Is a Fashion Design Career Right for You? Learn the Basics of a Career in Fashion
Imagine working in an environment where style and creativity are the focus. If this sounds like your ideal career, you may want to consider earning a degree in fashion design. Fashion design is a highly competitive and exciting industry where only the most talented professionals advance. If you feel you have the talent and determination necessary for a career in the fashion industry, continue reading to find out if fashion design is right for you.
An interest in all-things fashion
If you enjoy sketching garments and working with fabrics and trimmings, a fashion design career could be right for you. When considering a career in fashion, you should assess your ability to draw and cut patterns to prepare garments as this skill is essential for a career in fashion. Another important aspect of being a fashion designer involves noticing trends in clothing. Do you enjoy staying up-to-date on all the latest fashion trends? If the above skills interest you, a fashion design career may be right for you.
A love of art and creation
A career in fashion requires a good understanding of art and its related principles. For example, a designer must know how to put his or her ideas onto paper in the form of a drawing as a way to communicate a vision. Designers must know which colors and textures coordinate, which lengths and fabric cuts are appealing to the eye, as well as have a sense for future fashion trends. Artistic skills are also necessary for a fashion career as designers create professional portfolios to highlight their work. Additionally, designers are expected to continuously come up with new ideas that are in-tune with the latest fashion trends.
Business savvy
Because careers in fashion are highly competitive, hopeful fashion designers must have a keen sense of business. You must know how to work with a team on projects, interact with different levels of management, and be able to work with difficult clients. It is particularly important for future fashion designers to learn about business in order to obtain knowledge about the economics surrounding the fashion industry, learn how to market effectively, and negotiate a contract if they plan to start their own company or clothing line.
A knack for networking
A large part of working in the fashion design industry involves networking with people in the business. If you want a job as a fashion designer, you will be better off if you enjoy meeting and interacting with different types of people. If you don’t have a love of meeting new people, you probably shouldn’t consider a career in fashion as a fashion design career relies heavily on networking.
A willingness to start at the bottom If you’ve always dreamed of a career in fashion, keep in mind that you will have to work your way to the top. Starting from the bottom in the fashion industry may not be glamorous, but it will be necessary. You may find yourself starting out as in intern for a fashion company or modeling agency and discover that most of your time is spent running errands or doing busy work rather than engaging in hands-on design work. The whole point of starting out at the bottom is being able to witness the day-to-day operation of a fashion design business.
The desire and ability to travel
Depending on the size and scope of their fashion line, some fashion designers have to travel extensively to present and promote their line. Trunk shows in trendy spots are a normal part of growing a brand, as are meetings with important people at national trade shows. For the lucky few designers, there may even be international adventures to view textiles, source apparel components, and to push the brand.
Fashion design is one career where travel is key to growth, so decide if travel fits in with your desired lifestyle before you choose a fashion design school. If a career in fashion interests you, you will need to obtain the necessary skills before pursuing a career in this field. Fremont University offers a Multimedia Design degree with an emphasis in Fashion Design that takes just 15 months to complete. Enroll today and be on your way to a rewarding career in fashion!
