Salary: Median—$55,840 per year
Employment Outlook: Fair
Every shoe, piece of clothing, and accessory on every hanger and shelf at every store has been designed by a fashion designer. Fashion designers examine trends in the kinds of clothing people are wearing, draw designs based on their ideas, choose colors and fabrics, and supervise the production of their designs. Fashion designers may have a specialty, such as clothing design, footwear design, or accessory design. Accessories are items like handbags, scarves, belts, and hats.
A successful fashion designer must be good at predicting the future. Since it takes between eighteen and twenty-four months for an article of clothing to go from rough sketch to final production, the designer must understand buying trends as they are developing. Therefore, research on fashion trends is an important first step in the design process. Some designers do this research themselves, while others base their designs on research conducted by others, such as industry trade groups. Fashion designers go to trade shows or visit textile manufacturers to select fabrics for their designs.
Once they have picked their fabrics and sketched their designs, fashion designers make prototypes of the clothing using inexpensive materials. These prototypes are tested on fashion models to see if any adjustments are needed. Some designs may be thrown out entirely and the line of clothing narrowed to fewer pieces. Once the designs are finalized, samples of the item are made using the actual materials. These samples are taken to fashion shows or marketed directly to retailers.
In recent years, computers have changed the way many fashion designers do their work. Most designers still make their initial sketches by hand, but more and more are using computer-aided design (CAD) software to create designs that can be easily viewed from different angles in different colors on different virtual models. CAD also makes it easier to make adjustments to the original designs.
The scope of a fashion designer's work varies according to where he or she is employed. Fashion designers who work for large design companies usually take the lead in creating designs and choosing colors and fabrics, but they may then supervise others who transform the designs into finished products. Fashion designers in these firms may also be responsible for working with manufacturers and textile suppliers. Fashion designers who are new to the trade, or who work for smaller companies, must often do their own sewing and patternmaking.
Fashion designers who work for clothing manufacturers or wholesalers design clothing and accessories in many sizes and colors in order to meet the demands of the general market. A smaller number of fashion designers create custom designs for individual customers, specialty boutiques, or their own stores. These high fashion designers are usually self-employed and charge high prices for their designs.
Education and Training Requirements
Most employers expect fashion designers to have a two-year associate's degree or four-year bachelor's degree in fine arts with a focus on design. Fashion designers must have a strong background in textiles and fashion trends, and a keen eye for color and proportion. The most important requirement for many jobs is a good portfolio—samples of one's previous work—to show the employer.
Getting the Job
College placement offices can often provide information about how to find a job in this field. Internships with retailers or design firms may be available in your area. Two-thirds of fashion designers are employed in either New York or California, so relocating to one of those areas may be beneficial in breaking into this line of work.
Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook
Because many people view fashion design as a glamorous occupation, competition for available jobs tends to be fierce, and only a small number of new jobs open up each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the best job opportunities for fashion designers in the coming years will be at design companies that specialize in mass market clothing to be sold in department stores and other retail chains. However, overall employment of fashion designers is expected to grow more slowly than average through 2014.
Working Conditions
Fashion designers who work for design firms, manufacturers, or wholesalers can expect to work regular hours in a well-lit, comfortable setting. Self-employed designers may work in more variable conditions, which may change from one short-term job to the next. They must also adjust their work hours to meet the client's needs and deadlines.
Earnings and Benefits
Fashion designers' income varies widely according to experience and the nature of the job. Median annual earnings in 2004 were $55,840. Salaries for those just beginning their careers tend to be quite low. Self-employed fashion designers at the top of the profession earn far more than those in salaried positions; however, most self-employed designers earn less than the average salaried position pays. Fashion designers working for large companies usually receive health insurance, paid vacation, and other benefits, while self-employed designers must provide their own insurance and retirement plans.
User Comments Add a comment…
2 months ago
Calyssa :) mrs dot shortgirly ((at)) yahoo dot com
I have been thinking alot more lately about what college. i know for a fact that i want to become a fashion designer! i have been wanting to go to the school FIDM in California. i live in washigton. what are somethings i need to know in order to make it down there?
3 months ago
Jenny beachedwhale100 ((at)) gmail dot com
How many hours does a fashion designer work?
3 months ago
emma Booboo-98 ((at)) hotmail dot com
do you have to be really good at math to be a fashion designer.
6 months ago
Hayl lbrsr_icky ((at)) yahoo dot com
Me too but i still have 5 more years till college
7 months ago
Teara Paschal ripbird_07 ((at)) hotmail dot com
Thx so much I really like Fashion Design how really want to major in Fashiion Designing
7 months ago
minnie forevernaruhina_lover ((at)) hotmail dot com
thx so much. this website helped me finish my project. i lov this website so much. its rilly hard to find fashion designing websites. if anyone has any good websites, can u plz email me? thx
7 months ago
Myka lilpaula2u ((at)) aol dot com
omg! i love fashion!
7 months ago
noeeeeeeeeee! noelle1293 ((at)) yahoo dot com
this site is pretty much awesome!
8 months ago
danielle fergiedanielle ((at)) yahoo dot com
i Love this web site its cool
8 months ago
andrea andrea_14_perez ((at)) yahoo dot com
i looooooooove this web site!!!!! how old do u gotta be to get imployed?
8 months ago
rohit rohit_krish3 ((at)) yahoo dot com
good evening sir/mam my name is Rohit kumar and i am doing 12th class with arts' please give me the information for fassion desgine
9 months ago
breane bre ((at)) leo dot com
thanks for helping me learn about the careers i learned alot
9 months ago
kimberly anilus aniluskim ((at)) yahoo dot com
(yo 55,840 per year thats crazy) do u have 2 be a specific age to be a fashion designer
9 months ago
nay lilghettomomi ((at)) yahoo dot com
what do you do if your bad in math but you love fashion? is math relly important to this job?
9 months ago
winda samiardjo windasamiardjo ((at)) yahoo dot com
thanks for helping me to finishing my assignment.. i will choose this career
9 months ago
fashionista lisa fashionistalisa ((at)) aol dot com
thanks for helping me with my homework! i really am looking forward to this career in the future!!!!!
10 months ago
Osmery bochuita_90 ((at)) hotmail dot com
This is very helpful... Thanks!
11 months ago
liz mychemromance05 ((at)) hotmail dot com
this save me life ^.^ danke
about 1 year ago
kaitlin roy kaitlinroy ((at)) Hotmail dot com
this was very helpful to my careers assingement . :)
about 1 year ago
ALICIA Alicia_Webster_Sexy ((at)) hotmail dot com
thx ive got an assignment about fashion and getting a job so its been very helpful
about 1 year ago
MORGAN LEIGH AKA FUTURE FASHION DESIGNER MoLovePeace ((at)) hotmail dot com
Thank you for this website.. Like omg it helped me so freaking much. There was only one thing I didn't find and it was a career ladder to being a fashion designer. But I took all the information and made one. Thank you again for this amazing website. My project is the bomb. Mrs. Martindale better give me and A++ or 110.
about 1 year ago
Taylor carlestew12 ((at)) yahoo dot com
thank you for the info , im a 6th grader doing a research project and this info helped me follow my dreams and will also help you too!
about 1 year ago
Kaylee Miller (7th grader) rawrrrbby ((at)) hotmail dot com
Very, very helpful. Have oral report up soon! Thanks for the work cited part! Haha. Very realistic and Imaginable. The fashion career is very rough and fiere and it is nice you said that, not discouraging at all, just real. thanks guys <3
about 1 year ago
Cathy loonytune1996 ((at)) gmail dot com
hey thankx 4 the info i had to da pro
about 1 year ago
bonny.m bonny dot m ((at)) webmail dot co dot za
thnx u so useful keep it up guyz
about 1 year ago
Rachel boing ((at)) yahoo dot com
Sweet. Thxs for the info. I needed it.
about 1 year ago
Kathy maxy-mox ((at)) hotmail dot com
i recon that you shouldnt think about what the internet says just follow ur heart and do what you want to do!
about 1 year ago
Niki coligirl ((at)) inbox dot com
The job advancements and outlook is really discouraging. I'm a sixth grader working on a project for school on careers that we'd like to have for the future...after reading this, I'm not quite sure it's worth it.
about 1 year ago
rose vandyrose ((at)) netzero dot net
Hey, i wuz wondering what kind of place fashion designers work in. Like at home or little coplexes. thanx.
about 1 year ago
Cournaynay Cournaynay28 ((at)) yahoo dot com
This is a very helpful site. It's helping me with a project and teacing me what i need to be a future fashion Designer. Watch Out world HERE I COME! <3
about 1 year ago
barbie lindsey_pink12 ((at)) hotmail dot com
how long do u go to school?
about 1 year ago
soon to b designer fvgfdrjftjhytf ((at)) sbcglobal dot net
I like this site, but I still don't know all the benefits that go with the job.
about 1 year ago
future designer pentecostal_gurl05 ((at)) yahoo dot com
love the site thanx for the info!!!!!!!!!!!!1
about 1 year ago
jimmyBob doctorgreenX ((at)) yahoo dot com
wow this site is awesome...i needed some info on fasion designin an i got it all here....thanxs
about 1 year ago
Alli gurl tomboychick378 ((at)) yahoo dot com
you guys jsut helped me finish my school project!!! and now i know what to do to become a designer!!! thanks!!!
about 1 year ago
Britt! brittluvsrhcp ((at)) htomail dot com
hey wat do oyu do if you love fashion but you suck at math isnt it important??
about 1 year ago
April suemc ((at)) peoplepc dot com
Very helpful and straight forward website. Thanks for cutting out all the "fluff"!
about 1 year ago
Arlene Hernadez arlene ((at)) xoxo dot com
the info was excellent and very detailed great job!!!!
about 1 year ago
amar mithapalli amar dot mithapalli ((at)) yahoo dot co dot in
i am first time visiting this site............this is very nice site............i got so much of informations...............thanks...........
about 1 year ago
Brittany dicole_pisces ((at)) yahoo dot com
this is my first time visiting this site and i really like it.
about 1 year ago
strawberri strawberrisunset ((at)) yahoo dot com
i really love this website but can yall include things about how a fashion designer should be dressed when going to his/her job.
about 1 year ago
Jynx Wolf jynxwolf91 ((at)) gmail dot com
This is a really great site, do you think someone could send me some more links to fashion design schools or fashion design artist in demand right now? Thanx!
about 1 year ago
Sue SaltyLemonade13 ((at)) aol dot com
how would you use math in this profession daily?
about 1 year ago
Shaquanvia Jones Lilmzquan ((at)) yahoo dot com
Hi, im a year old at cairo high school and im wondering if there is a great school around my area that is that great so i can be a fashion desinger.
over 2 years ago
chaia chaia_love_mark ((at)) hotmail dot com
i would like to enter this school?????
over 2 years ago
Anina MarayamaHaykal ((at)) yahoo dot com
how come you don't talk about the insurance?