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Fashion designers use their technical skills and creative flair to develop designs for new and original clothing and accessories

You'll research current fashion trends, predict what styles will be popular with consumers and take inspiration from the world around you to create fresh, innovative and appealing designs.

You'll decide on fabrics, colours and patterns, create sample designs and refine them until you're happy with the final design.

You may be given a specific brief to follow, including guidelines on colour schemes, materials and budget, or you might develop your own design direction. In large fashion houses, you're likely to be part of a team of designers led by a creative director. In smaller labels or as an independent designer, you'll take full responsibility for your collections.

You'll typically specialise in one area of design, such as womenswear, menswear, childrenswear, active/sportswear, footwear or accessories.

Types of fashion designer

The main areas of fashion design are:

• high street fashion (fast fashion) - this is where the majority of designers work and where garments are mass produced (often in Europe or East Asia) in standard sizes for wide retail distribution. Clothes are affordable and often made with cheap materials. Designs are driven by consumer buying trends, seasonal influences and celebrity fashion, making this a fast-paced, commercially focused area of the industry.
• ready-to-wear (prêt-à-porter) - designers produce limited-edition collections that are sold in boutiques or department stores. They are produced in standard sizes and are affordable for many people. This area may offer more creative freedom than fast fashion while still being commercially viable.
• haute couture - requires large amounts of time and skill to create exclusive, custom-made garments that are handcrafted from the best quality materials to the highest standards of artistry. These one-of-a-kind pieces are often made for individual clients or showcased on the catwalk to represent a designer's most artistic and innovative work.

Responsibilities

Tasks vary depending on the market you're working for, but you'll typically need to:

• visualise and develop design concepts and produce a design either by hand or using design software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and CAD
• create mood boards, featuring images, colour schemes, fabric swatches and trims, for example, to inspire, refine and present your ideas
• plan and develop fashion ranges, often based on a theme or seasonal trends
• work with others in the design team, such as buyers, merchandisers and trend forecasters, to design products that meet specific briefs
• liaise closely with sales, buying and production teams to ensure items are aligned with target markets, price points and brand identity
• apply technical knowledge to develop patterns and detailed specifications for garment construction
• visit trade shows and manufacturers to source, select and buy fabrics, trims, fastenings and embellishments, taking into account factors such as texture, weight and colour
• adapt existing designs for mass commercial production
• create patterns and oversee the production of sample garments, including fittings, alterations and final detailing
• monitor and manage the production process to maintain quality and timelines
• communicate and negotiate with suppliers, manufacturers and clients
• showcase your designs at fashion shows, exhibitions and other trade events
• work with models for fittings and runway shows to showcase your designs
• keep up to date with emerging trends in fashion, fabrics, colours and shapes
• manage marketing, finances and other business activities (if working independently or running your own label).

Experienced designers with larger companies may focus more on the design aspect, with specialist pattern cutters and machinists preparing sample garments. In smaller companies or independent settings, you'll often take on a broader range of responsibilities across the entire production cycle.

Salary

• Starting salaries in the fashion industry are often low. Design assistants may start at £18,000 to £24,000, depending on previous experience.
• Salaries for junior designers typically start between £25,000 and £30,000 depending on your location, experience and type of employer.
• Designers can earn in the region of £30,000 to £45,000, rising to around £50,000 to £60,000 for senior designers. Salaries at creative director level will be in excess of this amount.

Salaries vary depending on a range of factors including your area of specialisation (e.g., ready-to-wear, haute couture or fast fashion), your level of experience and your location.

Salaries also vary depending on the type and size of employer you work for, whether you're working freelance or launching your own fashion label. Although you may earn more as a freelancer, the availability of work can be more unpredictable.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Working hours typically include regular extra hours and fast turnaround times to meet project deadlines, particularly during launches and shows.

Part-time and hybrid working opportunities may be available.

What to expect

• The working environment varies between companies, from a modern, purpose-built office to a small design studio. Freelance designers may work from home or in a rented studio.
• There are some opportunities for self-employment either through freelancing or setting up your own label. You'll typically need experience, contacts and an established reputation. Extensive market research and business acumen are critical for any fashion business to succeed.
• Many opportunities are available in London and the South East and in some large towns and cities in the North West and Scotland, with pockets of industry in the Midlands.
• Career success relies on a combination of technical skill, creativity, perseverance, resilience and good communication and networking skills.
• There are opportunities to travel to meet suppliers, research new trends and to attend trade and fashion shows, either in the UK or abroad. Some fashion designers find work overseas.

Qualifications

Fashion design is a very competitive industry, and you'll typically need a degree, HND or foundation degree in a subject that combines creative flair with technical expertise. Relevant subjects include:

• art and design
• fashion and fashion design
• garment technology
• textiles and textile design.

When researching courses, look carefully at the modules offered, connections the department has with the fashion industry and opportunities for work placements, showcasing your work and building your portfolio.

Although you don't need a postgraduate qualification, you might consider further study to develop specialist knowledge in areas such as fashion design management, menswear, footwear or sustainable fashion.

Search postgraduate courses in fashion and textile design.

Another route into the industry is through a fashion apprenticeship. Apprenticeships combine paid work with part-time study, meaning you can train on the job. Fashion apprenticeships are offered at various levels and in areas such as:

• pattern cutting
• product technology
• tailoring
• textiles.

Completing an apprenticeship will give you first-hand experience of different aspects of the design and production process, helping you build essential skills and industry contacts. .

Entry without a degree or with an unrelated degree is sometimes possible, but you'll need a strong portfolio and significant work experience, as well as determination and commitment.

Discover 5 ways to get into fashion design.

Skills

You'll need to have:

• creativity, innovation and flair to produce designs that are both original and commercially viable
• a good eye for colour, shape and detail, as well as a strong understanding of fabrics, textures and materials
• the ability to generate and develop ideas and concepts, use your initiative and think outside the box
• strong design and visual communication skills, including sketching, CAD and mood board creation
• technical skills, including pattern cutting, sewing and draping
• a proactive and self-motivated approach to projects and deadlines
• commercial awareness and knowledge of areas such as costing, production processes, target markets and branding
• confidence in presenting ideas and promoting your designs or your label
• effective interpersonal, communication, collaboration and relationship-building skills
• the ability to take and learn from constructive criticism and feedback
• strong teamworking skills, especially when working as part of a larger design or production team
• the ability to negotiate with and influence others
• excellent organisation, time management and attention to detail
• an up-to-date knowledge of current trends in fashion, consumer trends and industry developments.

Work experience

It's essential to get relevant work experience and build up a well-presented portfolio of your most recent and best work to show to prospective employers and clients. Your portfolio should showcase your creativity, technical skills and understanding of the design process.

During your degree, take every opportunity to develop your portfolio through work placements and internships, either in the UK or abroad, or live briefs set by fashion brands. Some courses include a sandwich year or year out in industry in a fashion company. This type of placement can offer the opportunity to work on a more extensive project in industry.

Doing an internship with a fashion house, design studio or clothing manufacturer, for example, will help you understand the different roles within the fashion industry, from initial concept development to garment production and marketing. Even short placements can be useful, giving you the opportunity to see how collections are developed and to gain practical experience in areas like fabric sourcing, pattern cutting and sample making.

Experience outside of formal placements can also be valuable. Volunteering at fashion shows, exhibitions or university events, for example, can help you develop event planning, styling and communication skills. You could organise your own fashion show, collaborating with photographers or stylists, or use social media, such as Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, to share your work and build your brand.

Make the most of degree shows to showcase your work and visit fashion events and trade shows, such as London Fashion Week or Graduate Fashion Week, to network and pick up ideas and tips.

Fashion retail experience can also be useful as it helps you develop an understanding of customer preferences, visual merchandising and seasonal trends.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Many fashion and clothing designers are employed by high street fashion retailers, design studios or large fashion brands, working as part of a team designing clothes or accessories for mass production. Major UK brands often hire in-house design teams.

Others work in specialist design studios, serving the couture and designer ready-to-wear markets, and their work may include producing designs for several manufacturing or retailing companies. However, the top design houses are a relatively small market compared with the high street fashion sector.

You may also find work with:

• textile manufacturers
• product development companies
• trend forecasting agencies.

It's also possible to work as a freelance designer, producing collections for multiple clients or working with manufacturers on short-term contracts, for example. You'll typically need experience, a strong network of contacts and business skills to succeed as a freelancer. Freelance fashion designers often market their work through trade fairs and via agents, or by making contact directly with buyers from larger businesses or niche clothing outlets.

It may be possible to set up your own fashion label, but you'll usually need experience, a strong understanding of the fashion business, a network of contacts and access to funding.

Competition for design jobs is intense throughout the industry, particularly in womenswear design and with top brands.

Look for job vacancies at:

Speculative applications and effective networking can lead to job opportunities so it's important to build relationships with more established designers and companies.

Recruitment agencies, specialist publications and fashion networks are an important source of contacts and vacancies. Specialist recruitment agencies that represent different market levels include:

Professional development

The culture of the industry is very much that you learn on the job from more experienced designers. However, professional development is vital throughout your career, and you'll need to take responsibility for keeping your skills and knowledge up to date.

Initially, any training is likely to be related to learning about the practical processes that your employer uses and covering any relevant technological developments. Larger firms may provide business and computer training, which could include computer-aided design (CAD) or other specialist software, such as Photoshop and Illustrator.

Reading the trade press and fashion blogs, attending trade and fashion shows, getting involved in online fashion communities and visiting suppliers are also important for keeping up to date with trends and fashions.

A range of specialist short courses and one-day workshops related to fashion are offered by organisations such as the , part of the University of the Arts London. It's also possible to take a Masters to develop your skills in a particular area of fashion, such as fashion management, pattern and garment technology, or womenswear.

Career prospects

How your career develops will depend on the specific area of design you trained in, the work experience you've built up and your professional reputation. Another influencing factor will be the type of company you work for and the opportunities for career development within it.

Progression may be slow, particularly at the start of your career. Being proactive and making contacts in the industry is essential, especially in a sector where people frequently move jobs in order to progress their career and where there is a lot of pressure to produce new ideas that are commercially viable.

Typically, you'll begin your career as an assistant before progressing into a role with more creative input. This could involve proposing concepts and design ideas, although you're unlikely to have much influence on major decisions.

With several years' design experience, progression is possible through senior designer roles to the position of head designer or creative director. At this level, you'll have considerable responsibility for overall design decisions and influences for the range, but as this is a management position others will do the actual design work. Technical director and quality management positions represent alternative progression routes.

Some fashion designers become involved in homeware and gift design, which can open up new career directions.

With experience, there may also be opportunities for self-employment or moving into related areas, such as:

• costume design
• education and research
• fashion photography
• fashion styling
• fashion writing or journalism.
• production development
• retail buying.