Is Fashion Your Forte?

January 29th, 2015 Career AdviceDesign Careers

Across the globe, the world of fashion is about showcasing creative flair through the imagination of artists who bring their creation to the fore through textiles and fabric that others wish to wear. Those who succeed are a cut above. They stand out because of their firm vision, along with a necessary and dedicated discipline to remain true to their ideals. Only a handful make it to the top of this cut-throat industry. They are competing against trends, the public and each other, wanting to leave their mark and set the new look for the year ahead.

The glitz and glamour may or may not be real. Fabricated to create an illusion that others aspire to, it launches the platform that creates a frenzy around the latest garments, accessories and fad – that hopefully everyone wants to buy.

The outstanding have many traits and skills that set them apart and keep others in the shadows, simply copying their works of genius.

If you want to succeed as a fashion designer, here are some of the necessary traits and skills you will need to have.

• Dedicated vision – The successful fashion designer is an artist with vision. Uniquely creating a style all of your own, and then upholding this firmly with each creation that starts to build your brand. Establishing a style is imperative, and keeping true to your original look (with some evolution allowed, of course) is needed throughout your career. Trust your individuality, as this is what will set you apart.
• Inspired and inspiring – Your personality will come through in your design, together with what you are trying to represent and create. A fashion designer is a spokesperson for many. Where you lead, others follow. Be prepared to draw inspiration from the people and places around you, and to in turn inspire others.
• Working alone and in a team – A fashion designer often works alone in the early stages of creation, and must be comfortable in this space. This stage often requires extensive creative time for the ideas and designs to arise. However, once they have come together it is a team of supporters who cut, sew, service, model, publicise, and sell your wares. Because of this, you must have the necessary communication skills to convey your ideas and concepts to a varied group of people.
• Education – An education in design will be helpful to give you a foundation of knowledge for your career. It will also justify to established designers why they should hire you, as you will be educated in the necessary aspects of fashion to help make your creations a success.
• Skilled with a pencil – Your designs are only good if others can understand them. Being able to communicate through visual interpretations is a must for a successful fashion design. Having the skills to sketch and graphically articulate all the intricacies in design is a minimum requirement, and being trained in this aspect can be invaluable to those in the industry.
• Knowledge of fabrics, textiles, and colours – The foundation of all fashion is a combination of colour, fabric, and materials. Knowing how to express a palate for each fashion design to extract the right tone and mood is critical. You will also need to have a working knowledge of fabrics, as choosing the right material for a design will require a knowledge of the consistency, elasticity and texture of the fabric.
• Attention to detail – As a fashion designer, you will need to have a great deal of attention to detail. The technical specifications for each piece you design must be exact, or the design will fail. You will also need to be skilled at making measurements, and accurately recording dimensions and observations.
• Business Acumen – While designing clothes is the fun, creative element of being a fashion designer, the reality is that without business acumen the product may never make it to market, or could flop. Education in business is a well desired skill to help any fashion designer turn their dream into a financial and retail reality.

If you think you have what it takes to begin your training as a fashion designer, then check out the courses from ICI on Fashion Design.

by Gladys Mae

Gladys Mae serves as the General Manager and Head of Student Services at the International Career Institute. Gladys holds a degree in Mass Communication - Broadcast Media from the University of San Jose-Recoletos. She joined ICI in 2010 and has over the past 12 years been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to staff and students alike. Prior to joining ICI Gladys led a multifaceted career with key roles in the banking and business process outsourcing industries.