Are you up to date with the latest fashion trends? Then, studying fashion design and management could be the career of your dreams!
The glamour. Fame. The art of creative details. Becoming a fashion designer promises all this and more. But is the love of designing clothes enough to fulfill this dream? If you are thinking of studying fashion design, below we will teach you how to be a fashion designer!
Steps to a successful career in fashion design
1. Develop your skills
Successful fashion designers have a wide range of skills, such as drawing, an eye for color and texture, the ability to visualize concepts in three dimensions, and the mechanical skills necessary for sewing and cutting all types of fabric.
Tips
- Take sewing classes if you haven’t mastered this skill yet. Being able to sew difficult fabrics in challenging situations will put you in a great place throughout your career, but you need to work at it. It is not such an easy skill to acquire for many people.
- Understand how fabrics move, wrap, breathe, react when worn, etc. Your in-depth knowledge of the fabric is absolutely essential to use it correctly when designing. Also, you must learn where to get the materials from.
- Learn from existing designers, not just who they are, but their background, their signature style, the learning they undertook and where they studied. Knowing this will help you be a better designer, since you can follow in their footsteps.
- Learn how to create storyboards and product range. Get good at researching trends and finding inspiration on social media, comparison shopping, and trade shows.
- Start developing these skills at an early age (as early as middle school). Prepare to spend hours of time perfecting your craft. A little bit each day will gain you a deep understanding of fashion in the long run if you plan to pursue a career.
Also read: How to be a model in New York
2. Study a career in fashion design
If you don’t want to work in the fashion industry, but rather become the driving force behind it, then you have to start with the basics. Pursuing undergraduate studies in fashion design will help you understand everything about the history of fashion design, manipulating textiles, drawing clothes, fashion events or managing a fashion house.
In addition to learning practical skills like these, you’ll also be working with industry professionals who can serve as important contacts in the future. They will give you first-hand advice and feedback on your work.
3. Polish your skills with practical experience
In order to hone the skills necessary to execute a design from idea to finished product, students need to practice outside of the classroom. This hands-on learning can be accomplished by participating in an internship program with a design company, clothing manufacturer, or personal stylist. Additionally, students can gain experience by volunteering for a fashion house.
4. Learn the fashion business
Behind the creative flair of the fashion industry is the business acumen needed to keep a company running. In addition to learning the creative side of the field, students must also become familiar with what happens behind the scenes. We are referring to finances, sales and marketing, especially if you want to have your own fashion business.
5. Create a portfolio
For future fashion designers to showcase their talents to potential employers, they have to create a portfolio demonstrating their creative skills and sensibilities. Students can fill their portfolio with work they have done during their degree program, so it is important to treat each assignment as if they were going to show their work to a future boss.
Portfolios allow people to showcase a range of skills, such as their drawing, sewing and pattern-making skills.
Also read: How to be an actor? Learn tricks to enter the world of acting
Final considerations
While a career in fashion design or a related discipline will help you develop the necessary skills and knowledge, you need to invest your time in other activities such as:
- Network and meet like-minded people
- Find your niche
- Learn what it’s like to own and grow a business
You should start meeting people who work in the fashion industry as soon as possible, especially while you are still a fashion design student. Also, keep in mind that you can’t do everything. Therefore, you will have to decide which branch of fashion attracts you the most.
Find out if you prefer men’s, women’s or children’s fashion design, sportswear design, accessories design or lean more towards the business side of fashion. Below, we present some of the most popular jobs that fashion graduates are looking for, in addition to designer:
- Marketer
- Brand manager
- fashion consultant
- Photoshoot stylist
- fashion journalist
Up to this point, we have taught you what you need to be a fashion designer. It doesn’t matter if you dream of seeing your creations on department store shelves or on the runway at Fashion Week, you must first find the right training program.
