How to Work In Fashion
By MildaDesigns
Three Steps to Style Stardom
You want a job in fashion - great! First, what you need to do is assess your talents and make a list. Why the list? Well, there are simply so many jobs in fashion, and there are also many kinds of designers. For example, not all designers are great drawers, but they can learn to illustrate just enough to be able to convey their ideas more clearly. Perhaps you are great at assembling collages, or can put together an outfit in an entirely unique and fresh way.
Your list could look like this:
-I’m great at spotting and starting trends.
-I know how to sew well.
-Im really good at fine art like painting and sculpture.
Your talents in sewing, for example, might steer you in the direction of working more hands-on in a workroom creating custom made clothing. For example, I was a decent enough sewer to get a job making costumes in NYC for huge Broadway shows like “Wicked” and “Legally Blonde”. It was thrilling. Not a good sewer? Not a problem! I had a talented student who loved to make “doodles”. Doodles they were not- they were beautiful drawings that were perfect to be developed into prints on textile. Even though she wanted to go into fashion design, her talents screamed textile and surface design to me! I think if she combined both trades, there would be nothing stopping her success.
Some more examples:
Fashion Stylist- Your talent: Putting at outfit together in an interesting & unique way- pantyhose as a top after you cut a slit at the toe part? No problem!
Milliner (Hat) designer- Your Talent: Sculpture and 3-d design; hats are soft-sculpture, incidentally!
Trend Forecasting – Your Talent: Making great collages from magazines –Fashion companies pay big bucks for trend services that put together boards that predict trends.
Step Two- get started! It’s not necessary for you to go a trade-specific school to get a job in fashion, but it does help. If you live in an isolated area that does not offer many jobs in fashion, perhaps you do a summer camp in New York or LA that can offer you some training in a concentrated period of time. And with a decent computer and internet connection, you can also take classes online! If you are going the more traditional route, I would suggest enrolling in a two or four year school to train in fashion design or a related major like fashion styling or textile and surface design. Some of the big schools that offer the best fashion educations in the U.S. are as follows:
-The Fashion Institute of Technology (*I’m a grad and I also taught there!)
- Savannah College of Art and Design
That said, there are many local schools that might be closer to you that could offer a quality education and be much more economical. For example, I live in Michigan and have observed great education with local schools like International Academy of Design and Merchandising (IADT) and even Lawrence Technological University (LTU) is offering classes in fashion.
In my very personal opinion, if you can enter an accelerated program that teaches you the basics in a year, or, a two year associates degree program, it’s all you need. I did go four years and earn a Bachelor’s Degree, but honestly, once I entered the industry, all that went out the door. Which leads me to your next step…
Step three- Get workin’, sista (or brotha, whatever)! Put your money where your mouth is. You want to have a job in fashion? Roll up those sleeves and show them that you are willing to invest in sweat equity. What does that mean? It means, you are trading your time and energy (maybe even a bit of your sanity) and offering your services as an intern or the like to learn from people in the field. That might mean putting in 5-20 hours a week at a big fashion company without pay or college credit. Again, if you don’t live in a big city, that might mean ringing up the trendiest boutique in town and seeing if they need some part-time help. Be creative- one of my biggest dreams is to be a store dresser at Anthropologie- I’ve even gone in and told them I’d help them for free (those windows and displays are crazy-cool)!
An internship can be many things. It might mean you are a gopher, running errands and answering phones. But that might also mean that chores like fetching swatches and trims will build your contact list in the sourcing field, and answering phones might put you in touch (and hopefully good graces) of all the important people that call- who will in turn learn your name. You can then use those learned things for when you start your business or work for someone else in a better position in the fashion industry. All experience is good experience.
Lastly, strive to be friendly with everybody, always keep humble, and learn something new everyday. It’s the best advice I could give any would-be fashionista in order to succeed. Good luck and see you out there!
Comments
Welcome to HubPages. Nice article
you are partial as my BFF! ;-) But I appreciate the support!
Great article and although very honest about the amount of work it takes to succeed, the author is very encouraging. Excellent tips!
What a great guide to getting started! There was a time when I really wanted to work in the fashion industry, but then I realized I don't have any particular skills that would enable me to thrive in the super competitive industry, so I am contentedly watching from the sidelines.
But for this reason, I'm REALLY glad you've included that advice about doing an inventory of one's skills early on. Too many people enter industries without assessing their potential industry-specific aptitude.
Thanks for the great advice, and welcome to HubPages!
Thanks for your input, Simone. I really not try to be negative or dissuede anyone, but I think its important to go into it with eyes wide open.... Cheers!
Welcome to HubPages MD, interesting fashion guide. Voted up, happy hubbing 2012.
Great advice. I like the big shoe.
Very nice article for start. Welcome!
Hub of the day, on your very first hub. Very impressive, to say the least. Milda, you may have just paved your way on possibly becoming the next big fashion or design blogger. Down to earth and honest advice is as good as gold. Hopefully everyone and anyone aspiring to work in fashion stumble upon this post. Nicely done!
Princesswithapen
Very nice job on this! Welcome. Following you now.
Great tips. I'm a fashion diva and can help others but never really charged for this service. I think the economy could not sustain this venture(not that writing is sustaining much:)
But you got me when it comes to sewing: I think I'll buy, wear and do the catwalk in public for now
Thanks
Excellent first hub and about what I love too. Fashion has numerous diversities and you are right, you have to find out where your niche is in this fabulous industry. You're a very talented young lady! I wish you the best and welcome to hubpages!
Powerful! I love the way you point out talent is not always what we are socialized or media(ized) into thinking where it lay. I would take one of your classes just for the experience of learning about teaching and learning! Hmmmm, maybe I can talk my niece into doing it for me - smile!
Awesome job on this hub of the day!!! This caught my eye because I have recently taken my hobby of photography to the next level. I have a friend that is trying to launch her own line of Jeans and I have been building a portfolio for her. She finds me the models, I shoot and edit and everything is done Time for Prints. I benefit too by building a portfolio and in other ways. Two of the models have introduced me to a local t-shirt graphic designer and things are taking off. I never imagined that I would be working in the fashion industry but then again, I never really tried. I think your best advice to anyone is to just get out there and do it, it will never happen unless you put your foot forward.
Oh yea, welcome to HP and congrats on this honor or Hub of the day!!!
Thanks for sharing with us!
Thank you, Richard! Great tips on the photography bit- I always work with other photographers, make-up artists and models to exchange services. Thought it "costs"us time, the benefits of working together to pull together mutual professional services is always more than worth the effort!
great article. I love fashion
I'm not so up in fashion, but a very nice Hub....
Excellent hub. My youngest daughter is a fashion stylist. She just woke up one day and decided that was what she wanted to do. In the beginning, she did some stuff for free (like you mentioned) to set up her portfolio and now she works with celebrities for photo shoots and special events. She did as you mentioned and just went for it! I would have been too scared to put myself out there like that, but she did it. So, your advice is right on and much inspiration for people who are looking to get into the fashion industry.
great hub, thanks
I think for fashion you really have to have an eye for design and spotting trends. I think being unorthodox is good too to show that you're not afraid to work with new materials or styles.
I agree, excellent hub. Welcome to HubPages and hey, congrats on getting Hub of the Day. Excellent. You're a very good writer and presented your images very nicely. What a bonus day for you! Thank you.
Very fun and well put together. Congrats on the Hub of the Day! Voting up.
Great hub! I also wanted to mention you could be a pattern designer. My neice has worked for Zak Posen. welcome to hub pages!
Awesome hub. Love your thoughts on style.
Welcome Hubber! I enjoyed the article.
I really enjoyed this article. Your photo reminded me of my Fashion Design teacher who inspired me. I am now your follower =)
I once tried to make a pair of shorts following a pattern--disaster! This hub makes me want to try again,(twenty-five years later), but this time make my own design.
thank you for the kind words! Good luck on your journey...
its all about the little "failures" that make us stronger and are truly learning experiences. In fact, I was working on a dress this week and it turned out a big, sloppy mess and didn't even fit! And I have 15 yrs experience. Don't let the speed bump deter you....Start with a pillowcase and eventually steer towards couture...there is nothing stopping you!
I think almost every young girl has dreamed of being a fashion designer (or merchandiser or anything else related to fashion) at some point in her life. As someone who loves Project Runway, I'm guessing that dream continues for many years into adulthood.
This is a very helpful and comprehensive list of ways you can work in fashion, and how to find schooling.
Voted up, awesome, interesting and useful.
Fashion Designer to the Hubnuggets! These cool ideas have captured the attention of the Hubnuggets Team as well. This way to read and vote on the Hubnuggets http://enellelamb.hubpages.com/hub/Mysteries-of-th Congratulations!
stacey cuttler 3 months ago
I loved reading this article and I think Milda Bublys is a creative genious!