How to become a Fashion Designer

If you are interested and thinking of taking up fashion designing as a career, you should start preparing for it. You can start preparing for it by taking up classes in basic art, drawing and design classes. Some schools even offer fashion design courses. The prerequisites for getting into any post-secondary design program are high school diploma or GED, a portfolio of sketches and other proof of artistic talent.

In order to get a strong foothold in the door of this already competitive industry, fashion designers need to hone their skills and it can be best done with an associate or a bachelor’s degree. Both associate’s and bachelor’s degrees train students in computer-aided fashion design, draping techniques, the history of fashion, textiles, pattern making, garment construction, product development among others. While an associate’s degree program in fashion design emphasizes basic and intermediate skill development, bachelor’s programs often devote more time to industrial production methods, the fashion industry, and specializations.

In order to sharpen skills and know-how the industry works in the real world, students should get into an internship. This real-time, hands-on experience will give you the opportunity to observe the day to day operations in a professional setting. An internship is also a great way to build your network and make new contacts.

Making your own portfolio is one of the basic criteria for a fashion designer before they start applying for jobs. A portfolio is a collection of a designer’s best work intended to showcase their style or method of work. A portfolio is used by the designer to show employers their talent and versatility by showing different samples of current work. A fashion designer can fill their portfolio with all the work that they have done during their degree program.

 In order to know the functioning of the industry, it is important to obtain a job. Behind the creative flair is the business acumen that is needed to run a business successfully and a real-time job will help you hone your business skills. In addition to learning the creative side of the field, a real-time job will familiarize students with the concepts of finance, sales, strategic thinking etc. 

Once you have obtained a job, you can work towards advancing to higher levels. There are at least three levels of advancement. As a part of a large design department, you can work towards being a department head or a head designer. If you have spent a required number of years in the industry and you’re pro at your game, you could be hired by a specialty design service firm that caters to upscale clients. You can also start your own design label. 

For those wanting to begin a career in fashion designing in a relatively short period of time, an associate’s degree in fashion design is a great option. It typically takes two years to complete an associate’s degree and costs relatively less than a bachelor’s case. Associate degree programs in fashion design equip you with fundamentals of fashion, technical design skills such as tailoring, sewing, and basic fashion theories. Courses may include 3D design, color theory, computer-aided design, fashion business, computer-aided drafting (CAD), logistics, marketing, fashion, and merchandising. Associate degree programs in fashion design are commonly offered by community colleges.

There are two kinds of fashion degrees offered by community colleges as associate degrees. They are Apparel design and Technology of Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. While the former helps you develop your portfolio through illustrations, computer-aided designs and pattern making. The latter option combines creative creativity with data analysis to drive sales and revenue. 

If you don't have enough experience but want to establish yourself in the industry at a faster rate, a bachelor’s degree in fashion design might help you do so. Bachelor’s degree in fashion design is a more advanced way to substitute a lack of experience. A bachelor’s degree will provide with all the state-of-the-art facilities to enhance your learning experience which is unlikely to be found in community colleges. The subjects taught during a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design are creative design, technical design, and product development. The curriculum focuses on apparel construction, trend forecasting, conceptual design, fashion illustration, pattern making, and the business principles of the fashion industry. As a part of the program, you will have to present a design collection at the end of your four-year graduate degree program.

Just like associate degree, bachelor’s degree programs in fashion designing have 2 major fields: design and fashion merchandising. As a design student, you will of course learn the design process that meets the functional, expressive, and expressive needs and desires of consumers. Fashion merchandising will include subjects like planning, sourcing, development, communications, etc.

A Master’s degree in fashion design helps you further specialize in a subcategory or provides the opportunity to attend an international school of art. Most bachelor’s degree graduates work for a few years in the industry building contacts and getting to know how the industry works before deciding to pursue a master’s degree in fashion design.