fall/winter, resort, swim, and bridal. Prêt-a-porter clothing designers make this clothing with above-average attention given to fabric choice, cut, and detail - clothing that will warrant having the name of a famous designer or a famous brand attached to it. This type of clothing is rather expensive and generally designed with the upper middle class in mind, and can be found in certain stores that carry designer names and brands.
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What is an haute couture fashion designer?
An haute couture fashion designer is responsible for designing individualized, custom clothing for elite clientele. Clients are taken one at a time, and are given undivided attention.
Designs are conceptualized and constructed according to a client's exact measurements, style, preferences, and personality. Each piece is made by hand from start to finish from expensive and high-quality fabric, and sewn with extreme attention to detail by the best seamstresses and embroiderers in the world. Considering the amount of time, money, and skill needed to complete each piece, haute couture garments typically have no price tag.
Many haute couture fashion houses are in Paris, France. According to Wikipedia, "In France, the term haute couture is protected by law and is defined by the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Paris based in Paris. The chambre syndicale de la haute couture is defined as "the regulating commission that determines which fashion houses are eligible to be true haute couture houses".
"More rigorous criteria for haute couture were established in 1945. To earn the right to call itself a couture house and to use the term haute couture in its advertising and any other way, members of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture must follow specific rules:
- Design made-to-order for private clients, with one or more fittings
- Have a workshop (atelier) in Paris that employs at least fifteen staff members full-time
- Have at least twenty full-time technical people, in at least one workshop (atelier)
- Present a collection of at least fifty original designs to the public every fashion season (twice, in January and July of each year), of both day and evening garments."
In the 1960s, a group of young designers left these established couture houses, opened their own establishments, and established their own lines. The most successful of these young designers were Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, André Courrèges, Ted Lapidus, and Emanuel Ungaro.
Although individualized, custom clothing for elite clientele is still going strong, today's haute couture fashion designs that are seen on runways are not particularly made to be sold or a main source of income. Rather, they are mostly for show and to further publicity, as well as perception and understanding, of brand image. This brand image adds allure to a designer's prêt-a-porter (ready-to-wear) clothing line and to related high-end products such as shoes, purses, and perfumes.
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What is a mass market fashion designer?
Years ago, fashion design houses began offering more modestly priced collections (diffusion lines) as a way to reach more consumers (for example, Dolce & Gabbana founded D&G). However, these diffusion lines didn't completely fill the void that consumers were asking for - namely, the mass marketing and distribution of high fashion.
In 2004, Chanel and Fendi's creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, collaborated with H&M and produced 30 pieces which sold out within an hour in New York, Los Angeles, and other large metropolitan stores. This sparked H&M to collaborate with many other designers in order to gain market share of teen spending. Target followed H&M’s lead with its own designer collaborations. Other department stores (such as JC Penny, Kohl's, and Walmart) weren't far behind and started following the same path.
Mass market clothing is manufactured in large quantities and made available for the open market. This clothing is typically available in standard sizes with many copies of the same design. As there is a large demand for this type of apparel, becoming a mass market fashion designer is the most rewarding at the moment. Many fashion designers are flocking to create lines of clothing and accessories for the mass market.
"There is a tremendous amount of money being spent on fashion apparel, but not in department stores," says Kurt Barnard, president of Barnard's Retail Consulting Group in Upper Montclair, N.J. "Designers have decided to go to where the money is, and the money is at places like Target and Kohl's."
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How long does it take to become a Fashion Designer?
Typically, aspiring fashion designers spend four years completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design or Fine Arts (from an institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design) before seeking employment. Most graduates find work in fashion or a related field, but it can take years for a designer to become established and recognized in the industry.
Bachelor’s degree programs in fashion design commonly include coursework in colors, lines, textures, movements, and how each of these aspects interacts with the human form; drawing and imaging; textile science; math for designers; digital design and the use of computer-aided design (CAD) software; and fashion history.
Should I become a Fashion Designer?
For a career in fashion design to be a viable choice for you, you need to be able to answer Yes to every one of the following questions:
- Am I highly creative and artistic?
- Do I have strong drawing skills?
- Do I have an eye for detail?
- Do I have an almost innate understanding of texture, color, shapes, and fabric?
- Do I have strong visualization skills to take something from nothing to a piece of art?
- Do I have strong communication and interpersonal skills?
- Do I have business sense and decision making skills?
- Do I have a competitive spirit?
- Do I work well with teams?
- Do I have a thick skin to handle criticism and rejection and work in a sometimes cutthroat industry?
- Do I have physical stamina to work long hours to meet tight deadlines?
- Do I have an eye for fit on the body; for how clothes should fit?
- Am I able to think outside the box when original plans become unworkable?
- Am I able to multitask?
- Am I able to focus on one idea or concept (despite the almost constant need to multitask)?
- Do I have a keen eye and instincts for trends?
- Do I live, eat, and breathe fashion; do I see it as my vocation?
- Am I willing to endure periods of uncertainty and instability?
Are Fashion Designers happy?
Fashion Designers rank highly among careers. Overall they rank in the 77th percentile of careers for satisfaction scores. Please note that this number is derived from the data we have collected from our Sokanu members only.
Fashion has been described as a perfect marriage of creativity, communication, and utility. Studies reveal that while not all artistic people are happy, most are – largely due to the passion they hold for their daily creative pursuits.
What are Fashion Designers like?
Based on our pool of users, Fashion Designers tend to be predominately artistic people. It has been said that fashion is one of the purest expressions of art because it is art lived on a daily basis.
Fashion Designers are also known as:
Apparel Fashion Designer Clothing Designer Clothing Fashion Designer Accessory Fashion Designer
FAQs
What do fashion designers do on a daily basis? ›
Fashion designers spend a lot of time throughout the day working on current designs and creating new ones. This includes doing market research to see what is popular and with whom it is popular, sketching out initial designs, sharing them with peers and superiors, and creating a full-fledged color design.
What skills do I need to be a fashion designer? ›- Creativity and proactivity. ...
- Interpersonal skills. ...
- Attention to details. ...
- Eagerness to succeed. ...
- Excellent sewing skills. ...
- Visualisation and sketching skills. ...
- Art skills. ...
- Communication skills.
Know that fashion design is a tough line of work
“It is a lot of hard work and dedication. It's not just making clothes and having shows. There's a business side to it too, and you must be ready for that. There will be weeks with no sleep where you must get things done.”
It's the job of the fashion designer to design garments, choose fabrics and patterns, and guide manufacturers on how to make original fashion pieces. As a fashion designer, your other duties might include: Keeping up-to-date with current fashion trends to keep their fashion brand relevant.
Do fashion designers make clothes? ›Fashion designers create and design clothing and accessories. They may specialize in high fashion, ready-to-wear apparel, mass-market clothing, sportswear, evening wear, accessories, or footwear.
Is fashion design a good career? ›Is fashion design a good career? Fashion Design is amongst the highest-paying industries, offers lucrative job opportunities and is also a creatively fulfilling and financially rewarding career!
Who is No 1 fashion designer in the world? ›- Calvin Klein (Born 1942)
- Donatella Versace (Born 1955)
- Giorgio Armani (Born 1934)
- Ralph Lauren (Born 1939)
- Tom Ford (Born 1961)
- Marc Jacobs (Born 1963)
- Donna Karan (Born 1948)
- Christian Dior (1905-1957)
Sewing is a fundamental skill for any fashion designer. Complete mastery of basic skills of fashion construction—such as navigating a sewing machine—isn't necessary, but it would behoove any budding designer to develop an intimate knowledge of the craft involved in producing your designs.
Are fashion designers happy? ›Fashion designers rate their happiness above average. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, fashion designers rate their career happiness 3.6 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 24% of careers.
Do fashion designers get paid well? ›15,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month, depending on the brand and the opportunity. Once you gain experience in the field, your salary can go up to 2 Lakhs per month. The job opportunities for fashion designers aren't restricted to India alone.
Is becoming a fashion designer worth it? ›
Cost Summary. Our analysis has shown that a fashion degree can lead to a lucrative career and can absolutely be worth the price, even when it's quite expensive. Even if you have to take out loans of $100,000 or more, it can still be worth it in the long run. The key is to make sure you choose the right fashion career.
How long does it take to become a fashion designer? ›Fashion Designer Course: How Many Years? A fashion designer's associate degree takes two years, and a bachelor's usually takes four years to complete. Earning a master's degree in the field will take two more years of your time. You can earn a fashion design associate degree at FIT in just two years.
What is a clothes designer called? ›1. clothes designer - someone who designs clothing. couturier, fashion designer, designer. creator - a person who grows or makes or invents things. costume designer, costumer, costumier - someone who designs or supplies costumes (as for a play or masquerade)
How many hours does a fashion designer work? ›Work environment
Fashion designers typically work 40 hours a week, though self-employed fashion designers may work more hours than that to manage the various roles they have to perform as independent designers.
Many aspiring fashion designers are confronted by fashion industry myths that one should not start a clothing line or can't start a clothing line if they can't draw or sew. This myth could not be further from the truth. It is absolutely possible to start up a clothing line or fashion brand without these skills.
How easy is it to become a fashion designer? ›There is no formal education or certification required to become a successful fashion designer, but that doesn't make the feat any easier. To become a fashion designer, you will need to have a combination of drawing, sewing, and design skills, a knowledge of the fashion industry, and unparalleled perseverance.
Do fashion designers have to draw? ›Learn Why Below: You do not have to know how to draw to be a fashion designer or create your fashion designs. In fact, it is required within the industry that you are able to create digital designs at some point in the design process.
Which job is best for girls? ›- Human Resources. A highly sought-after corporate job in the present-day world is the Human Resource Manager. ...
- Doctor. ...
- Data Scientist. ...
- Fashion Designer. ...
- Journalist. ...
- Banker. ...
- Career Counselor. ...
- Interior Designer.
Most designers travel several times a year to trade and fashion shows to learn about the latest trends. Designers also sometimes travel to other countries to meet suppliers of materials and manufacturers who make the final products. Most fashion designers work in New York and California.
Who is the youngest fashion designer in the world? ›Meet Andrea Brocca, the world's youngest couturier.
Why do u want to be a fashion designer? ›
Fashion design is a highly fulfilling career for people with a creative mind and an adventurous spirit. Pursuing professional courses in fashion design equips you with the required understanding of design creation. It also helps you to choose a specific area of interest and develop your skills.
Which country has the best fashion designers? ›...
10 Most Fashionable Countries.
| Country Name | Best Countries Overall Rank |
|---|---|
| 1. Italy | 13 |
| 2. France | 8 |
| 3. Spain | 16 |
| 4. United States | 4 |
The toughest part about being a designer is gaining trust and proving your worth.
Is fashion design stressful? ›In reality, fashion workers are subjected to a very serious problem: stress. It's well known that some of the industry's top designers have struggled with mental health issues. Compared to all other sectors, due to its characteristics, the fashion industry is one of those in which workers suffer stress the most.
What is the Favourite part of being a fashion designer? ›"My favorite part of being a fashion designer is having the opportunity to collaborate with highly creative people on the research, design, and development of new fashion lines.
Which subject should I take to become a fashion designer? ›Fashion designing is a course that needs creativity, ideation, critical thinking, knowledge about trends and other skills like sketching and rendering. There is no restriction as to which stream you should choose in class 11. You can take any stream of your interest science, arts and commerce.
Can I teach myself fashion design? ›Contrary to popular belief however, it is perfectly possible to begin building a successful fashion career at home. It's simply a case of using your own time to build the skills, knowledge and confidence to go pro.
How do I start fashion designing? ›- Complete a degree program. ...
- Sharpen skills with hands-on experience. ...
- Learn the business of fashion. ...
- Put together a portfolio. ...
- Keep up with the trends. ...
- Latest Posts.
Work environment
Fashion designers typically work 40 hours a week, though self-employed fashion designers may work more hours than that to manage the various roles they have to perform as independent designers.
The life of a fashion designer can be a busy but rewarding one. Learn more here on succeeding in this high-stakes world. Fashion designers are very busy bees. It's their job to create the latest designs for upcoming seasons, whether it's for men, women or children and one of these will be your speciality.
How many days a week does a fashion designer work? ›
Fashion designers working on a salaried basis usually work between eight to ten hours on a daily basis in a standard five-day week. However, extra hours are likely during seasonal peaks and when product launch deadlines need to be met.
Do fashion designers travel a lot? ›Most designers travel several times a year to trade and fashion shows to learn about the latest trends. Designers also sometimes travel to other countries to meet suppliers of materials and manufacturers who make the final products. Most fashion designers work in New York and California.
Do fashion designers get paid well? ›15,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month, depending on the brand and the opportunity. Once you gain experience in the field, your salary can go up to 2 Lakhs per month. The job opportunities for fashion designers aren't restricted to India alone.
What are the benefits of being a fashion designer? ›- You Get to Utilize Your Creative Skills in a Form You Love. ...
- Self Satisfaction. ...
- Starting Your Own Business. ...
- Hard-Working Mentality. ...
- Fun and Creative. ...
- Decent Income. ...
- Passion. ...
- Travelling.
Becoming a Fashion Designer is part skill and part luck. When a designer has unique and well-made designs, they will gain a reputation as a great designer amongst their peers. However, to become famous, designers will often partner with a celebrity who will be paid to wear, or lent a piece of clothing or jewelry.
What does a day look like for a fashion designer? ›A designer's day includes reading current fashion magazines, newspapers, and other media that reflect current trends and tastes. He or she looks at materials, attends fashion shows, and works with other designers on projects.
How do fashion designers get noticed? ›- Have a great online portfolio.
- Try something new. ...
- Stay inspired. ...
- Social networking. ...
- Get Published. ...
- Enter a promotional design competition. ...
- Word-of-mouth. ...
- Portfolio reviews. ...
Charles Frederick Worth is believed to be the first fashion designer of the world, from 1826 to 1895. Charles, who was earlier a draper, set up a fashion house in Paris. It was he who started the tradition of fashion houses and telling his customers what kind of clothing would suit them.
What's the most popular item of clothing in the world? ›The T-shirt is one of the most popular items of clothing in the world, and around two billion of them are sold every single year.
Why is fashion important? ›Fashion has the ability to change and shape lives through its personal connection to us all. We all have to wear clothes and every piece of clothing we buy represents a personal choice – it is this intrinsically human relationship between us and our fashion that makes it political.
What is the age limit for fashion designing? ›
Master's (M.Sc) in Fashion Designing Eligibility:
Individuals keen on pursuing a Master's degree in fashion technology need to have attained 23 years of age. Candidates should have completed a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Designing from a recognised University in India with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate.
- Pro: You get to utilize your creative skills in a form you love. ...
- Con: You aren't guaranteed to rocket to the top of the industry. ...
- Pro: There's a lot of flexibility in where and how you'd like to work. ...
- Con: Finding a job in such a competitive field can be brutal.
So, while more than 85 percent of fashion design graduates ultimately find full-time employment, most of them will not work as designers.