Finding a job is a job in itself

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Working in the fashion design industry

Finding a job is a job in itself
Competition for design jobs is intense throughout
the industry, for every 15 buying job there
is only 1 design position! You may need to seek
opportunities to work your way up from roles
such as design room assistant or even pattern
cutter. Top design houses rarely advertise their
vacancies, employment opportunities are
frequently secured via speculative applications
and effective networking. It is, therefore,
important to try to build relationships with more
established designers and companies by taking a
proactive approach, visiting trade shows and
making contacts through work placement
opportunities. Crucial to your success in finding
a job will be the strength of your portfolio,
dont let this stagnate after graduation,
continually update and review your
work. Portfolio tip when approaching a company
always try to include a brief or some
sketches that relate directly to the companies
current collection. They will be
impressed! Youll need to show great awareness of
current and future trends and to able to
demonstrate that you are up-to date with
technological advances. Please dont forget the
non-design skills you have developed on your
course. Recent surveys have show that fashion and
textile employers also look for a willingness to
work, strong communication skills, good
timekeeping, adaptability and a flexible
attitude. This handout will help you to focus on
role of the fashion designer, what you need to do
to land your first job and provide some advice to
those looking to operate as freelance
designers. Good luck!
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The jobs Job title designer Fashion designers
work on the design of a clothing range. Some may
focus completely on a specialist area, such as
sportswear, childrenswear or accessories. The
main markets they design for are haute couture,
designer ready-to-wear and high street
fashion. The work tasks depend on the market the
designer is producing for, but core
responsibilities include ?? creating/visualising
an idea and making a sketch by hand or using
computer aided design ?? analysing trends in
fabrics, colours and shapes ?? keeping up to date
with emerging fashion trends ?? planning and
developing ranges
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?? working with others in the design team, such
as buyers and forecasters, to develop a product
to meet the brief ?? liasing closely with sales,
buying and production teams to ensure the item
complements other products ?? developing a
pattern that is then cut and sewn into sample
garments ?? sourcing, selecting and buying
fabrics ?? adapting existing designs for mass
production ?? supervising the making up of sample
garments ?? overseeing production ?? negotiating
with customers and suppliers ?? managing
marketing, finances and other business activities
if working on a self-employe basis ?? There is
scope for travel abroad, for example to attend
trade shows or to meet suppliers Experienced
designers with larger companies may focus more on
the design aspect, with patter cutters and
machinists preparing sample garments. In smaller
companies these, and other task may be part of
the designer's role. The working environment
varies between companies and can range from a
Victorian-style factory, to a modern
purpose-built office or a small, smart design
studio. Freelance designers may work from home or
in rented studio areas. Skills and knowledge
employers usually expect to see a portfolio that
clearly demonstrates the ability to design.
Potential candidates will also need to show
evidence of the following
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?? creative flair, including an eye for colour
and a feel for fabrics ?? design and visualising
skills, either by hand or through computer aided
design ?? experience of computer aided design
packages such as Illustrator and Photoshop ??
practical skills, including pattern cutting and
sewing ?? a proactive approach ?? commercial
awareness and business orientation ??
self-promotion and confidence ?? interpersonal,
communication and networking skills ??
negotiation and influencing skills ?? team
working skills ?? organisational and time
management skills Training during a designer's
career, training opportunities are frequently
limited in scope as career development may result
in only subtle changes in work. However, larger
firms may provide business and computer training,
which could include computer aided design or
other specialist software, such as Photoshop and
Illustrator, to help design patterns. Pay and
conditions typical starting salaries range from
?14,000 - ?18,000, or ?16,000 - ?20,000 for
London-based roles. A good junior designer can
expect to earn ?30,000 - ?35,000 within three to
four years. Prospects/promotion progression can
be slow, particularly at the start of your
career. Being proactive and making contacts in
the industry is essential in a sector where
people frequently move jobs in order to progress
their career and there is a lot of pressure to
produce new ideas