Fashion Designing Career

Clothing is regarded as one of the basic necessities of life. In the beginning we clothed ourselves for safety from the natural elements, but as the times passed by, new objectives were incorporated. The concept of fashion now goes well beyond mere clothing.

Today, fashion designing has evolved as a full- fledged industry. The profession is concerned with creating innovative and inspiring garments that enhance the body, personality and character of individuals.

One needs to have a passion for line, shape, texture, color, drape and fabric for this field. Fashion Designing can be divided into three main branches — Garment design, Leather design, Accessory & Jewellery design. There is a tremendous growth for talented professionals in this creative field.

Fashion Designing Eligibility Criteria

While the academic requirements are not very high for this profession but one needs need considerable aptitude and talent for getting success in this field. You must be creative enough to combine colors, shades and textures.

Generally, the aspirant should have 10+2 (Arts, Commerce, Science) /P.U.C./Polytechnic/equivalent with 45% marks in aggregate (40% is sufficient for SC/ST candidates).

Fashion Designing Skills & Attributes

Along with fashion consciousness and creativity, you also need excellent communication skills to express your ideas and listen to the client’s requirements. Knowledge of the market trend is also necessary.

Fashion Designing Job Prospects

The primary areas of work in the fashion industry are:

• Designing

This is the most important area of work in the fashion industry. This involves designing garments for different age groups and according to specific requirements (for instance, costumes for television, film etc).

Designers are involved in:

• Research
• Designing according to needs of the clientele (functionality, budget and choice of textile are the key considerations here)
• Patterning
• Presentation to clients

The designer begins the designing process only after thorough market research, i.e., understanding the needs of the client/market in terms of functionality, budget etc. Single designer or a team could undertake the designing process.

On completion of the designing, a presentation is made to the client and the production department. Changes if any,are incorporated at this stage. The final design is created and passed on to the production department. This master design becomes the basis for production in the manufacturing department/unit.

• Market Research

The global fashion market is extremely dynamic; hence, the need to constantly keep a tab on changing trends. Market research is crucial to manufacturing units, retail businesses and export houses. Pricing and product requirements are directly dependent on market research statistics.

Market research is conducted by researchers with at least 5-10 years experience in the fashion industry or by designers themselves. Manufacturing

Manufacturing is an important area of work in the fashion industry. It includes

•  Purchase of textiles and fabrics
•  Training
•  Scheduling
•  Pattern making
•  Finishing
•  Quality control

The production process begins with the receipt of design from the designer/s. The required textiles are then purchased and the production process begins. The master pattern is created according to the design prescribed.

The master pattern is then reproduced in a variety of sizes. With the help of the trained personnel (such as tailors, assemblers, embroidery experts etc), the garment is created. So let's hope I will keep the promise.

Wherever machinery is used in the production process, machine operators are employed. Quality control is also an important focus area especially if garments are being produced for the export market. Packaging is also a part of the manufacturing process.

Fashion Designing Remuneration

Thanks to the increased expansion of fashion industry coupled with globalization, the status of fashion designers has becomes very lucrative. Depending on your qualification and experience, one can expect to be paid well in this hot career option. As a trainee, one can start with a salary of Rs.1000-Rs.15000. One can command a higher salary as the experiences raises.

Fashion Designing Institutes

• International Institute of Fashion Technology

South Extension Part I,
New Delhi 110 049

• Apeejay Institute of Design

54, Tughlaqabad Institutional Area,
Mehrauli Badarpur Road,
New Delhi 110062
www.appejay.edu

• National Institute of Design (NID)

Paldi, Ahmedabad 380007.
www.nid.edu

• National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD)

Chandigarh
www.nifd.net

• Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology (NIIFT)

C-115, Phase-VII, Industrial Area,
Mohali 160055
www.niftindia.com

• Pearl Academy of Fashion

C-56/2
Okhla Indl Area, Phase II,
New Delhi 110020
www.pearlacademy.com
Srishti School of Art, Design & Technology,
PO Box 6430,
Yelahanka,
Bangalore 560064 (Kar)
www.srishtiblr.org

• University Of Mumbai

M G Road,
Fort, Mumbai 400032
www.mu.ac.in

• National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), at:

Campus Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016
Tata Mills, Parel, Mumbai 400 014
Sector III, Salt Lake City, Calcutta 700 091
GIDC Electronic Estate, Gandhinagar 382 010
Chenatha Bhavan, Nampally, Hyderabad 560 001
Co Optex Bulding. Egmore Chennai 600 008
Website:www.niftindia.com

• The various colleges of Wigan & Leigh College, at:

New Delhi: 86-A, Central Avenue, Sainik Farms,
Tel: 011-26858849-51 Mobile: 9818479333
Mumbai: Tel: 022-23015591/4, 56623997
Kolkata: Tel:033-24487140/50
Bangalore: Tel: 080-25574311/12/13
Hyderabad: Tel: 040-55767425
Pune: Mobile: 9850271167
Website:www.mu.ac.in