- Step 1
Research sewing factories that will be able to produce the type of garments you want to sell, unless you plan to sew every garment by hand. For example, if your line focuses on knits, make sure that the factory can do knits. Most factories specialize in a certain type of garment such as lingerie, woven garments or hats (see Resources below).
- Step 2
Scout for a fabric supplier. Remember that quality is what will make your garments sell, so don't choose a fabric supplier based solely on price (see Resources below).
- Step 3
Secure a business loan. To start your business and buy supplies, you will need at least $500,000 to start. The easiest way to get this money, assuming you have good credit, will probably be a business loan. You will need to write up a business plan detailing your ideas and goals for the company, a good portfolio and samples of your work. You may also need a co-signer or collateral to secure the loan (see Resources below).
- Step 4
Start production of your line using the sewing factories and fabric suppliers you found in Steps 3 and 4.
- Step 5
Choose a location for your shop. Make sure that it is on a street with a lot of traffic. Ideally, choose a shop that has a large window were you can display your wares.
- Step 6
Get the word out. Start using your advertising budget and call up all your contacts and invite them to the store's grand opening.
- Step 7
Get your garments into boutiques. Call owners or managers of stores of the section your items will be featured in. Explain who you are, why you are calling and ask if you can show them some samples. You may want to offer selling your fashions in the store as consignment.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Starting a Small Business in Fashion
Fashions: Women and Men
The Elizabethan age brought about a great development of culture in sixteenth century England. One way this great development of culture came about is through fashion and costume. Fashion in the Elizabethan age was a way of expressing one's self: the fashiotruly helped to reveal the general culture of the period.
In the early stages of the Elizabethan era women generally wore clothes that covered them completely. The bodice or the top part of the gown was generally tight fitting with square shoulders. The yoke was usually of a dark color, and there was often some type of high collar. The collar would extend all the way to the chin and usually would ruffle at the top.
The sleeves were usually full from the shoulder to the elbow and then more tight and form-fitting from the elbow to the wrist. At the wrist the sleeves would open wide into a large ruffle.
The gown usually contained a v-shaped point at the waistline and then expanded into a sort of funnel shape reaching the ground. The shoes the women wore in this beginning period were not important because the gown reached to the floor; the shoes most often were not seen. As for jewelry, many woman in this period wore large pendants of gold around their necks. Earrings were not very common except among the very sophisticated, who would wear pearls.
The headgear of the beginning of the Elizabethan period was an English version of the French hood. This "hood" was placed near the back of the head and was worn with a stiff base that was very close-fitting. Many women in this period also opted for small jeweled caps decorated with jewels, pearls, or lace.
As the period went on, the women's style of dress saw a few changes. The bodice of a dress was still tight-fitting, but instead of a v-shaped waistline, the bodice was cut in a straight line around the hips. The sleeves also changed. Instead of ruffling between the shoulder and the elbow, they were tight-fitting all the way down to the wrist. The skirt became heavily embroidered, yet still remained long enough to drag the ground.
The shoes of the men were generally made with the finest of leather. They contained a small leather heel and were often decorated with slashes. The headgear was either a small flat hat made of velvet or silk or a tall crown hat that was covered by fine fabric or feathers. Some of the more distinguished men wore small capes with big-edged collars.
As the period continued, so did the development of men's fashion in this culture. Stockings began to be replaced by garters, and silk stockings were replace by horse hair trunk hose. The most distinguished men began to wear crowned beaver hats and wide cloaks held by a chain and a crucifix. The tailored stockings were plain. The pumps had rounded toes and closed at the ankles. The bonnet was trimmed around the edged and decorated with a plume on one side.The men also began to carry short perfumed gloves.
There really isn't much to be said about the fashion of children in this age. They usually wore smaller versions of the adult fashions, and even the infant girls were required to wear long gowns. The boys generally wore miniature versions of clothing worn by the men. Their doublets and shirts had slashes in them, and they wore silk stockings of color underneath. The girls generally wore long braids in their hair; the braids would either be tied with ribbon or made into a crown.
Throughout the Elizabethan period there was a great development of culture in England. The influences of this culture can be seen through the fashion and costume of the sixteenth century English people.
The Importance of Fashion
Fashion is important in many different areas. Economic and political trends, current events, and social issues are reflected in fashion. Changes in fashion reflect shifts in the economy and make up of the populations. Fashion serves as a historical record of culture and life style events, and can be an indicator of what is occurring in a society in a certain time.
Throughout the history of fashion, clothing has played an important role in personal appearance. It can identify different social positions. It affects self esteem and interactions with others.
Fashion affects global and local economies. Many businesses benefit from the fashion industry other than designers, stores, and manufacturers, including hotels, taxi's, and restaurants. Fashion also reflects the economic environment. If there is less money, then styles become less important. Economical and political conditions always affect fashion!
In the World of Fashion Design..
Within the "World of Fashion Design" everything begins with a thought..., an idea. The idea can be based on almost anything that caught the designer's eye; a place, like an exotic location, a movie, gardens, an old building, etc. Jessica, this teen Fashion Designer, shown above, is inspired and gets most of her ideas by watching old movies, surfing the web, and looking through fashion magazines. She challenges herself constantly with making costumes and dresses from old classic movies. She has made garments from such movies as; Pride & Prejudice, Titanic, Gone with the Wind, a Marilyn Monroe classic dress, Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Memoirs of a Gashia, and more. She gets the basic idea of her design from the movie, however, her design, color, fabric, print, and finished garment, comes from her mind and her creativity.
You will find that most Fashion Designers eventually will specialize in a certain type of clothing or accessory, like; a hat designer, purse designer, children's wear designer, swimwear designer, ladies wear designer, or men's wear designer, just to name a few.
Truly successful careers in fashion design usually begin at the top design schools in the world. Parsons School of Design, as seen on Project RUNWAY, is one of the leading schools in fashion design. It is located in New York.
Whether you attend the top fashion schools in the world or acquire the skills on your own, you will need an impressive portfolio. Your portfolio should demonstrate your artistic talents, skills, creativity, and style.
What is Fashion Marketing?
How do the clothes reach the public and the target consumers after they are designed and fabricated? That is where the Fashion Marketing team comes in. Fashion Marketing combines the elements of advertising, design and business administration, as well as a solid understanding of the fashion world, in order to take a new clothing line and get it the attention it needs to be successful.
Who would be more interested in a red A-line skirt with blue embroidery: a new mother or a 15 year-old girl? These are the questions a good Fashion Marketer must be prepared to ask and answer when working with a new clothing line. Fashion Marketers have a good sense of popular culture and on what will be stylish in the future. In a sense, they are the visionaries of the field who not only recognize what will be successful and which consumer group will be the most interested, but know how to market the clothes to these target groups.
Most of Fashion Marketing is behind-the-scenes: keeping abreast of fashion trends and consumer buying habits; putting together advertising campaigns that target specific consumer groups and appeal to their tastes; being mindful of the broader picture of the fashion world and what new style innovations are being introduced into the field. Fashion Marketers are the savvy idea people, the connectors between the designers and their public.
Career Options in Fashion
There are many ways to get involved in the fashion industry. For the more design minded, with an eye towards one day creating their own lines, working as an apprentice or an assistant for a professional designer would offer invaluable insight into the industry. In fact, most designers put in their time over the years by working their way through the ranks.
For those individuals who are more interested in a focus on fashion marketing, it might be helpful to get involved at the business level by working as a marketing assistant or advertising intern. Fashion marketers must also have a good sense of the fashion industry, so working for a design house in any entry level position would certainly provide a helpful perspective.
Many department stores and boutiques offer entry-level 'buyer' positions that would be a good way to get involved with fashion merchandising. Fashion merchandising offers many avenues to follow, including the following:
- Assistant Merchandiser, Assistant Merchandise Stylist, or Customer Service Representative for a fashion manufacturer;
- Assistant Sales Manager or Showroom Sales Representative in the fashion wholesaling business;
- Department Manager, Assistant Buyer, Assistant Fashion Promotion/Special Events Coordinator, or Visual Merchandising Assistant for a fashion retailer;
- Buying Office Assistant for a resident buying office;
- Advertising Representative or Stylist for an advertising agency.
Fashion Journalism
Do you watch the Oscars and other award shows just to comment on what the stars are wearing? Maybe you have a certain talent, or an eye for picking up new trends before anyone else does. If so, you're going to find a fabulous career as a fashion journalist.
To break into the fashion journalism world, it's important to find the right educational institution that can teach you the tools you need to start working as a successful fashion writer. There are specific schools all over the country that offer classes to help you become a fashion journalist. Brooks College in Long Beach, California is a practical, career-focused school that offers a number of related degrees to get you moving towards a job as a fashion writer in no time. IADT, the International Academy of Design & Technology, is located in Chicago and offers Associate and Bachelor degrees in the industry.
Wherever you decide to go to study fashion journalism, it's a good idea to do some research. Is it important to you to live near fashion capitals like New York, Los Angeles, or even Milan or Paris? The fashion industry is so large today that there are many different kinds of fashion writers out there. Besides the more obvious "couture" culture to report about, fashion journalists may stake out their own identity by writing on new trends like "wearable technology," focusing on celebrity fashions, or researching consumer trends. While it is not necessary to choose your niche before entering a fashion degree program, it's always good to keep your eye on where you're headed!
It's easy to get more information about fashion journalism. You can find all you need to know for your career by first familiarizing yourself with information about schools for fashion writers. Check out Top Fashion Schools to get all the best and latest information conveniently from the Web.
How can a person become a GREAT fashion designer?
- Develop a working knowledge of design-related software programs. In today's world, CAD-type software and programs such as Adobe Photo shop and Illustrator provide a vital capability to fashion designers. It is important to become familiar with as wide a variety of software programs as possible.
- Subscribe to trade newspapers and fashion magazines. This is a great way to keep up-to-date with fashion trends. Industry professionals regularly tap into these publications and successful fashion designers should do the same.
- Make as many industry connections as possible. Many of these relationships can be developed in school. Include people in related fields, such as advertising.
Qualifications to become a good fashion designer include a strong eye for color and detail, a sense of balance and proportion, and an appreciation for beauty. Fashion designers also need good communication and problem-solving skills, as well as sketching ability. But most important of all is knowing what the job entails and the steps one needs to take in order to be successful in this profession. A person who is armed with this knowledge is well ahead of the game in terms of career preparation and can look forward to embarking upon an interesting and rewarding career.
How To Become A Fashion Designer
Fashion design is a profession that tends to attract people at an early age. Someone who spends a large portion of their youth reading fashion magazines or making clothes for their dolls usually knows well before they become an adult that a career as a fashion designer has a particular appeal. However, there are many facets of the profession and many things to know about what it will take to forge a successful career in this field. This article provides an overview of the profession in terms of job duties, salary levels, and employment prospects; and it also reviews the skills, training, and other requirements needed to become a top-notch fashion designer.
What does a fashion designer do?
Fashion designers are the people who create the clothing and accessories purchased by the billions every year by consumers. In doing this, designers regularly study fashion trends, sketch designs, select colors and fabrics, and oversee the process by which their original designs come to fruition in the form of new clothes and accessories. Some fashion designers specialize in clothing (men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel), footwear (shoes and boots), or accessory (handbags, belts, scarves, hats, hosiery, etc) design, whereas others create designs in all of these fashion categories.
Top Twenty Fashion Trends for Summer 2010
This list of top twenty fashion looks combines main and micro fashion trends for 2010. Each of the latest looks listed below is examined in more detail on this and other pages of the Fashion-era.com website.
- TOP-TO-TOE FASHION SILHOUETTE 2010 - Volume sleeves/ornate yokes create wider shoulder focus. Note the swelling bell-like fuller skirt silhouettes - bubble, bloused and hoiked hemlines. DRAPING - Architectural geometric draping methods, which disguise/flatter imperfect bodies. Above/on knee dresses. See right: - Hobbs SS10 - Collybrooke Bubble Dress £299.
- NEW PASTELS - The Sherbet Tones - Pink, peach, banana, lemon, lilac, powder blue, eau de nil, mint, jade, aqua. See right: Gerry Weber trench.
- COLOUR BLOCKING - Bold Brights - Striking colours e.g. orange coral/fuchsia or yellow/turquoise. Acid brights, brilliant clear blues.
- FASHION LOOKS - THE NEW PRETTY WOMAN - The Romantics - Petal print dresses, silk lace camis, scallop edges, satin, lace, flounces, ribbons, bows, soft nude tones of shell pink, lace bra effects. Black on pink blush.
- UNDERWEAR WORN AS OUTERWEAR - Corsetry Underpinning - Applied tapes/lace, cut outs. Negligee dresses. Printed Tanks. LACE - Lace is used as a contrast and also as a base fabric. Often worked in flesh tones or creams. See right: Long Sleeve Lace Body, £15 - Yogoego.com.
- TRENCHCOATS - REWORKED CLASSICS - Trench coats in beige and creams, bold brights and pretty pastels. Above knee Macs in every colour. Short cropped Macs.
- UTILITY CHIC - Utility is nothing like 90's grunge. This is modern utility chic for the twentens with chinos, cargo pants, utility summer trousers. SPORTS STARS LOOKS - Baggie Trackies in luxury fabrics. JUMPSUITS - Military fashion styling.
- NAUTICAL STRIPES - Red, blue or black with white. Wide/Narrow Striped Knits. Striped tops, dresses and outerwear.
- Perennial DENIM DAYS - Distressed denim dresses, shorts, military jackets, jeans. Washed out looks. Closely aligned to utility chic and nautical.
- LOOSE TAILORING - Chic loose blazers and trousers. The long leaner blazer is relaxed and loose - but not oversized. Right - Ivory Boyfriend Blazer Jacket by Mint Velvet jacket, £85.
- ANIMAL PRINTS - Digitally Enhanced Animal patterns in colours or neutrals - grey + black + white.
- TRIBAL BEAT - Safari, khaki and batik looks. Primitive/Jungle prints, clashing abstract print mixes. OTT chunky jewellery. See dress right: ASOS.com Africa Collection.
EXOTIC TRAVELLER - GYPSY/ROMANY/SPANISH/TURKISH NOMAD LOOKS - Bizarre Bazaar Exotic Materials. - WOMAN IN WHITE - Summer days - cool architectural linen, torn edge looks, blazers, jersey draping, gypsy flounces.
- HAREM INSPIRED TROUSERS - FLAT and Peg-top trousers. Narrower legs balance wider top silhouette. Baggie Trackies. TREGGINGS. Skeggings.
- ROSES/FLORALS - Superimposed flower forms as textured dress necklines, flower hemlines, floral sandal and corsage decoration.
PETAL PRINTS, TEXTURED GRAPHIC STATEMENT PRINTS UTILISING FLORAL FORMS - See right - Floral border print dress - Uttam Pink Lilyana Summer Dress, £55.00, Uttam Hot Pink Maya Cropped Cardigan, £39.50, Uttam London at ColourfulFashion.com.
- FABRIC PRINTS & FABRIC TEXTURES
Digitally Enhanced Fabric Prints - Petal Prints - Clashing Prints - Firework Bursts -1970s Prints - Spots - Animal Patterns. Border prints. Raw edges, natural ecrus and torn paper looks in fabrics. Short/long tassel and fringe trims. - COLOURS - MAIN PANTONE COLOUR PALETTE SPRING 2010 - Turquoise, Tomato Puree, Fusion Coral, Violet, Tuscany, Aurora (Yellow), Amparo Blue, Pink Champagne, Dried Herb and Eucalyptus. See more on colours on the colour trends page for 2010. Especially note - Turquoise - Cobalt Blue - Lilac Violet - Green, plus the rise of rose coral/orange red. IMPORTANT SUBTLE COLOURS FOR 2010 - Solid Soft Blush Pink with Black. NEUTRALS - Café Latté, beige, cream, stone, warm ecru and soft khaki. MONOCHROME MIXES - GREYS, BLACK, WHITE. GLOSSY GOLD TONES - Glittery gleaming lames, heirloom chic morphing to copper burnishing for fall 2010.
- KNITWEAR - Printed Knitwear, intarsia patterned knits, rib knits, cable knits, uneven draping and cardigans. Pattern, stripes and cable combos in knits. Corsage flowers on knit necklines. Knee length cardigan coats - watch this knit coat trend develop next winter.
- ACCESSORIES -
JEWELLERY - TEXTURED BIB NECKLACES - Tribal and nomadic influence in jewellery. Colourful layered bangles and cuffs. Multi row necklaces. Chandelier earrings, teardrop gem earrings with pave surround.
BAGS to BUMBAGS - Coloured bags all colours, quilted with ladylike chain braided handles compete with neat clutches, denim bags.
BAGS AND BELTS FEATURING FLOWER FORMS - Appliqué corsage effects.
BELTS - Studded and spiked belts. Coloured 6 and 7cm deep, belts with massive Boho disc closures. Bow belts.
METAL HARDWARE - VISIBLE ZIPS, STUDS, BIKER BUCKLES - all are used to enhance the surface texture of shoe boots and clogs.
LEATHERWORK - Leatherwork featuring stencil and cutwork punchwork lace effects.
FABULOUS FOOTWEAR - Strapped biker boot cut out sandals. Shaped carved geometric heels. Clogs, wedges, chunky platforms. Hot colours, stripes, spots and animal print footwear with bows, buckles, roses and primary colour contrast bindings.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Fashion design terms
- A fashion designer conceives garment combinations of line, proportion, color, and texture. While sewing and pattern-making skills are beneficial, they are not a pre-requisite of successful fashion design. Most fashion designers are formally trained or apprenticed.
- A pattern maker (or pattern cutter) drafts the shapes and sizes of a garment's pieces. This may be done manually with paper and measuring tools or by using an AutoCAD computer software program. Another method is to drape fabric directly onto a dress form. The resulting pattern pieces can be constructed to produce the intended design of the garment and required size. Formal training is usually required for working as a pattern marker.
- A tailor makes custom designed garments made to the client's measure; especially suits (coat and trousers, jacket and skirt, et cetera). Tailors usually undergo an apprenticeship or other formal training.
- A textile designer designs fabric weaves and prints for clothes and furnishings. Most textile designers are formally trained as apprentices and in school.
- A stylist co-ordinates the clothes, jewelry, and accessories used in fashion photography and catwalk presentations. A stylist may also work with an individual client to design a coordinated wardrobe of garments. Many stylists are trained in fashion design, the history of fashion and historical costume, and have a high level of expertise in the current fashion market and future market trends. However, some simply have a strong aesthetic sense for pulling great looks together.
- A buyer selects and buys the mix of clothing available in retail shops, department stores and chain stores. Most fashion buyers are trained in business and/or fashion studies.
- A seamstress sews ready to wear or mass produced clothing by hand or with a sewing machine, either in a garment shop or as a sewing machine operator in a factory. She (or he) may not have the skills to make (design and cut) the garments, or to fit them on a model.
- A teacher of fashion design teaches the art and craft of fashion design in art or fashion school.
- A custom clothier makes custom-made garments to order, for a given customer.
- A dressmaker specializes in custom-made women's clothes: day, cocktail, and evening dresses, business clothes and suits, trousseaus, sports clothes, and lingerie.
- An illustrator draws and paints clothing designs for commercial use.
- A fashion forecaster predicts what colours, styles and shapes will be popular ("on-trend") before the garments are on sale in stores.
- A model wears and displays clothes at fashion shows and in photographs.
- A fit model aids the fashion designer by wearing and commenting on the fit of clothes during their design and pre-manufacture. Fit models need to be a particular size for this purpose.
- A fashion journalist writes fashion articles describing the garments presented or fashion trends, for magazines or newspapers.
- An alterations specialist (alterationist) adjusts the fit of completed garments, usually ready-to-wear, and sometimes re-styles them. NOTE: despite tailors altering garments to fit the client, not all alterationists are tailors.
- An Image Consultant, wardrobe consultant or fashion advisor recommends styles and colors that are flattering to the client.
World fashion industry
Fashion education
Merchandising Fashion Institute of Technology, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, London College of Fashion, and University of Westminster in London; Fashion Federation, National Institute Of Fashion Technology, India ,Parsons The New School for Design in New York City , Politecnico of Milan, Columbia College Chicago, International Institute of Fashion Design, and National College of Arts (NCA) in Pakistan, and Shih Chien University, and Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan
Types of Fashion
Haute couture
Until the 1950s, fashion clothing was predominately designed and manufactured on a made-to-measure or haute couture basis (French for high-fashion), with each garment being created for a specific client. A couture garment is made to order for an individual customer, and is usually made from high-quality, expensive fabric, sewn with extreme attention to detail and finish, often using time-consuming, hand-executed techniques. Look and fit take priority over the cost of materials and the time it takes to make.Ready-to-wear
Ready-to-wear clothes are a cross between haute couture and mass market. They are not made for individual customers, but great care is taken in the choice and cut of the fabric. Clothes are made in small quantities to guarantee exclusivity, so they are rather expensive. Ready-to-wear collections are usually presented by fashion houses each season during a period known as Fashion Week. This takes place on a city-wide basis and occurs twice a year.Mass market
Currently the fashion industry relies more on mass market sales. The mass market caters for a wide range of customers, producing ready-to-wear clothes in large quantities and standard sizes. Cheap materials, creatively used, produce affordable fashion. Mass market designers generally adapt the trends set by the famous names in fashion. They often wait around a season to make sure a style is going to catch on before producing their own versions of the original look. In order to save money and time, they use cheaper fabrics and simpler production techniques which can easily be done by machine. The end product can therefore be sold much more cheaply.
There is a type of design called "kitsch" design. . . originated from the German word "kitschen" meaning ugly or not aesthetically pleasing. Another way to describe the term "kitsch" is "wearing or displaying something that has passed its fashion date and is therefore no longer in fashion. so if you are seen wearing a pair of pants that was once worn in the 80's it is seen to be known as a "kitsch" fashion statementHistory
Fashion design is generally considered to have started in the 19th century with Charles Frederick Worth who was the first designer to have his label sewn into the garments that he created. Before the former draper set up his maison couture (fashion house) in Paris, clothing design and creation was handled by largely anonymous seamstresses, and high fashion descended from that worn at royal courts. Worth's success was such that he was able to dictate to his customers what they should wear, instead of following their lead as earlier dressmakers had done. The term couturier was in fact first created in order to describe him. While all articles of clothing from any time period are studied by academics as costume design, only clothing created after 1858 could be considered as fashion design.
It was during this period that many design houses began to hire artists to sketch or paint designs for garments. The images were shown to clients, which was much cheaper than producing an actual sample garment in the workroom. If the client liked their design, they ordered it and the resulting garment made money for the house. Thus, the tradition of designers sketching out garment designs instead of presenting completed garments on models to customers began as an economy.
The Basic Concept of Fashion Design
If your dream is to create a unique place for yourself in the fashion world you can open your boutique and outfit the needs of individual clients. These clients are generally the affluent and highly fashion conscious section of the society. You can bring out collections each season. However founding and
selling your own brand of clothes requires loads of hard effort.
A Day in the life of a Fashion Designer
Nature of the Work About this section
Fashion designers help create the billions of dresses, suits, shoes, and other clothing and accessories purchased every year by consumers. Designers study fashion trends, sketch designs of clothing and accessories, select colors and fabrics, and oversee the final production of their designs. Clothing designers create and help produce men's, women's, and children's apparel, including casual wear, suits, sportswear, formalwear, outerwear, maternity, and intimate apparel. Footwear designers help create and produce different styles of shoes and boots. Accessory designers help create and produce items such as handbags, belts, scarves, hats, hosiery, and eyewear, which add the finishing touches to an outfit. (The work of jewelers and precious stone and metal workers is described elsewhere in the Handbook.) Some fashion designers specialize in clothing, footwear, or accessory design, but others create designs in all three fashion categories.
The design process from initial design concept to final production takes between 18 and 24 months. The first step in creating a design is researching current fashion and making predictions of future trends. Some designers conduct their own research, while others rely on trend reports published by fashion industry trade groups. Trend reports indicate what styles, colors, and fabrics will be popular for a particular season in the future. Textile manufacturers use these trend reports to begin designing fabrics and patterns while fashion designers begin to sketch preliminary designs. Designers then visit manufacturers or trade shows to procure samples of fabrics and decide which fabrics to use with which designs.
Once designs and fabrics are chosen, a prototype of the article using cheaper materials is created and then tried on a model to see what adjustments to the design need to be made. This also helps designers to narrow their choices of designs to offer for sale. After the final adjustments and selections have been made, samples of the article using the actual materials are sewn and then marketed to clothing retailers. Many designs are shown at fashion and trade shows a few times a year. Retailers at the shows place orders for certain items, which are then manufactured and distributed to stores.
Computer-aided design (CAD) is increasingly being used in the fashion design industry. Although most designers initially sketch designs by hand, a growing number also translate these hand sketches to the computer. CAD allows designers to view designs of clothing on virtual models and in various colors and shapes, thus saving time by requiring fewer adjustments of prototypes and samples later.
Depending on the size of their design firm and their experience, fashion designers may have varying levels of involvement in different aspects of design and production. In large design firms, fashion designers often are the lead designers who are responsible for creating the designs, choosing the colors and fabrics, and overseeing technical designers who turn the designs into a final product. They are responsible for creating the prototypes and patterns and work with the manufacturers and suppliers during the production stages. Large design houses also employ their own patternmakers, tailors, and sewers who create the master patterns for the design and sew the prototypes and samples. Designers working in small firms, or those new to the job, usually perform most of the technical, patternmaking, and sewing tasks, in addition to designing the clothing. (The work of pattern makers, hand sewers, and tailors is covered in the statement on textile, apparel, and furnishings occupations elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Fashion designers working for apparel wholesalers or manufacturers create designs for the mass market. These designs are manufactured in various sizes and colors. A small number of high-fashion (haute couture) designers are self-employed and create custom designs for individual clients, usually at very high prices. Other high-fashion designers sell their designs in their own retail stores or cater to specialty stores or high-fashion department stores. These designers create a mixture of original garments and those that follow established fashion trends.
Some fashion designers specialize in costume design for performing arts, motion picture, and television productions. The work of costume designers is similar to other fashion designers. Costume designers, however, perform extensive research on the styles worn during the period in which the performance takes place, or they work with directors to select and create appropriate attire. They make sketches of designs, select fabric and other materials, and oversee the production of the costumes. They also must stay within the costume budget for the particular production item.
Work environment. Fashion designers employed by manufacturing establishments, wholesalers, or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings. Designers who freelance generally work on a contract, or by the job. They frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients' schedules and deadlines, meeting with the clients during evenings or weekends when necessary. Freelance designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller, more congested, environments, and are under pressure to please clients and to find new ones in order to maintain a steady income. Regardless of their work setting, all fashion designers occasionally work long hours to meet production deadlines or prepare for fashion shows.
The global nature of the fashion business requires constant communication with suppliers, manufacturers, and customers all over the United States and the world. Most fashion designers travel several times a year to trade and fashion shows to learn about the latest fashion trends. Designers also may travel frequently to meet with fabric and materials suppliers and with manufacturers who produce the final apparel products.
