A career in the fashion industry sounds glamorous and lucrative. Have you considered getting into the fashion industry, but might think you can’t handle it? There are so many different roles and positions that you can play in the world of fashion. One is not necessarily a fashion designer, but one can still have a very successful career in the fashion industry.
Being able to make a living from the things you love is always nice. If you are a fan of fashion and you love to see beautiful clothes, accessories or sketches around you, you should consider starting a career in the world of fashion. Below are some key roles in the world of fashion that you can get involved in, from design, production, marketing and many more.
design
This is one of the highest profile jobs in the fashion industry. Designers are responsible for conceptualizing their ideas about trends and materializing them in their final products. Designers can be employed by companies that own a pool of designers, or work for their own brand and production line, or even freelance providing designs for different companies.
There are several types of fashion designers:
1. Clothes Designers: These are obviously clothing designers, ranging from lingerie, sportswear, casual wear to haute couture, for men, women and children.
2. Shoe Designers: They design footwear for men, women and children from a style standpoint as well as from a foot health perspective.
3. Accessory Designers: Accessories have a wide definition: from bags, hats, glasses to gloves, scarves and pieces of jewelry.
Production
Production involves sampling garments and accessories to produce the final pieces that would be delivered to stores and customers. This massive job involves a team from various professions:
1. Merchandise: Traders play a key role in the production process of a fashion product, they are responsible for buying raw materials for production, selecting fabrics, textiles and trims. They have to make decisions based on price, quality and the latest trend and innovation of raw materials.
2. Technical designers: Technical designers are responsible for making adjustments throughout the process from sampling to production. They may not be the ones who designed the garment, but they are the experts in providing garment alternatives to improve the fit of the garment.
3. Pattern Makers: The pattern is the basis for sewing a garment. Pattern makers produce and maintain patterns for garments that designers have outlined. Pattern makers are key people in the making of a garment.
4. Pattern Qualifiers: Garment sizing begins with pattern classification. Pattern graders are experts at creating size specifications for different sizes. They are vital people for any fashion brand, as consistent sizing across products can maintain customer loyalty and trust.
5. Fit models: Ultimately, apparel and footwear are made to marry comfort and style. Fit is a crucial part of the fashion industry and the most accurate fit is to use the model as the body for the fit.
Many companies have their own dedicated models to fit their lines, which have the exact fit required by the brand. Sometimes you would see ads looking for sample models, from kids, men, women to plus size models.
6. Specialists in quality control: Quality control is of the utmost importance for any type of product and it is no exception in the fashion industry. Quality control specialists look at the quality of raw materials, such as pilling, shrinkage, and fading of textiles, and the overall quality of a fashion item, such as the overall assembly of an accessory.
7. Planners: Fashion planners closely coordinate with designers, merchandisers, and buyers to decide on the production plan for the upcoming seasons. They look at both the production and marketing sides while paying close attention to the latest fashion trend.
Marketing
Marketing is just as important as making a perfect fashion piece. Whether it is wholesale or retail marketing, fashion marketing people are on a mission to promote the fashion item in this rapidly changing world.
1. Fashion Buyer/Retailers: Commodity merchants are those who buy ready-made products to sell in a store such as a department store. These merchants conduct research and analyze market trends, needs, and relative stocks of customers. They have a huge responsibility in terms of making a profit, as being vigilant about buying the right product for sales can make all the difference in revenue.
2. Showroom Sales Specialists: Some brands own their showrooms, displaying their collection for fashion buyers (wholesalers) to order. Compared to retail sales, showroom sales specialists need to know their returning seasonal customers better and be able to provide detailed information about sale collections.
3. Retail Store Manager/Boutique Owners: The retail store manager, boutique and sales owners are the front line staff dealing with retail customers like you and me.
Other professions related to fashion
Apart from the field of designing, producing or marketing a fashion item, one may be attracted to other positions such as fashion magazine writer, online blogging and fashion event management etc. Below is a list highlighting the other possible jobs related to the fashion industry:
1. Fashion Writers: Writers or freelance writers can write for magazines, online blogs, or sites about reviews, trends, and recommendations. Fashion writers can also become fashion magazine editors.
2. Personal Stylists:Some department stores provide personal styling services, while some private clients would hire a personal stylist who would give them personal styling recommendations.
3. Fashion Event Management/PR: There are no-name fashion events that require professional public relations and event management staff. There are public relations companies that specialize in hosting events related to fashion.
Take the opportunities!
In addition to the careers mentioned above in the fashion industry, there are still many other opportunities such as photographer, costume designer, and catalog/fashion show models, etc. One of the most affordable ways to stay up to date with job opportunities and fashion trends is to be active on the fashion forum and subscribe to fashion magazines.
Take advantage of the opportunities and enjoy a career in fashion!
