Becoming a Fashion Designer

Fashion designers specialize in conceiving and constructing clothing, from haute couture to mass market garments. This includes all forms of apparel, shoes, ornamentation and accessories.

Education, Training & Degrees for Fashion Designers

While a formal degree is rarely a requirement for a career in fashion design, studying fashion can accelerate a career by providing solid background training in the basics. A college design program offers additional benefits, such as providing internships in the fashion industry, introductions to industry trendsetters, and access to high-profile contests and competitions, as well as valuable feedback and marketing guidance. The majority of designers currently at work have studied design, often at an art school.

Job Responsibilities and Desired Skills in Fashion Design

Fashion designers must master a number of artistic and practical skills, including sketching, pattern making, sewing and tailoring, while understanding such aspects of apparel as surface texture and design, color schemes, textiles, accessories and fashion trends within the industry. Even though fashion design can be a radically creative pursuit, to be a success in any venue other than haute couture, fashion designers must temper their creative vision with sensitivity to the practicality of their garments and to the desires of potential retail buyers. They must walk a thin line between innovation and the desires of the public who will wear their garments, shoes and accessories.

The majority of opportunities in fashion design lie in fashion houses or companies, although many designers work freelance or start their own companies and market their creations under their own name or label. The apparel, piece goods, and notions industry employs the largest number of fashion designers.

Fashion Designer Salary Range and Employment Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 17,000 people were employed as fashion designers in 2004. Employment prospects are projected to diminish well into the next decade, with increasing competition for fewer positions. About a quarter of all fashion designers are self-employed, and roughly two-thirds of all fashion designers live in New York or California.

Figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the average annual income of fashion designers in 2004 was about $56,000, with a range running from a low of less than $28,000 to a high of more than $113,000. These figures vary widely depending on the type of product being designed and the employment venue of the designer.