Success isn’t about the end result; it’s about what you learn along the way. Vera Wang
Vera Wang
Creativity and passion are two core skills that are necessary if you want to become a fashion designer. However, creativity and passion are not enough if you want to make a real statement in the fashion industry.
An eye for detail, the ability to sniff out a trend, and luck are also essential if you want to make it big in this cutthroat industry.
You're probably destined to work in fashion if you were more fixated on spotting the swinging sixties costumes in "Last Night in Soho" than focusing on everything else the gothic horror movie had to offer.
Whether you were swooning over the homemade newspaper dress that Eloise wore at the beginning of the film or going gaga about the frilly peach frock that Sandie wears to the party, fashion surely is the industry for you.
The more time you devote to researching costume designers for shows like "Katy Keene" the better!
Knowing all the major fashion designers and the styles of dresses they create will be a great way to move forward if you wish to thrive in the fashion industry.
Read on to find out what else you need to be successful in the world of fashion.
What Skills and Talents are Required by a Fashion Designer?
Originality
One of the core skills that one has to have to make it big in the fashion world is originality. Being original means being confident in what it is that you bring to the table. Designers who show creativity and originality in their creations set themselves apart from mediocre designers who merely copy and enhance the designs of others.
The Ability to Tell Stories
Every successful designer has a unique backstory as to how they got started in the fashion industry. Vivienne Westwood started off as a factory worker and a schoolteacher before developing an interest in fashion. While teaching, she made jewelry on the side. Her interest in creating jewelry led to her becoming the pioneer of punk fashion.
It was Vivienne Westwood's own story that translated into her success as a fashion designer. Most designers need to have the ability to tell stories through the clothes that they create.
In fact, Alexander McQueen was a legendary fashion icon who was able to translate and tell theatrical stories through the stellar outfits that he created.
Knowledge of Business
Making it big in the fashion world isn't just about cutting dresses that make heads turn, but about turning stitched fabric into profit. You need to be able to budget without compromising on the quality of fabric that is used to create outfits.
You must also be talented in selling yourself and your creations to others. Fashion designers need to know how to advertise and push forward their creations in the fashion world. For all this, business sense is a must.
Soft Skills
You must have the necessary soft skills to share your vision with your teammates who are sewing, doing embroidery, and performing other tasks in your team.
If you choose to become a private garment designer, you need to be able to communicate with your client to turn his or her vision into a reality.
You also have to be a natural orator to share the vision behind your design with your team and with the clients you wish to sell your creations to.
Organisational Skills
To stay abreast of due dates for certain creations, you need to be able to organise yourself and others in your team well.
You can rely on a sophisticated computer program to design your day-to-day fashion design plan, or you can use a good fashioned diary to stay up to date. Either way, staying organised is essential in the fashion industry.
Computer Skills
Lastly, you must have great computer skills to turn your ideas into reality. The are many sophisticated computer-aided programs (CAD) that you can utilise to design patterns and animate dress designs.
Gone are the days of pattern creation using a marker and newspapers. There are a great many computer-aided design programs that making designing a breeze.
If you struggle with advanced computer skills, you can always reach out to a computer tutor of your choice. In fact, you can seek guidance from one of our Superprof computer skills tutors.
Fashion Designer Qualifications
Before you can turn your fashion dreams into reality, you need to think carefully about which fashion course you want to pursue.
You first need to decide whether you would like to obtain a fashion design degree or a diploma. You may also just want to start by completing a part-time fashion design certification course.
You'll be pleased to hear that you have a lot of choice. Here are just some of the fashion-related courses and qualifications available in South Africa:
- Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design
- Bachelor of Commerce in Fashion
- Bachelor of Visual Arts in Fashion
- Bachelor of Visual Arts in Textile
- Certificate in Fashion Design
- Retail Buying Certificate
- Creative Design Course
- Garment Making and Dress Designing Certification
- Certificate in Craft Production: Fashion
- Diploma in Fashion Clothing and Technology
Of course, studying at a well-renowned university or fashion school in South Africa will surely look great on your CV and set you apart from other fashion graduates. If this is the route you want to go, here are some of the great fashion schools that you can choose to study at in South Africa:
- INSCAPE
- STADIO (formerly LISOF)
- Villioti Fashion Institute
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Durban University of Technology
- Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
Best Careers in Fashion
After acquiring your qualification in fashion design and polishing up your CV, you need toknow what your future in the fashion world could be.
Some careers in fashion are in demand and require fashion enthusiasts with drive, passion, tenacity and the right qualifications.
A peak into the world of Megan Hess —the sought after fashion illustrator and children's book author— will tell you that there are many career possibilities to branch out into if you have studied fashion.
Each role in the fashion industry has a different earning potential. The top 10 most sought-after careers in the fashion industry are:
Fashion stylists make garments but also advises people on how to style garment
Designers create original garments from ideas in their heads and pieces of fabric.
Graphic designers create patterns using computer-aided design (CAD) programs.
Textile designers illustrate designs using CAD that can then be printed or woven onto the fabric.
Merchandise managers conduct research to analyse customer data.
Brand managers are responsible for creating and maintaining the brand's image.
Illustrators convert concepts into images that represent various fashion items, they also create detailed artistic images for use in the media.
Consultants are fully aware of the world of fashion and can suggest trends in the fashion industry.
These writers are responsible for writing about events and trends in the fashion world.
Photographers are responsible for capturing the glitz and glam of the fashion world.
With so many fashion career options at your fingertips, we don't blame you for considering fashion as the way forward.
Just remember that fashion is one of the most competitive industries. If you want to have the edge from the moment you qualify, we suggest that you speak to a designer who has already got their foot in the door of the fashion industry.
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