Becoming a fashion designer takes training, talent and hard work.
Becoming a fashion designer today takes training, talent, networking and hard work. The traditional route begins with studying fashion design, but education alone does not make someone a fashion designer. The ability to develop an impressive design portfolio, make contacts within the fashion industry and obtain enough experience to qualify for a specific design job are equally important. Jobs such as Design Assistant, Design Associate or Assistant Designer must be held first before someone has the opportunity to take on responsibility as a designer for a clothing or accessories line. Six to 10 years of combined education and experience are required for most people to achieve the designer job title. Some talented and/or lucky individuals may get there sooner.
Degrees
Most design schools offer a four-year college degree in fashion design, which is the recommended path for a student who wishes to become a mainstream fashion designer. Two-year associate degrees are also offered but tend to lack a concentrated design focus or to focus on just one design area, such as draping or pattern making. Because a degree is not enough to become a designer, several additional years must be spent acquiring work experience in the fashion industry.
Industry Geography
Ralph Lauren show at New York fashion week.
Getting an education and first job offer in New York or California is the fastest route to success in the fashion industry. New York City is by far the industry job leader with 40 percent of the approximately 15,000 industry jobs while California has about 20 percent. These two states also have the highest salaries for fashion design positions. Most major American designers present their lines twice a year at New York fashion week.
Top Schools
Top design schools have an industry focus.
Many famous designers such as Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Betsy Johnson attended one of the top industry schools. In New York, Parsons the New School for Design, Pratt Institute and the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), are preeminent. In California the top three are Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles, and the Academy of Art University and the California College of the Arts, both in San Francisco. The top schools have the advantage of industry ties to local employers and alumni. Students interested in an international couture-focused career should consider the Central St. Martins College of Art and Design in London. This school launched the careers of John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Phoebe Philo and Alexander McQueen.
Portfolio and Internship Importance
Portfolio sketches and sample garments show employers your talent.
Even graduates with a four-year degree are evaluated and hired on the basis of their student design portfolios and sample garments. Internships are important as students and graduates can get industry experience and continue to develop their portfolios while gaining knowledge and contacts. Awards and scholarships such as those given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA) and recognition in student design shows are additional building blocks for the student's portfolio.
Alternative Entrepreneurial Route
Some designers begin their careers in a retail environment.
Not every designer has a formal design education. Some were entrepreneurs who started design or retail businesses when they were teenagers, such as Tommy Hilfiger. Others worked in retail, like Ralph Lauren who worked in sales at Brooks Brothers and Giorgio Armani who was a buyer for the Cerruti clothing line. All of these designers were able to get financial backing to launch their lines and attract business partners.
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