The fashion world has long been filled with glitz
and glamour. The ramp for models is always long, dramatic,
and well-lighted. The walk is certainly a walk for
fame, fortunately for aspirants but sometimes leading
to a walk for shame. Who is behind all these promises
and/or even breakdowns? No less than the fashion designers.
What, exactly, does a fashion designer do?
Basically, with streaks of talent, creativity, and
sensitivity, fashion designers, as if influenced by
Rumpelstiltskin, craft accessory and clothing sketches.
They usually concentrate in one nature of accessory
or garment such as women's or men's apparels, swimwear,
lingerie, children's garments, handbags, and even
shoes. They, sometimes, lead the groundwork of the
creation and promotion of their creations.
Famous fashion designers prefer to be self-employed
and they cater for the request of their clients. Some
cater to high-fashion department stores or to specialty
stores. They establish fashion statements by setting
the colors, silhouette, and type of materials that
are worn each season.
There are also some designers who are employed by
manufacturers of clothes. These designers just adapt
fashion statements set by other designers for the
market. However, there are small manufacturers who
just purchase or copy designs.
Both designers sketch unique garments and follow certain
trends in fashion. Likewise, both need assistants
who should get used to the fast-paced schedule of
the fashion business.
In detail, these designers execute the following
tasks:
• Draw their unique designs.
• Create patterns for sample garments.
• Choose textile and add-ons (accessories).
• Apply tailoring and basic dressmaking principles
along with draping techniques and flat pattern works.
• Fit and alter the completed product, if necessary.
• Set-up a fashion show.
• Compare the performance of the merchandise against
the competitors.
• Keep self up-to-date of latest fashion trends thru
magazines and other fashion shows.
• Have frequent trips to fabric showrooms to keep
self updated of latest type of fabrics.
Actually, fashion designers can be categorized as
follows:
1. Lead or Head Designers
They take care of the executive and creative tasks.
2. Assistant or Apprentice Designers
They usually make patterns and sample garments. They
may also teach sample makers how to make patterns
and designer garments.
3. Specialty Designers
They coordinate with other designers about special
lines of garments.
4. Costume or Theatrical Designers
They usually create costumes used in theater and movie
productions on a contractual basis.
The foundations for their creations are their knowledge,
skills, and abilities honed in fashion schools and
trainings in the long run.
• Basic Design – This refers to technical know-how
included in the creation and use of technical blueprints,
drawings, plans, and models.
• Idea Production – This is the ability of designers
to approach problems creatively and resourcefully.
• Dynamic Learning – This is being able to analyze
implications of new information and materials at hand.
• Operations Scrutiny – This is considering requirements
of products to execute a design.
• Uniqueness – This pertains to unusual cleverness
vis-à-vis trying situations.
• Harmonization – This is being able to having good
coordination with others.
• Visioning – This is being able to see how an organization
works under real conditions.
The talents and skills of these artists are really
important in the fashion industry. The work requires
an eye for a striking creation and business management.
Thus, aside from the portfolio of their usually creations,
formal education help these designers acquire the
secrets of the trade in this business. In fact, graduation
from a college or school that provides training on
fashion and design is highly recommended in the industry,
to keep incoming designers updated on the advent of
new techniques and technologies.
However, some leaders of this industry view vocational
training schools and community college as more capable
of producing competent artists because these institutions
work along with clothing industries.
Vocational schools provide trainings in sketching,
draping and grading, pattern making, garment construction,
textiles and trimmings, costume history, principles
of design and color; and how to plan and market seasonal
fashion lines.
High school students inclined in fashion and design
should finish basic courses in arts, sewing, mathematics,
speech, English, and business.
Usually, vocational institutions provide a two-leveled
program with certificate that is consonant to the
degree in Associate of Arts. For those who want to
enter the fashion field immediately, a first level
certificate of proficiency is provided. The next level
of proficiency, the second-level requires a greater
time of completion. But upon graduation, artists are
considered competent enough to aim for positions as
Assistant Designers. After all the necessary formal
trainings and specializations, those who have the
guts and high hopes spin gold fabrics!
