What Is Work in Fashion Design
This folio was developed as a resource for aspiring style design students and mode designers seeking general career information, training and education requirements, and job search assist. The resource provided on this folio are non-commercial in nature and free to use. If you have any career resources for fashion designers you feel would be of do good to our visitors, please practice not hesitate to contact us with your recommendations.
To learn more almost launching or advancing a career in manner design select a topic below.
- Career Overview
- Career Positions and Profiles
- Employment Information, Profiles and Statistics
- Salary and Wage Statistics
- Education and Training Requirements
- Accreditation
- Job Outlook
- Working Conditions
- Boosted Resources
Career Overview
Fashion designers pattern dresses, shoes, and other clothing. They notice trends and supervise the development of new clothing lines. Clothing designers also coordinate the production of clothes for men, women, and children. Footwear designers pattern and coordinate the production of shoes and boots. Accessory designers design and coordinate the product of hats, glasses, belts, purses, and other accessories. Some fashion designers specialize in certain types of vesture for age groups, torso types and commercial industries.
The typical duties performed by a fashion designer include:
- Follow trends in the fashion industry and make up one's mind which designers are probable to appela to consumers in the futurity
- Develop theme based clothing lines and collections
- Develop designs using computer-aided programs
- Attend merchandise shows to follow trends, present design and find fabrics
- Work with other designers and merchandisers to create design prototypes
- Promote clothing lines and designs to retailers and consumers
- Oversee article of clothing designs from through terminal production
It usually takes 18-24 months to design and produce a new wearable line. Mode designers brainstorm the procedure by conducting research near fashion trends. They either acquit their ain research or study reports published by fashion trade groups. These reports item popular styles, fabrics, and colors. After conducting enquiry, fashion designers visit trade shows to obtain material samples.
After fabrics take been selected, initial designs are created with inexpensive materials, and models vesture the designs to make up one's mind how the clothes fit. After the dress accept been altered, sample designs constructed with the actual fabric are created and sent to potential buyers. Designers ofttimes market their clothes at fashion shows to get their designs and production in front of merchandizers and retail buyers.
Fashion designers at present employ figurer aided design technology (CAD) to develop and create their designs. Most designers still sketch their preliminary designs then use CAD to expound on their designs. Designers tin create their alterations on virtual models using CAD, saving them fourth dimension and money.
Fashion designers working for big firms usually select colors and materials, create designs, and supervise the evolution team. These large firms often hire specialized tailors and design designers to industry their dress. Designers working at smaller firms are responsible for designing clothing and patterns, as well every bit supervising clothing product.
Fashion designers employed by wearing apparel wholesalers design clothes for the masses. Self employed designers, also known as haute couture designers, design custom clothes for individual clients (who are unremarkably quite wealthy). Some designers design clothes for their ain stores or department stores. Others design dress for television studios, flick studios, or theater productions. Costume designers conduct historical research about the time period they are designing costumes for and then supervise costume production.
Career Positions and Profiles
Beneath you tin learn more than virtually the most pop careers and positions within the field of fashion pattern.
Fashion Designer
Fashion designers are involved from concept to finish in the development and production of habiliment lines. While a few designers are able to work their style up in the industry through on the job feel, these days a bachelor's degree is typically the minimum requirement for this position. Designers must have an indepth knowledge of style design concepts, sewing, apparel blueprint and garment construction, and be familiar with the different types of textiles and manufacture trends. Near designers are specialists. They may specialize in women'southward apparel, children's clothing, or men's vesture.
Assistant Designer
Asistant designers are precisely that, assistants. They assistance way designers with every aspect of development and production of clothing lines. Typical duties include developing sketches for designers to work from, preparing presentation marterials for shows and clothing demos, sourcing fabric, etc. Banana designers are not required to take a available'south caste, but many exercise. Assistant designers often work their mode upwards to go designers.
Pattern Maker
As their name suggests, pattern makers create patterns and specifications for how each component of a garment should exist manufactured and put together. Today, blueprint makers often use computer software, CAD and 3D imaging to create patterns and develop specifications. Pattern making skills can be learned on the chore, by earning a specialized degree in mode design, or through a technical training program.
Style Merchandiser
Many aspiring fashion pattern students and aspiring designers end up migrating to a career in manner merchandising. Merchandisers are typically upper-management and high level executives in dress manufacturing who are responsible for determining which vesture lines, fashion and/or accessories a manfucturer should produce. They plan, research, and determine which fashion trends a company should pursue. A bachelor'south degree in fashion design, fashion merchandising, apparel production, or marketing is typically the minimum educational requirement for this position. Many companies who apply merchandiser prefer to hire candidates with MBAs. Merchandiser can brand anywhere from $55,000 to $110,000 a year - or more.
Fashion Buyer
Buyers plan sales, select merchandise to sell, price vendor orders, and monitor inventory. Buyers are experts at budgeting. They're oft given a fixed upkeep and told to get best return they possibly can. Buyer positions are competitive and typically accept years to work into. In add-on to a available's caste, buyers are typically required to complete on-the- job training sponsored past their employer and complete an apprenticeship.
Assistant Buyer
In guild to become a heir-apparent, you must first become an assistant buyer. Assistant buyers help way buyers select merchandise, write and price orders, collaborate and negotiate with vendors, and program and manage a budget. Most assistant buyers accept a four year college caste. This position is as well highly competitive as information technology is a stepping stone to becoming a full fledged buyer.
Merchandise Manager
Also known as Divisional Merchandise Managers (DMM), merchandise managers are responsible for supervising trade departments and manner buyers. With a salary ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 a year, this position is 1 of the highest paid inside the manner industry. To go a merchandise manager, applicants must have a college degree and five to ten years experience as a fashion heir-apparent. Merchandise managers manage vendor relations, develop buying teams, ensure consistent quality, and focus on making sure customers receive the value they wait and are paying for.
Design Director
A design managing director'south chief duty is to oversee color, trends, and fabric direction for all product lines. They also manage design teams, supervise the manufacturing process and support marketing endeavors. Job duties include market analysis, trend analysis, predicting future need, production support and building fabric stories.
Manner Director
Fashion directors are responsible for having an intimate knowledge of various market trends and using this noesis to develop effective marketing and branding strategies, and navigating marketplace trends. Mode directors do a fair corporeality of traveling and are required to attend the industry'southward peak shows in Paris, London, Milan, and New York. Mode directors must be able forecast mode trends, have strong communication skills, and be experts in design and color. They as well develop fashion messaging strategies and manage buying teams.
Visual Merchandising Managing director
Visual merchandising directors work in retail and wholesale sectors of the fashion industry promoting products, services and image. They clothes manikins, develop visually appealing fashion displays, and organize special events to promote brand awareness. They besides supervise design and concept production, oversee idea presentation, and manage budgets. They must be experts in colour and design, have the power to manage budgets and exist highly creative.
Mode Editor
Fashion editors oversee the creation, development and presentation of content for fashion related magazines and publications. They're as well responsible for putting together photo shoots, managing teams, staying abreast of manufacture trends, choosing looks to feature, curating photography and deciding what should be published - and what shouldn't. They must accept exceptional writing skills, exist experts in fashion and photography, and have good interpersonal communication skills.
Employment Information and Statistics
As of May 2014, in that location were approximately 22,300 fashion designers employed in the United states. Of these, near half worked in wholesale and manufacturing, a tenth occupated corporate management positions, and the remaining worked in specialized design and other related occupations. Between 2012 and 2020, the number of mode designers employed in the United States is expected to decrease to 21,600 - due in large part to wearing apparel manufacturing jobs moving overseas to more competitive markets.
The following is a breakdown of the industries employing the highest number of fashion designers, including employment numbers and wage information per manufacture.
| Industry | Full employment | % idustry employment | Hateful hourly mode | Mean annual wage |
| Apparel and Merchant Wholesalers | vii,400 | 5% | $34 | $70,000 |
| Apparel Manufacturing | ii,850 | 2.five% | $twoscore | $83,000 |
| Corporate Management | 2,400 | .11% | $43 | $xc,000 |
| Specialized Design Services | 1,450 | ane.two% | $33 | $68,500 |
| Theater, Pic and Video | 1,000 | .3% | north/a | n/a |
Geographic Profile for Psychology Occupations
The map below shows the states that employ the largest number of fashion designers, likewise as concentration of way designers per state.
The chart below lists the states that utilize the highest numbers of fashion designers, along with the mean hr wage, annual mean wage and location quotient for each country.
| Country | Total employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly way | Hateful annual wage |
| New York | 7,190 | 6.18 | $39 | $80,900 |
| California | 5,750 | 2.88 | $35 | $73,300 |
| Texas | 500 | .34 | $29 | $60,600 |
| New Jersey | 340 | .66 | $36 | $74,100 |
| Massachusetts | 270 | .61 | $37 | $76,900 |
The map below shows the location caliber for the fashion design manufacture across the United states of america. The location quotient is the ratio of the concentration of fashion blueprint professionals employed in a state to the national average concentration for the industry. A state with a location quotient greater than 1 indicates the state has a greater share of employment of fashion designers than the average. (Annotation: Information is not available for those states that are white.)
The nautical chart beneath shows the states that have the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for the style design industry.
| State | Total employment | Location caliber | Hateful hourly fashion | Mean annual wage |
| New York | 7,190 | 6.2 | $39 | $lxxx,900 |
| California | v,750 | two.9 | $35 | $73,300 |
| Vermont | 40 | 1.08 | $24 | $49,000 |
| New Hampshire | 90 | 1.04 | $35 | $73,500 |
| Kansas | 180 | .99 | $35 | $55,000 |
Salary and Wage Statistics
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for mode designers is roughly $63,000 a year. Every bit of 2014, 50% of mode designers earned more than than $63k a year while 50% earned less. The top x% of fashion designers earn over $127,000 a yr, witha few extremely successful designers making well into the six figures. The everyman x percent of wage earners in this industry make less than $35,000 a year.
As is the case with most occupation, how much a fashion designer can earn is in fluenced past many factors, including experience, skill, reputation and employer. Until a fashion designer has substantial experience in the industry, their pay tends to exist relatively low compared to other occupations that require a bachelor's degree. Fashion designers that receive a salary typically have more stable income than those who work freelance, contained or as consultants. All the same, fashion designers who are able to develop their own brand and habiliment line can hit it big!
The median annual pay for mode designers in the top 5 industries/job sectors employing these professionals is as follows:
| Corporate and Enterprise Direction | $78,600 |
| Specialized design services | $62,600 |
| Apparel production | $62,400 |
| Apparel and merchant wholesaling | $60,600 |
| Electronic markets and brokers | $58,000 |
The map below shows the annual mean wage for fashion designers past land as of May 2014.
The nautical chart below lists the country with the highest hourly and annual mean wage for mode designers. When considering employment opportunities, you lot should consider all factors including wage, location quotient, overall employment and cost of living.
| State | Total employment | Location quotient | Mean hourly manner | Mean annual wage |
| New York | 7,190 | vi.2 | $39 | $eighty,900 |
| Massachusetts | 270 | .61 | $37 | $76,900 |
| New Jersey | 340 | .66 | $35 | $74,100 |
| California | v,750 | ii.9 | $35 | $73,300 |
| New Hampshire | 90 | 1.04 | $35 | $73,500 |
The highest paying metropolitan areas for fashion designers include St. Louis, MO ($97,300/yr), San Francisco, CA ($83,100/yr), NY-NJ Metro Area ($81,000/yr), Portsmouth, NH ($78,500/twelvemonth), Oakland, CA ($77,800/twelvemonth), Boston, MA ($77,200/yr), Los Angeles, CA ($74,400/yr), Portland, ME ($72,000/yr) and Santa Ana/Anaheim, CA ($71,400). Again, the annual figures are based on Mean Wage. Actual figures may be higher or lower.
Education and Preparation
A available'southward degree in fashion blueprint or fashion merchandising is typically the minimum requirement for entry-level positions that will lead to career advancement opportunities within the industry. Manner design programs teach students the ins and outs of fashion, pattern concepts, industry trends, analysis, textiles, fabrics and how to use computer-aided design (CAD) to develop fashion concepts and apparel designs.
Fashion design programs are instrumental in helping students develop a portfolio - a collection of designs that showcase the educatee'southward design abilities, experience and expertise. A proficient portfolio is the key to landing summit manufacture positions. Most employers will determine whether or not to employ or rent a designer based on their portfolio.
There are just over 300 higher education institutions in the United states that offer art and design programs accredited by the National Association of Schoos of Arts and Design (NASAD). We recommend earning your degree in fashion pattern from a NASAD accredited institution. Many fashion design programs will require application to (one) complete prerequisite courses in art and blueprint before being admitted and/or (2) submit a pocket-size portfolio that demonstrates their creative and artistic ability.
Almost successful mode designers worked their manner up the ranks. Manner designers typically get started in the industry through an apprenticeship, internship or past working as an banana for a while. Internships are particulary useful for students who want to proceeds experience while completing their caste.
Successful designers are artistic, artistic, detailed oriented, are familiar with blueprint technologies, are conclusion makers and communicate well with others.
Accreditation
Accreditation is an of import element of obtaining a quality didactics in fashion design and way merchandising. Obtaining a degree or advanced instruction from an accredited institution volition ensure y'all receive a quality education, that you'll qualify for federal fiscal help, and that when you graduate your degree or diploma will actually mean something.
There are various forms of accreditation - and not all are equal. The about important type of accreditation is "regional" accreditation. About four-year colleges and universities (ie., Harvard, Standford, etc.) are regionally accredited. Earning your degree from a regionally accredited college for fashion design plant will ensure you're getting the best education possible, that your degree will be recognized within the industry, and that yous'll exist able to use your degree/didactics to pursue other college instruction opportunities down the route. Typically, regionally accredited schools and colleges volition only take transfer credits from other regionally accredited institutions. This means that if you earn an associate's degree in fashion design from a nationally accredited community college, you lot'll exist unlikely to transfer the credits you earn to a regionally accredited higher or university - which includes most reputable four-yr colleges and universities in the United States.
The 2nd type of accreditation is "national" accreditation. While national accreditation sounds absurd, regional accreditation is preferable. We recommend earning your degree from a regionally accredited establishment, especially if you programme on pursuing other higher educational activity opportunities downward the route. Again, near regionally accredited colleges and universities will non accept transfer credits from nationally accredited institutions. Earning a degree, certification or diploma from a nationally accredited school is recommended when you lot're only seeking to enhance your skills, set up for entry-level career opportunities, and don't accept plans of pursuing additional education opportunities downwardly the road.
In addition to regional and national accreditation, there is professional accreditation. While regional and national accreditation are general accrediations, professional accredidation apply only to a specific field of study. The most well known professional accrediting trunk in the style design industry is the National Clan of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Most fashion blueprint institutes and schools are accredited past the NASAD.
Chore Outlook
Between 2012 and 2022, the U.South. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that mode design career field will feel a iii% reject in employment. Employment of fashion designers in clothes manufacturing industries will decline over 50% in the U.Due south. during the aforementioned fourth dimension period due to an increment in clothes product in nigh cost efficient international markets. This big subtract in way designer employment in the apparel manufacturing industry is responsible for the overall subtract in fashion designer employment of 3%. Not including the apparel manufacturing manufacture, the growth in employment for fashion designers would exist about the same as the average for all occupations nationwide.
Growth in employment for fashion designers who design habiliment and accessories for retailers and the mass market will go along to be strong over the next decade. New innovation in fabrics, design technologies and styles volition as well spur demand for fashion designers over the adjacent ten years.
The all-time job opportunities in style pattern will be obtained past designers with degrees from reputable schools, who have experience and have developed compelling portfolios that show case their piece of work. However, due to the large number of people seeking employment as way designers, competition for positions will exist potent.
Most job opportunities for fashion designers volition be found in major metropolitan areas in New York and California.
Working Conditions
As of 2014, there were approximately 22,500 fashion designers employed in the U.s.a.. Fashion designers work in wholesale, retail and manufacturing sectors of the fashion design and clothing industries. They work for design firms, retailer, wearing apparel companies, theater and dance companies, as consultants or independently.
The largest number of fashion designers work in wholesaling and manufacturing. The vesture lines and products developed past designers working for by wholesalers and manufacturers are in plough sold to major retailers, specialty apparel stores, online retailers and catalog companies. While many designers dream of working independently and developing their ain clothing line, near fashion designers work as "in-house designers" for large corporations. A few fortunate (and talented) designers will blueprint their own vesture lines and develop their own unique personal brand.
Those manner designers that are self-employed (about 25% of designers) usually pattern ane-of-a-kind, custom apparel for individuals and specialty stores. Many fashion designers who are self-employed started out in the industry working for someone else. Successful way designers often develop article of clothing lines that bear their proper noun (e.g. Valentino, Versace, Armani, Prada, etc.)
Every bit of 2014, the industries that employed the largest number of manner designers include the following.
| Apparel and merchant wholsalers | 28% |
| Clothes manufacturing | 17 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 12% |
| Specialized design services | 5% |
| Electronic markets and brokers | 2% |
Fashion designers normally work normal hours in comfortable offices, but are sometimes required to work long hours to meet deadlines. Freelance designers must be flexible to meet their clients' needs. They also work long hours and must piece of work difficult to observe new clients and satisfy their current customers.
Designers travel extensively to attend trade shows and meet with fabric suppliers in various regions throughout the world. They must constantly communicate with suppliers, manufacturers, and clients worldwide.
The majority of mode designers work in united states of New York and California.
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