Requirments to become a Fashion Designer

There are two skills which any good fashion designer possesses: sewing and drawing. Sewing is obviously of vital importance, but it helps to be able to draw/sketch your ideas on paper. These are perhaps the two most fundamental skills required in order to become a fashion designer.

 

Fashion designers create the designs for clothing and accessories in stores around the world. However, few designers become as successful as Armani, Karan or Versace. Most work for mass-market manufacturers, designing basic pieces of clothing.

You can always learn both drawing and sewing in fashion school (actually, those are typically mandatory classes), but creativity and a passion for fashion is something you must have in your blood.

But becoming a successful fashion designer requires a lot more than simply being able to sew and draw. Becoming a successful fashion designer requires determination, commitment, and equally important, a comprehensive understanding of how the fashion industry works.

Knowing the business side of the fashion industry can literally mean the difference between a highly successful and completely unknown fashion designer.

A Fashion Design Program at a reputable school can prepare you with the skills and knowledge you’ll need to break into this exciting, competitive industry. You’ll learn firsthand from professionals in the field in a structured and practical setting. You’ll learn how things are done in the industry and how to do them efficiently so you can make the most of your time. You’ll be guided through the exact steps you’ll need to take in order to start your career as a fashion designer and you’ll be well prepared and ready to face the challenges that await you.

Instructions

• Be honest with yourself about your ability to sketch and your eye for design and detail. The competition is fierce in this field, and you'll need a strong inner drive to succeed. 
• Increase your chances for success by obtaining a two-year or four-year degree in fashion design. Ask your high school guidance counselor for a list of well-known fashion design schools. Expect to show samples of your sketches as part of your application.
• Take as many marketing and business courses as possible, in addition to design courses. Knowledge of the business end of the fashion industry is vital to your career.
• Develop a working knowledge of a variety of design-related software programs.
• Put together a portfolio of your own designs. It must show how creative you are and convince potential employers that you would be an asset to their business.
• Set up an internship as quickly as possible. You will gain valuable experience, and it might lead to your first job after graduation.
• Make as many industry connections as you can while you are in school. Include people in design-related fields, such as advertising.
• Regularly read fashion bibles such as "Women's Wear Daily" and "Vogue" to remain current on trends and future trends.

Tips & Warnings 

• Remember that most fashion designers are employed in New York or, to a lesser extent, Los Angeles.
• Expect to work long hours at a low salary initially, doing relatively obscure design work.
• Learn how to use a sewing machine. Your designs will be more impressive if you can show prospective employers the finished item, along with the sketch.
• The dropout rate in this field is high, because of the low pay and the poor opportunity for advancement.