CAREERS IN FASHION DESIGNING

INTRODUCTION

The word ‘fashion’ immediately conjures up images of glitz and glamour. Fashion design is the applied art devoted to the designing of clothing and lifestyle accessories. This art is influenced by cultural and social attitudes and has evolved over time and place. Fashion designing has come a long way from the designer clothes worn by the royalty of the ancient world to the haute couture products of the present.

Fashion Designing is concerned with designing apparels and accessories for men, women and children. Other that clothes, fashion designing includes designing of jewellery, footwear, bags and other accessories.

Fashion designing is one of the most lucrative, appealing, glamorous and exciting career options in today's world. If one has a penchant for creativity, style and originality, a career in fashion designing is the one tailor made for you. On one hand, the fashion industry satisfies both the creative fancies and the materialistic needs of the people. On the other hand, it promises glamour, fame, success and a high pay package to the talented people.

In India, the fashion industry has just begun to come of age. As it is still in its fledgling stage, it offers plenty of opportunities for enthusiastic, talented and hard working youngsters. Indian fashion is gaining a lot of popularity abroad because of cheap labour and excellent craftsmanship. Many top Indian designers are now catering to this growing international demand for quality fashion products and accessories.

Prospects for fashion design graduates are pretty good thanks to the huge and still growing demand for “designer wear” and the equally large volume of exports. Until a few years ago, there was not a single Indian name in the global fashion scene. However with the establishment of NIFT and some other fashion schools, a band of gifted designers is already making its mark on the fashion firmament. Today names like Ritu Kumar, Ritu Beri, Rohit Bal, Satya Paul, Sunit Verma, JJ Vallaya and Tarun Tahiliani have virtually become household names – what with the media showcasing their talent across double-page spreads in glossy mags and sundry fashion-related programmes on TV.

NATURE OF WORK

A fashion designer creates clothing, including dresses, suits, pants and skirts, and accessories such as shoes, for consumers. One can specialize in clothing, accessory or jewellery design. Some designers work in all three areas. Another area of specialization is costume design for those who want to create wardrobes for television, movie and theatre productions

CONDITIONS OF WORK

The work of a fashion designer is both competitive and stressful. Constant excitement, limelight and glamour set the tone for work. Considerable time is spent standing, working on large worktables. The work involves teamwork. Fashion shows require perseverance over long periods of time. There is considerable travel involved during fabric selection, analysing fashion trends, fashion displays. Hectic work pressure evolves during fashion shows. Fashion designers employed by manufacturing establishments, wholesalers, or design firms generally work regular hours in well-lighted and comfortable settings. Designers who freelance generally work on a contract, or job basis. They frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients' schedules and deadlines, meeting with the clients during evening or weekend hours when necessary. Freelance designers tend to work longer hours and in smaller, more congested, environments, and are under pressure to please clients and to find new ones in order to maintain a steady income. Regardless of their work setting, all fashion designers occasionally work long hours to meet production deadlines or prepare for fashion shows.

+ives

•         The scope of fashion design is such that it’s cut out for success.

•         There are some glamorous aspects to this business, you may get to rub shoulders with the rich and famous, but reaching there is absolute hard work.

-ives

•         Fashion designers need a lot of experience and hence they have to work as assistant for any reputed fashion design firm in the initial phase. 

•         You might want to set up your own studio but you will need a lot of money or have to find investors who are ready to invest in your studio. 

•         Unless you have some hands on experience, it is hard to get investors.

HOUR OF WORK

Designers normally work from 9am to 5pm, but they may work much longer hours when preparing samples for buyers or collections for fashion shows.

EARNINGS

As a fresher you’ll start out with a monthly package of Rs. 10,000 – 15,000. With experience, you will acquire maturity in designing skills and a few years down the line your salary would be in the range of Rs. 30, 000 to Rs. 40, 000 per month. Of course, if you become a reputed designer you could demand the world.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Basic education required to get admission in degree level course is 10 + 2 (any stream) with 50%. Highly selective entrance test held in Jan/Feb for which application forms are available in November. Written test will be conducted by NIFT for entry in to the above mentioned programmes. There will be five kinds of tests in the written examination

1)        GAT (General Aptitude Test) is an objective type paper that examines the candidates basic intelligence and Aptitude for logical thinking

2)        CAT (The Creative Ability Test) evaluates the candidates design innovations and skills.

3)        MAT is an objective test to asses the problem solving aptitude and environmental sensitivity of the candidate.

4)        Situation test: That assesses a students hands-on ability with material provided to them

5)        TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) examines a candidate’s reaction to a series of images.

A fashion designer typically needs an associate degree or a bachelor's degree in fashion design in order to find employment. Fashion designers who may be thinking about running their own business or store may also combine a fashion design degree with a business, marketing, or fashion merchandising degree.

Around 300 postsecondary institutions with programs in art and design are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Most schools expect a basic art or design course to be completed before formal admittance into a program is allowed. Sketches may also be requested before admittance.

Interning, working at manufacturing firms, working at retail stores or with a personal stylist can help fashion designers learn the necessary skills of the industry.

PERSONAL SKILLS REQUIRED

Fashion designers should be artistic and should be able to express their ideas in sketches. They may not be brilliant artists but must be able to combine colours, shades and tones. Designers have a flair for creating with fabric and know how to use textiles effectively. Designers need visual imagination and the ability to think in three-dimensions to translate into garments what they visualize. They must be fashion conscious and must be aware of market requirements. An understanding of the market and customer lifestyle is required, so that designs are suitable for people they are made for. The work attitudes involved with selling, persuading and influencing are required. Self-employed/freelance designers need business acumen. Top designers must be highly original and inventive. Sketching is not possible at shows, therefore designers must be observant and must have a good memory.

Fashion designers must have a strong aesthetic, good communication skills, be able to problem solve and sketch. A good portfolio is also important for an aspiring fashion designer to have. The ability to work well in teams is also important for fashion designers who will remain in contact with manufacturers, supplies, and buyers. The ability to meet deadlines and work within a budget, a lot of self discipline and physical stamina are also essential.

FUNDING/SCHOLARSHIP

Some fashion academies extend merit based scholarships.  These scholarships usually waive off payment of tuition fee only. These waivers continue in the subsequent year(s) on the condition that the awardees academic performance meets the prescribed standards of achievement.

The criterion of these scholarship programmes is based on the annual income of the eligible student’s parental annual income. There are a few scholarships sponsored by reputed companies for meritorious and financially deserving students. Scholarship awardees also get educational loan facility to cover other payable fee and expenses.

EMPLOYMENT AVENUES

As a professional fashion designer, you can work in areas like designer wear production, fashion marketing, planning and concept management. Then there is fashion media, design production management, fashion accessory design, quality control and promotion of brands. You can also work as a designated costume designer, fashion consultant, personal stylist, technical designer, graphic designer, production pattern maker or a fashion coordinator. Other roles include: apparel production manager, fabric buyer, fabric quality control manager, show room sales representative, illustrator, cutting assistant and outside sales representative. Those interested in a career in fashion designing can also become entrepreneurs and form their own companies. Other options are Teaching/Training, Journalism, and Coordination / Anchoring,

There are opportunities for work with the various sectors dealing with fashion. The opportunities for jobs exist in the following sectors:

·         Export houses dealing with garment/textile/hand loom exports

·         Retail and wholesale garment businesses in men‘s/women‘s/children clothing in sportswear/casual wear, etc.

·         Government/Semi government-hand loom/textile manufacturers

·         Fashion show organizers/Fashion publishers

·         TV/Film fashion programme producers/ costume designers, etc.

·         Textile mills,

·         Leather companies,

·         Boutiques,

·         Jewellery houses and

JOB PROSPECT

In India, the fashion industry has just begun to come of age, as it is still in its fledgling stage. This industry offers plenty of opportunities for talented hard working and enthusiastic people. Prospects for fashion design graduates are pretty good thanks to the huge and still growing demand for “designer wear” and the equally outsized quantity of exports

After successful completion of the course, you can remain self employed. Alternatively, several export houses, garment store chains, textile mills, leather companies, boutiques, fashion show organizers, jewellery houses and media houses recruit professionals interested in a career in fashion designing.

ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

New designers often begin their careers working for those with more experience. They work as pattern makers or sketching assistants. With increased experience one can move into a supervisory position becoming, for example, a chief designer or a design department head.

Better prospectus both in terms of salary and growth of fashion design jobs is enormous and extends beyond India’s markets to international markets too. Indian fashion designers are doing very well in almost all countries and hence the scope has broadened for students of fashion designing.  

With more and more Indians dressing up and focused on looking good, there is an increasing awareness about fashion in India. The Indian fashion industry is booming.

TRAINING INSTITUTES

·           National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta,

·           National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, www.nid.edu

·           Apeejay Institute of Design, New Delhi, www.appejay.edu

·           National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD), Chandigarh, www.nifd.net

·           Hyderabad, Chennai, Gandhinagar and Bangalore, www.niftindia.com

·           Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT), Mohali, www.niiftindia.com

·           Pearl Academy of Fashion, New Delhi,  www.pearlacademy.com

·           SNDT Women's University, Mumbai www.sndt.edu

·           Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology, Bangalore (Karnataka) www.srishtiblr.org

·           University of Mumbai, Mumbai (Maharashtra). www.mu.ac.in

·           Wigan & Leigh College, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore

·           International Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi.  

·           Lady Irwin College, New Delhi

·           Army Institute of Fashion & Design (AIFD), Bangalore

·           Sophia Polytechnic, Breach Candy, Mumbai.

·           South Delhi Polytechnic, South Extn. Part-1, New Delhi.

·           NIFT-TEA Knitwear Fashion Institute, 163, TEKIG, Tea Nagar, Tirpur.

SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION

Sources of further information are the employment news, career fortune and also information can b extracted from various links:

·         CIRTES

• http://www.jagranjosh.com/careers/fashion-designing-1286446534-1

·         http://www.timesjobs.com/candidate/careerresources/htmls/fashion.jsp

·         http://www.careernextmove.com/career_options/Fashion_Designing_.php

·         www.niftindia.org