Fashion/Clothing Designer

Fashion/clothing designers are involved in designing clothing, accessories and shoes. Some design expensive, one-off pieces, while others work in a team creating a range of mass-produced garments. Some designers specialise in one particular area, such as sportswear.

Their responsibilities can vary, but may include:

• producing design concepts
• making sketches by hand or on the computer
• developing patterns
• overseeing production
• analysing trends in fabrics, colours and shapes.

Designers normally work standard office hours, but they may work longer when preparing samples for buyers or collections for catwalk shows. Fashion designers usually work in a studio or small workshop. They may attend fashion shows, fairs and exhibitions, as well as visiting clients. Travel both within the UK and overseas is often required.

Salaries may range from around £15,000 to over £60,000 a year.

Fashion/clothing designers need:

• creativity with an eye for colour, texture and pattern
• the ability to visualise a design
• technical skills, such as pattern cutting, grading and garment construction
• the ability to keep ahead of trends in colour, fabric and style.

Fashion/clothing designers can work for fashion houses producing designer labels, as part of a design team for a retail chain, or for a clothing manufacturer that produces large quantities of clothing for the mass market. The heaviest concentration of designers is in London and the surrounding area. Competition for jobs is intense.

Fashion designers usually start their career after taking a Higher National Diploma/Certificate, foundation degree or honours degree in fashion. There are many different courses available, some of which give a general grounding in fashion design, while others focus on manufacturing and clothing technology. Most college and universities require evidence of academic achievement, including GCSEs. A strong portfolio of work is needed to gain employment.

It may also be necessary to gain relevant paid or unpaid work experience in the industry before gaining employment.

Training is usually provided on the job, working alongside more experienced designers. As competition is extremely strong, most employers expect new recruits to have learned the basic skills at college or university. New fashion/clothing designers are usually required to work in junior positions where they are responsible for developing other people's designs in order to gain experience and contacts.

With experience, designers may be able to move into senior design roles and work with more established fashion labels. Very few designers are able to design clothes for their own fashion label. Fashion designers may also move into specialist areas such as colour predicting, style consultancy, fashion journalism or costume design.

Further details