Fashion designers create or adapt original designs for clothing for men, women, and children. Most specialize in one particular type of clothing, such as women’s dresses or men’s suits. Most designers work for textile, apparel, and pattern manufacturers. Some designers are self-employed and develop a clientele of individual customers or manufacturers. Others work for fashion salons, high-fashion department stores, and specialty shops. A few work in the entertainment industry, designing costumes.
Designers in large firms may plan and direct the work of one or more assistant designers, select fabrics and trims, and help determine the pricing of the products they design. Designers spend time in exploration and research, visiting textile manufacturing and sales establishments to learn of the latest fabrics and their uses and capabilities. They must know about fabric, weave, draping qualities, and strength of materials.
A good understanding of textiles and their qualities underlies much of designers’ work. They browse through stores to see what fashion items the public buy and which are passed by. They visit museums and art galleries to get ideas about color and design. They go to places where people congregate-theaters, sports events, business and professional meetings, and resorts-and meet with marketing and production workers, salespeople, and clients to discover what people are wearing and to discuss ideas and styles.
Designers also keep abreast of changing styles. If the styles are too different from public taste, customers will probably reject the designs. If, however, they cling to styles that have been successful in the past, they may find that the taste of buyers has changed dramatically. In either case, it could be equally disastrous for their employers. There are many opportunities for specialization in fashion design. The most common specialties are particular types of garments such as resort wear, bridal wear, or sportswear.
Today’s designers are greatly assisted by computer software. Computer-aided designing and computer-aided manufacturing allow for thousands of fashion styles and colors to be stored in a computer and accessed at the touch of a button, largely eliminating the long process of gathering fabrics and styling them into samples. Sample garments are displayed at a showing, to which press representatives and buyers are invited to see the latest designs.
Other areas for aspiring fashion designers to explore are home fashions such as bed and bath linens, draperies, and rugs or carpeting. Positions also can be found with pattern manufacturers. Some fashion designers work on a freelance basis, contracting with manufacturers or individuals.
An easy way to learn about manufacturers is to visit a department or specialty store and examine labels and tags on merchandise of interest. In addition to major department stores, retailers such as Target carry a variety of manufacturers’ lines. Few people begin their careers as fashion designers. Well-trained college graduates often begin as assistant designers.
Most manufacturers produce new styles four times each year: spring and summer; fall and winter; vacation wear; and holiday styles. Designers generally are expected to create between 50 and 150 styles for each showing. Their work calendar differs from the actual time of year. They must be working on spring and summer designs during fall and winter, and on fall and winter clothing during the summer, so as to prepare for a future season’s fashion production.
Larissa Kristeva is a fashion authority who works in a women’s apparel store. She shows people the way to choose the best cute rubber rain boots and she recommends getting womens designer rain boots as a gift for friends.
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