Fashion design is a creative career field. If you are interested in learning new things, reading journals, newspapers, books on fashion designs and new trends, then fashion design could be a rewarding profession for you. This field requires a set of skills that range from creativity and market research to fabric selection and sketching. You have to be constantly in tune with the market trends. One should also have a good understanding of the audience’s lifestyle, customers’ needs and requirements to become successful as a fashion designer.
The profession of a fashion designer includes sketching fashion ideas, cutting out, sewing clothing items, attending fashion shows, creating garments by drawing patterns, selecting fabrics and reading magazines to keep up with the latest fashion. To have a successful career as a fashion designer, one should have a strong business sense.
Eligibility criteria:
- Candidates must clear 10+2 or its equivalent from a recognized board in India.
- Candidates must prepare for entrance examinations like NIFT and NID.
- Candidates can also appear at CEED, UCEED, AIEED, and other entrances for admission to the UG and PG design courses.
Types of job roles in fashion design:
Fashion coordinator
They look after the advertising and promotion of the brand. Fashion coordinators work with fabric dealers to bring out the best products.
Fashion consultant
A fashion consultant has to keep a close eye on the latest trends in the markets. They also need to be keen observers of the changing fashion trends.
Makeup artist
They are hired for fashion events, weddings, bridal makeup, pre-wedding photoshoots, etc. Makeup artists are different from beauticians, as they do not take up normal beauty treatment jobs.
Textile designer
They can work independently or as a part of a fashion design team in industrial and non-industrial settings. Textile designers are responsible for designing 2D patterns, repetitive and unique, for knit patterns, woven and printed fabrics.
Fashion journalist
They are responsible for writing or reporting about the latest fashion trends for the magazines. Fashion journalists should know the latest fashion trends and keep in touch with the news in the fashion world.
Fashion stylist
They are responsible for choosing the entire wardrobe for a fashion show. They have to pick up the right pieces from anyone’s wardrobe or from a designer’s collection, which would suit the client’s character, body type, and the kind of occasion the dress is being selected for.
Sketching assistant
They are responsible for making technical sketches of garments for various presentations. These assistants use specifications for the design and fabrication of the garments.
Retail manager
They are responsible for ensuring that promotions and marketing gimmicks work smoothly. Retail managers set daily targets for the staff and ensure customer satisfaction. They also head the human resources and finance departments of smaller enterprises.
There are many employment sectors for a fashion designer, such as corporate businesses, MNCs, consulting firms, colleges and universities, garment stores, media houses, leather companies and many more.
Advantages of becoming a fashion designer:
- Fashion designers are creative and fun providers. They come up with innovations that are trending.
- This profession gives self-satisfaction to an individual. Thus, they get the utmost satisfaction when they get to know that people love their designs.
- A career in fashion design can be promising for those who love travelling. This profession offers a lot of opportunities to travel abroad.
Disadvantages of becoming a fashion designer:
- There are no fixed working hours for fashion designers.
- The fashion industry is competitive and exhaustive.
- Unpredictable pay scale
By –Sanchayita Chattopadhyay
