Fashion Designer
What is a fashion designer?
A fashion designer is someone who loves studying fashion trends, sketch designs, selecting materials and having a part in every aspect of production of their designs. They contribute to the creation of millions, if not billions of pieces of clothing and accessories purchased by consumers.
Fashion designers create clothing for women, men and children. This could include sportswear, maternity wear, outerwear, underwear, formal wear, eyewear and footwear. There are also accessory designers who design belts, scarves, hats, handbags and hosiery.
What does a fashion designer do?
The design process from design concept to final production takes many months. Researching current fashion trends and making predictions about future trends is the first step in creating the design. Some fashion designers do their own research, while others rely on trend reports published by fashion industry trade groups. Trend reports let you know what styles, colors and fabrics will be popular for a given season in the near future. Textile manufacturers use these trend reports to design fabrics and patterns, while fashion designers begin to draw designs.
Designers then visit manufacturers or trade fairs to obtain fabric samples and find out which fabrics to use with the designs they are creating.
A fashion designer is involved in almost every aspect of bringing fashion to the public. Creating the basic design can be done in different ways. It can include storyboards with sketches, working with a mannequin and sewing pieces of material. This first draft of the design is reworked as the designer develops the first basic prototype.
Computer-aided design is being used increasingly in the fashion design industry. Although most designers initially draw designs by hand, a growing number take these handmade sketches and put them on the computer.
The fashion designer's next step is to take the sketch or model and develop a more specific working pattern. Usually, the designer will make a rough model, this is done by sewing cheap material to make a rough model of the design. When this is placed on a mannequin, the designer can see how the material hangs on a human form.
The large design houses hire their own tailors who create the master patterns and sew the prototypes. Designers who work in small design companies, or those new to the business, usually do most of the technical pattern-making and sewing tasks, in addition to designing the clothes. When the garment is complete, the designer will modify, remove, or approve the design to show it in a collection.
A fashion designer usually has total control of a fashion show, often choosing the models, determining the price of each garment, and organizing how the garments will be presented. Most designers have assistants to help with all the small details, but in general, the designer maintains total control.
What is a fashion designer's workplace like?
A fashion designer who works for wholesalers or manufacturers creates designs for the world market. These designs are made in various sizes, colors, and materials. A small number of haute couture designers are self-employed. They create custom designs for individual clients, usually at very high prices. Other haute couture designers sell their designs in their own stores or serve specialty stores or high-end fashion department stores. These designers create a mix of original garments and fashion trends.
Fashion designers employed by manufacturing establishments, wholesalers, or design companies generally work regular hours in well-lit and comfortable environments.
Some fashion designers specialize in footwear design or in costume design for performing arts, films, and television productions. The work of costume designers is similar to other fashion designers, except they must thoroughly research the styles worn during the period in which the show takes place. They may also work with directors to select and create certain costumes. Costume fashion designers make sketches of designs, select fabric and other materials, and oversee the production of the costumes, while staying within the costume budget.
Designers who work freelance or independently generally work on commission. They often have to adjust their workday to fit their clients' schedules and deadlines, which may include evenings or weekends.
Freelance designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller environments and are under constant pressure to please clients and find new ones to maintain a stable income. Regardless of their work environment, all fashion designers occasionally work long hours to meet deadlines or prepare for fashion shows.
The nature of the fashion business requires constant communication with suppliers, manufacturers, and clients around the world. Many fashion designers travel several times a year to trade shows and fashion shows to learn about the latest trends. Designers may also travel frequently to meet with suppliers and manufacturers of fabrics and materials.