How to Become a Fashion Designer
Posted on April 6th, 2009 by Carmelia
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Fashion may seem like all glitz, glamor, parties and catwalks, but there are long ways to go before getting there for an aspiring fashion designer. Hard work, street cred and the toughest thing of all–actual talent– are all necessary to making it in the field. Here’s how to get started.
Learn the Basics
Take classes that will teach you how to draw and how to sew. You don’t have to be a technically brilliant pencil artist, but you must know enough to translate your ideas onto the paper, before translating them in real life. Learning how to draw drapery and knowing how colors go together are invaluable skills for any fashion designer. Learning how to use computer programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are also needed.
Learning how to sew clothes is also a must. Studying patterns, how to sew them and how to treat different fabrics are just some of the few basics that every aspiring fashion designer must know.
You can take sewing classes or join a designer’s club in school. You can also intern in your local sewing shops. Learning dressmaking can also be helpful and can be a practical way for you to learn how to fit clothes on different body shapes and sizes.
Education
Getting good grades can be helpful in getting into good fashion schools, but having the skills to back it up is equally as important. Start choosing and applying into various fashion schools in your junior year in high school. You can opt to study abroad or in your local community college. Prepare a portfolio of your work, and try to get as much internship experience as possible. Fashion school can range from two years to four years to finish.
Take business courses to complement your fashion education. It will make you more savvy conducting business in the fashion world later on.
Educating yourself on how to conduct business can be done on a practical level by starting your own shop like the online store Etsy.com
Study the Business
Fashion isn’t dressmaking, and to be involved in the fashion world, you must have a passion for it. Keep up a healthy knowledge of what’s in and what’s out, especially in the field you are most interested in joining. Take note of what’s considered innovative, and the styles that attract you. Having a fashion inspiration and finding your own style early on can be helpful in developing and evolving your own signature style.
As much as you should learn about what’s currently in, you should also study what used to be fashionable. Don’t limit to yourself to fashion ten years ago, but include historical fashion as well. Look at what was worn in the Victorian era, the era of ancient Greece, and other cultures that you can derive inspiration from.
Portfolio
Build up your portfolio and practical experience to beef up your resume before graduating. For your portfolio, present your best work appropriate for the field you intend to join. Your portfolio should include design sketches, production flats to show details and fabric swatches. 14″ by 17″ is a good size for a fashion portfolio.
Networking
Networking while still in school can help a lot with getting your foot in the door. Being sociable in the fashion world isn’t a necessity, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to put yourself out there every now and then. These connections made as a student can prove to be useful in the future.
Intern
Take internships who seek fashion or design students to get more experience in the field. It will be likely that your internship job will be far from ideal or fancy, but it’s the first step in achieving your goal. Expect to work long hours for little pay, but that is all part and parcel of being a newcomer in the fashion industry.
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