The first in my series of fashion jobs has officially arrived on your doorstep, starting with the most obvious fashion job. Fashion designer. The designer is the fashion maker, without fashion designers there’d be no fashion. Fortunately there’s no shortage of designers in the market, but there aren’t enough jobs for everyone this means that employees can charge a low salary for such a high skilled job in 2012 the average starting salary for a designer was £16,935 moving up to £32,533 when looking at all designer posts in London.
As a fashion designer you will either work Freelance or for a fashion house that will either sell ready-to-wear or bespoke designs. Bespoke is one off creations made to a clients specifications and measurements, they can also be designs from a line made up in a client’s measurements. Bespoke is high skill and requires top notch pattern cutting skills. Ready-to-wear tends to be a high street store specializing in womenswear; menswear, sportswear, childrens… you get the picture. But also the luxury brands that make bespoke designs will also create ready-to-wear lines as this is their main source of income, you will most likely be working in a team designing for mass manufacture and will have to work from a trend forecasting book then make presentations to the creative director.
Key Skills and Interests:
- Creative but also needs to be able to be creative within constraints.
- Able to Identify and Predict trends
- Sewing and construction skills
- Drawing/illustration (Don’t worry too much on this one, a simple sketch will usually do)
- Understanding of patterns
- Problem solving skills
So what should you think about doing? Well the first route is education, and believe me, you’re never too old for education. The typical education level for entry is a Bachelor’s Degree which usually requires three years (possible a teeny weeny bit more) at university. If that’s not enough (or simply not your cup of tea), then internships and apprenticeships are the next step. Internships and apprenticeships are as competitive as a job, and requires perseverance. So update that CV and start searching!
Best of luck xoxo
Tamy 