What is a Fashion Designer
Does the glamour and excitement of the fashion industry intrigue you? Do you think that you have what it takes to be a fashion designer? If you are interested in a young, fresh, fast-paced world, then a career in fashion could be perfect for you. The fashion industry is extremely competitive, but tremendously rewarding as well.
Everybody knows what a fashion designer is, and if you don't, just look at the clothes you are wearing. A fashion designer somewhere is responsible. Fashion, however, is a broad term that encompasses much more than just clothes. Someone wanting to specialize in different niches of the fashion industry could choose to focus on accessories, footwear or clothing design. Also, a career in fashion is also a relatively broad term. Some people are more interested in men's apparel, others could want to specialize in sports apparel. Whatever the clothing type, there is a place for you in the fashion world.
The Fashion Design Process
Fashion is a cutting edge industry and is always changing and evolving. Designers must stay ahead of the curve in order to remain competitive. From initial conception to the final product, the design process could take anywhere from 18 to 24 months. Research on current trends is the first step in this process, and in this stage, it is imperative for the fashion designer to make predictions on future trends. The designer will also be sketching out designs to help visualize the final product. To help their research, designers will visit trade shows and textile manufacturers to update themselves on the latest trend predictions and to choose appropriate fabrics swatches and samples for their design.
Once the sketches and textile samples have been selected, designers are ready for the prototype article. The prototype will typically use cheaper materials and then tried on by a model for adjustments to the garment. After the designer has edited the garment, the design is ready to come to fruition. Samples of the garment are made and presented to clothing retailers. Fashion and trade shows are also venues where designs are shown a few times a year. Retailers then place orders on the items, which are then manufactured and sold through the retailers.
This is generally the process for most fashion designers who work for large fashion design companies; however, some designers choose to work for themselves and market to individual clients. Other high-fashion (haute couture) designers sell in their own boutiques or cater high-end department stores.
Some fashion designers choose to specialize their talents in making costumes for television, movies and performing arts. Costume designers generally operate within a pre-defined concept, and within a strict budget as well.
