From Coco Chanel to Valentino Garavani, fashion and fashion designers have always been the talk of the town. These designers are extraordinarily talented and have their unique styles and fashion approach. Many young and aspiring designers wish to become a part of this exclusive community of fashion designers. But given how intensely competitive the fashion industry is, many people may wonder if a career in fashion is beneficial or if it adds any value to their existing skill set. In this article, we will go over every little detail, from understanding what fashion designing is and what a fashion designer does to the various career opportunities including freelance fashion designing available in the fashion sector.
So What is fashion designing?
Fashion design is the art of applying design, aesthetics, clothing construction, and natural beauty to clothing and its accessories. Simply described, fashion design is a type of art that focuses on designing garments and other lifestyle accessories. It is influenced by numerous cultures and trends and has varied over time and place. Founded in the early 19th century by Charles Frederick Worth, who became the first ever fashion designer and father of fashion, they can be divided into three broad categories.
1. Mass market fashion
2. Ready to wear
3. Haute Couture
Mass market fashion:
These fashion trends are straightforward, widespread, and offer a more comprehensive range of clothing options. Large-scale production of the apparel is done for a mass market. They are the most readily available, cozy, and cost-effective type of clothes. Mass-market clothing has a standard design feature and is intended for everyday use by consumers. H&M, Zara, Forever 21, GAP, and Old Navy are a few examples of mass-market clothing.
Ready to wear:
The ready-to-wear assortment is made in regular sizes and of high quality. These collections are designed by fashion designers and bear their trademark on the clothing. They symbolize a particular concept and are made to make a statement rather than to be sold. They are constructed of high-quality fabrics and have a one-of-a-kind design produced by expert fashion designers.
Haute Couture:
The first haute couture firm was founded by Charles Frederick Worth in Paris in 1858. Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, and Christian Dior were among the top fashion houses that took their cues from Worth. If you love fashion, you already know that haute couture is the stuff of many ambitious designers’ fantasies. They are regarded as the epitome of style. Usually, designers conduct personal fittings and alterations with the client. These types of apparel are expensive, original creations manufactured using high-grade materials.
Therefore, to follow and bear the haute couture label, you must adhere to the rules established by the French Ministry of Industry and the Federation of French Fashion, also known as The Fédération Françoise de la Couture.
- Make apparel specifically tailored to fit individual customers and offer personal fittings.
- They must own a workshop in Paris with at least twenty employees, as well as an atelier in Paris with at least fifteen full-time employees.
- The fashion house must show a daytime and evening wear collection to the Paris press for approval twice a year.
What does a fashion designer do?
The primary responsibilities of fashion designers are to create original fashion pieces, select the appropriate fabrics and patterns, and provide manufacturers with assistance. Their everyday duties and roles as a fashion designers consist of,
- creating a design process from the initial idea to the finished product.
- conducting market research, keeping up with fabric and technique trends, and looking for creative inspiration
- updating the designs in-stream and coming up with new ideas
- choosing appropriate fabrics and snips
- creating designs for unique packaging
- coordinating with the technical team to ensure the accuracy of the packages
- product rechecking before presentations
- presenting clients with story, theme, and seasonal mood boards
Career opportunities in the fashion industry:
Fashion designers:
Fashion designers take everything from initial concepts to finished designs. They design the clothes from scratch while taking into account the demands of their customers and the constantly changing fashion trends. Gucci, Hermes, and Balenciaga are just a few top fashion companies, and well-known fashion designers like Vera Wang, Michael Kors, and Tom Ford can serve as great inspiration for you.
Retail buyer:
A retail buyer is in charge of organizing, choosing, and procuring the amounts of commodities and merchandise that are offered in retail establishments. They seek new products and evaluate current ones to keep their products competitive. Once you pursue this line of work, you will know what outfits look fantastic on particular individuals. As a retail consumer, you can create your own business and sell your goods or purchase products from other suppliers.
Retail Manager:
A retail manager may be employed by a boutique, retail establishments, or well-known companies like H&M, Zara, Emporio Armani, etc. Setting daily goals for the workforce, guaranteeing good marketing flow, and assuring the operation of promotional activities are all activities that a retail manager will ensure in this position.
Fashion stylist:
As a fashion stylist, you are responsible for choosing the ideal item of clothes for your customer from a designer wardrobe or collection. The cosmetics, accessories, and hairstyles are all taken care of by a stylist, who also ensures that the overall appearance matches the client’s style and preferences. Even though it’s not an easy job, becoming a fashion stylist is undoubtedly one of the most exciting careers you can pursue if you have the right creative abilities.
Textile designer:
A textile designer creates 2D distinctive or repeated patterns for knitting, woven, and printed fabrics. These materials can generate clothing or soft furnishings for interior spaces. To create unique textures and patterns, most textile designers use CAD as their digital platform. In both industrial and non-industrial environments, textile designers work either solo or as a team.
Jewelry and Footwear designer:
A great outfit remains incomplete without the appropriate shoes and accessories. This industry is a distinct market that completes and complements the clothing industry. A thorough understanding of design materials, trends, and CAD tools are among the requisite skills to succeed in this field.
Personal shopper:
This position is the definition of a dream come true. A personal shopper is a fashion consultant who advises celebrities, brides and other clientele on the best dress for each event. They select the most fabulous outfits from the wardrobe using their vast fashion knowledge. If you were a professional, negotiate the best offers, choose the best stores, and select the designs and brands that best suit the client’s needs.
So, is a fashion design a good career path in 2022?
Yes, if you have the necessary knowledge and skills in fashion, you can beat the competition, and who knows, you can even establish your own clothing line.
But remember to always stay on top of the latest trends.
Being a very creative field, the fashion industry can be pretty tricky, but it is worth a shot if this is something you are very excellent at.
