A career in fashion may include designing clothes.
Creative, artistic individuals who are interested in clothes may do well in a career in fashion. The best way to such a career is to obtain a bachelor's degree from a fashion design school. Students at fashion design schools learn sketching, computer-aided design and business concepts. Design schools also help students develop portfolios of work to show potential employers. Students who aspire to be fashion designers may be pleasantly surprised to learn about other fulfilling careers in the world of fashion.
Fashion Designer
Fashion designers create clothing and accessories for sale. They study fashion trends, sketch designs, choose colors and fabrics, and oversee production. An associate's or bachelor's degree is the first step toward working as a designer. Those who aspire to be self-employed or to have their own store would benefit from taking courses in business and marketing. Fashion designers need to have an eye for color, be detail-oriented and have a sense of proportion. The average annual earnings for fashion designers in 2008 was $61,160.
Fashion Journalist
Fashion journalists write about industry trends and products in books, commentaries, magazine articles or newspaper columns. They also are called fashion reporters, fashion correspondents or fashion writers. They must be good listeners, have good time-management skills, be critical thinkers and be able to meet deadlines. In addition to writing, they plan stories, interview sources, and research and verify information. The pay rate varies depending on whether they are employees or freelancers, and what kinds of articles they write, among other factors.
Art Director
Art directors are responsible for the artistic design of advertisements in television and magazines. They choose photographers, illustrators, models and props. Art directors work with a creative team to develop the concept of the advertisement and the message they want to send to consumers. Educational requirements for an art director include a bachelor's degree in fine arts. The average salary for an art director was $63,750 in 2004.
Fashion Merchandiser
Fashion merchandisers analyze trends, production costs and store inventory to determine what products to order and in what quantity. They also price clothing, supervise the design of visual displays and create income projections. Fashion designers may have a certificate of completion, associate's or bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising or a similar program. A fashion merchandiser with two to four years of experience can earn between $68,814 to $91,800 a year.
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