Do you love fashion? Have you dreamed of becoming a fashion designer all your life? There are many things you will need to do first before you can enter this career.
Learning how to become a fashion designer is a big deal. This can be a very rewarding career, but it’s also a very competitive area. Let’s look at the job duties of a fashion designer and the steps to become one.
Job Duties of a Fashion Designer
As a fashion designer, you will likely design and make shoes, apparel, and accessories. You will come up with preliminary designs all the way through to the finished product.
Some of the most common job duties you will have as a fashion designer include:
- Creating designs – As a fashion designer, you will use many tools to create designs. Some tools are as simple as pencil and paper. Other tools include computer-aided design programs.
- Select the Right Materials – After a preliminary design has been created, you will likely need to select the materials. This may include factoring in the durability, color, and texture. You may also look at the sustainability of the materials and the current trends.
- Create Prototypes – Bringing your designs to life is next. With the right materials and your design, you will create a sample or prototype.
- Work with Models – It’s also common for fashion designers to work with models. They will likely wear your samples and show them off for you.
- Deciding on Collection Themes – You will likely design more than just standalone items. Most fashion designers create collections with themes.
- Helping with Marketing – Once your items have been created, they need to be marketed. Marketing to retailers is very common in fashion.
- Overseeing the Production Process – You will also spend time working with manufacturers to oversee the process of creating your designs. This may include visiting the facility and looking at finished products.
These are just some of the main job duties of a fashion designer.
How to Become a Fashion Designer in 5 Steps
Step #1 – Complete High School
Before you can become a fashion designer, you’ll need to complete high school. This type of career requires a college degree, so finishing high school is necessary.
You want to do very well in high school and take any design courses you can. Good SAT and ACT scores can help you get into a better bachelor’s degree program. Consider using a top SAT or ACT prep course to improve your score.
Step #2 – Get Your Bachelor’s Degree
You will need a bachelor’s degree in fashion design, visual art, or fashion merchandising. Most employers will require a degree to become a fashion designer.
If you go into visual art, you will learn about color theory and design. Those studying fashion design will learn how to develop clothing and work with fabrics. If you study fashion merchandising, you will learn about the business aspects of the fashion industry.
Step #3 – Create a Portfolio
While a degree is very helpful, your portfolio is far more important. A well-designed portfolio can go a very long way for you. Save your sketches and images from your time in school.
Add any prototypes, new sketches, and designs to your portfolio. Most employers will look at your portfolio as a part of the interview process.
Step #4 – Work as an Intern
One of the best ways to gain experience in the fashion industry is by working as an intern. You can assist an experienced fashion designer and learn some of the basic skills. This can be the right way to gain experience and move into a fashion designer position.
Step #5 – Specialize
Fashion designers will often specialize. You might specialize in luxury clothing, footwear, costume, or accessories. This can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Common Skills You Need to Become a Fashion Designer
If you want to become a fashion designer, you want to develop the right skills. Some of the best skills to develop include:
- Art Skills – You want to become an artist. Fashion designers are artists and spend time sketching and creating products.
- Computer Skills – Most designers will use computer-aided design programs. You want to learn how to use these programs before applying for fashion designer jobs.
- Communication Skills – You will need to be a very good communicator to work as a fashion designer. Often, you will work with assistants, interns, influencers, clients, and others.
- Sewing – You will need to sew quite often to create samples of your designs. Most fashion designers are experts at sewing.
- Deep Understanding of Fabrics – You will need to know the different types of fabrics well. Since you will have to choose the materials to use, a deep understanding of fabrics is necessary.
Along with these skills, you will need to have persistence, a willingness to travel, and business knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Fashion Designer
How much can I make as a fashion designer?
You may think of a career in fashion as very lucrative, but fashion designers don’t become rich overnight. Indeed.com has the average annual salary of a fashion designer at about $55K per year. Some employers may pay closer to $77K per year, while others may pay less.
Newark, Austin, Los Angeles, and Manhattan are the highest paying locations for fashion designers in the United States. Of course, you might make more working in a top fashion city, such as Paris.
What type of benefits do fashion designers get from employers?
Working for an employer as a fashion designer will likely give you access to many benefits. You might be able to work from home and you will likely get access to health, life, vision, and dental insurance. Some employers will provide tuition reimbursement, paid time off, a flexible schedule, and an employee stock purchase plan, too.
Can I become a fashion designer without a college degree?
Yes, but it’s not nearly as easy. This is a very competitive career and a degree helps. With the right talent and skills, you can become a fashion designer without a degree, however.
Getting a degree will help you learn the skills you need, however. When it comes down to it, your portfolio will speak for you more than your degree.
If this is the route you want to go, you will need to:
- Learn the right design software
- Study other fashion designers
- Create new sketches regularly
- Study sewing and craftsmanship
- Learn the terms used in fashion
- Practice creating your own prototypes
- Attend fashion events
- Create your own collection
There are online courses you can take in fashion design. If you decide to become a fashion designer without a degree, you might be better off working for yourself.
What type of hours do fashion designers work?
As a fashion designer, you will likely work long hours, especially at first. You will work a regular 9 to 5 schedule with overtime. Most fashion designers will attend fashion shows, work evenings, and work weekends.
Travel may be a big part of your job when you first start. Entry-level positions often work long hours and spend time traveling to fashion shows for their employer.
What type of work environment can I expect as a fashion designer?
It’s common to work in an office environment and a manufacturing setting. Faison designers may also work in studios. A common workday will include working with computers, sewing machines, and more.
Which cities are the best for fashion designers?
New York City and Los Angeles are known as the largest hubs in the United States. There are smaller markets you can work within, as well. If you’re self-employed, a smaller market is usually the best option.
Can I become a self-employed fashion designer?
Yes, you can work for yourself as a fashion designer. Most designers work for footwear, clothing, or accessory manufacturing companies. However, many designers also work for themselves.
If you want to develop your own brand or clothing label, this is the way to go. You will need to learn how to develop products, manufacturing, and how to market your designs.
It’s also possible to work as a freelance designer. This means you will take on short-term contracts from fashion companies. You will develop products for them without becoming an employee.
Do I need to specialize as a fashion designer?
You don’t have to specialize, but it’s a great way to become more hirable. The fashion industry covers many different niches. You can choose a niche as your specialty, such as women’s swimwear, accessories design, men’s clothing, or sportswear.
Becoming a fashion designer might be the right career for you. Maybe you’ve been dreaming of this career all your life.
There are many great opportunities in the fashion industry. If you want to become a fashion designer, these are the steps to your new career. Choose a specialty and start working towards your new career today.
Jordan Fabel
Covering different 'paths' that people's lives can take. Creative, foster parent, ticket dismissal, you get the idea. Exploring the requirements, certifications, exams, and obviously, approved courses along each path. I, personally, am the high school dropout son of two teacher parents. So how did I get here? That story is coming soon!