A Look into a fashion designer's Life

1. THE LIFE OF A
FASHION DESIGNER
By: Aliyah Hollyfield

3. First Thing First,
Important Questions
What is fashion design?
Fashion design is the art of application of design and
aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories
Who/What is a fashion designer?
A fashion designer is someone who loves to study fashion
trends, sketch designs, select materials, and have a part in
all the production aspects of their designs.

4. Qualifications
 a 2-year or 4-year degree
 knowledgeable about
textiles, fabrics,
ornamentation, and fashion
trends
 Education and training
 an associate or a
bachelor's degree in
fashion design.
 strong sense of the esthetic,
an eye for color and detail, a
sense of balance and
proportion
 excellent communication
and problem-solving skills
 sketching ability
 sketches by hand or using
computer
 Skills and Personal
Qualities an eye for color, texture and pattern
 the ability to visualize things in three
dimensions
 technical skills in areas such as
pattern cutting, grading and garment
construction
 to be able to draw, either by hand or
on the computer
 good communication skills to explain
their ideas clearly and persuasively
 the ability to meet deadlines and work
within a budget
 business skills and commercial
awareness, particularly if they are
self-employed
 good negotiation skills when selling
their own designs
 to keep ahead of trends in color,
fabric and style
 strong organizational skills.
Interest
sIt helps to have an
interest in:
 Trends in fashion
and clothing
 Art and design
 Analyzing form
 Sketching
 Fabric sourcing
 Production

5. Different Ways Designers
Design

6. Sketch on Computer

7. Sketch by Hand

8. What does a Fashion Designer
do?
A fashion designer takes part in just about every aspect of bringing
fashion to the public. Creating the basic design can be done in different
ways. It can involve storyboards with sketches, to working with a dummy
and sewing pieces of material together. This creating phase is when the
designer takes his/her vision that's swirling in the mind's eye and puts it
into a visual expression. This first draft of the design is then worked on
as the designer develops the first basic prototype.
The fashion designer's next step is to take the rough sketch or model and
develop a more specific working pattern. Usually, the designer will make
a rough model of the design by creating a toile. This is made by sewing
inexpensive material (like muslin) to make a rough model of the design.
When this is placed on a mannequin-like dress stand, the designer can
see how the material will drape or hang on a human form.
A fashion designer usually has full control of a fashion show, often
picking the models, determining the price of each garment, and arranging
how the garments will be presented. Most designers have assistants to
help with all the many small details, but overall, the designer retains full
control.

9. A Fashion Designer Salary
The average salary of a Fashion Designer is $73,570.
Salaries start from$33,580 and go up to $127,190. Half of
all fashion designers reported annual salaries ranging
from $44,500 to $90,060, and the median of all reported
salaries was $64,690.
A Fashion Designer earns an average salary of $60,272
per year. Experience has a moderate effect on income for
this job.
The average salary for a Fashion Designer may vary
depending on several factors, like level of education,
amount of experience, industry, company size and
location.

10. At a glance, the life of a fashion designer may seem
glamorous. After all, he or she is surrounded by beauty all the
time. From the development of the sketches to the models
wearing the garments on the runway, fashion design is an
exciting job, but it can also be demanding as well.
The one thing that is true about the field of fashion design is
that most designers must pay their dues to be successful. This
may mean waking up very early in the morning. Some designers
begin their day as early as 4 a.m., and the day may not end at
5:00 p.m. as many jobs do, but most designers are so
passionate about fashion that this is hardly perceived as a
negative aspect of the job.
Fashion designers may be called to perform many different
duties depending upon for whom they are working. Being a
fashion designer is not just sitting around sketching ideas all day
but, but it is at least part of the job. The designer will spend time
creating and visualizing an idea. Some designers still sketch
these ideas by hand while others use a computer design
program to assist them.

11. Inspiration needs to come from somewhere; many designers will research
market and fashion trends to make sure their collections are timely. This
includes analyzing the latest trends in fabrics, colors, and shapes. The
designer also needs to know what is out there to prevent inadvertently
copycatting pieces by other designers.
Another part of the daily job of a fashion designer may include visiting
manufacturers to pick out the best fabrics for the collection. This may include
searching through countless bolts of fabric to find the perfect color and
texture. Once the fabrics are found and purchased, the designer will need to
cut and sew prototypes.
Fashion designers who work for larger firms are often required to work
with others in the office, so communication skills are essential. This can
include employees in sales, marketing, and manufacturing professionals who
will want to know the production costs of pieces of the collection. The
designer will also have to work with buyers and forecasters when developing
new fashions.
Specification sheets may be another daily chore for a fashion designer.
These help simplify the manufacturing of the piece and ensures that the
finished pieces are executed correctly. A basic specification sheet may
include a front and back sketch, a description, sample size, photo shoot size,
fabric swatches (and information about the fiber content), lining and trimming
information, the delivery date, size range, and style number of a piece.

12. Some designers will be required to go on location to fit the models with
pieces from a collection. The fashion designer has to have all the tools that
help make the garments perfect. Some items may need to be steamed to
remove wrinkles, additional fitting may be required, and all the outfits and
accessories need to be organized. It would be a good idea to bring along a
seamstress for those last minute alterations.
A few fashion designers will be lucky enough to travel to meet with others
in the field. This could include meetings with fabric manufacturers and
attending trade shows and runway shows to see the latest trends and
collections.
Each day, a fashion designer may need to put many of his or her skills into
play including design knowledge, creativity, fabric and textile understanding,
artistic ability, and communication skills. The job may often be challenging, but
a day in the life of a fashion designer is rarely boring.