Fashion designer

Fashion designers create designs for clothes that fit with, or predict, fashion trends and appeal to potential buyers. They may specialise in different areas of clothing, such as children’s or sportswear. Haute couture is the most exclusive area of fashion design and the hardest to get into. More opportunities exist in wholesale manufacturing and with large fashion retailers.

Also known as:

Clothes designer

Work activities

Fashion designers create designs for clothing and/or fashion accessories that fit with, or predict, trends and market demands. Haute couture is the most exclusive area of design. Haute couture designers produce garments for individual clients and produce seasonal collections that influence the rest of the fashion industry. Some of these designers have their own fashion houses.

Fashion designers of ready-to-wear ranges create quality garments that they sell in selected upmarket shops. They either follow the haute couture trend or create their own style. When the clothes go into production, fashion designers give advice and sort out any problems with cutting or stitching. They oversee quality control. Fashion designers may also visit trade fairs to find out about new fabrics and designs or to source new suppliers. The work may involve travelling locally, nationally and sometimes overseas.

Personal qualities and skills

As a fashion designer, you need:

Good communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
Creative and artistic skills.
Flexibility to adapt designs to suit clients & needs.
Good organisation and planning skills.
An understanding of different fabrics and clothes making.
An interest in fashion and new fashion trends.
To work to deadlines and budgets.
Knowledge of design-related software.

Self-employed or freelance fashion designers will need business and marketing skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for fashion designers vary with employer and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Fashion designers earn in the range of £20,000 a year, rising to up to £40,000. Senior fashion designers can earn much higher salaries.

Fashion designers usually work a 40-42-hour week, Monday to Friday. Working hours for self-employed designers may be irregular, depending on the project they are working on. Late finishes and weekend work may be required from time to time, especially as deadlines approach.

The largest employers of fashion designers are the large wholesale manufacturers. Other opportunities occur with large retailers. However, many fashion design firms are small businesses employing just a few designers. Traditionally, clothing firms are based in the East Midlands, the North West, London and Scotland. Central design teams are based at company headquarters, often in London and the South East.

Self-employment opportunities occur for fashion designers to work as self-employed, freelance designers in consultancy and fixed-term contract work. You can obtain this work through specialist recruitment agencies.

What’s happening in this work area?

The design sector operates in a very commercial global market, including strong economies, for example, India and China. However, the strong growth of the UK service industry has led to the opening up of new markets and helped the design sector to achieve a position of strength. Technology has helped to greatly speed up the design process, making it possible for designers to take on many more projects. However, fewer people are now required to complete tasks, resulting in a very competitive recruitment market. Fashion design is an extremely competitive area of the design industry. Only a small group of designers make it to the top of the profession.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in design industry magazines/journals such as Drapers, on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. It’s a good idea to build up a network of relevant contacts, as not all fashion design jobs are advertised. Making speculative job applications can also be effective.

Entry routes and training

A common route into this career is via a foundation course in art and design followed by a degree, HNC, HND or foundation degree in a subject such as fashion design. Any kind of pre-entry experience is useful, since this is a very popular choice of career. Many new fashion designers gain experience abroad. A lot of new fashion designers start out in junior positions, working with more experienced designers, gaining skills and experience along the way.

A level 3 (advanced) apprenticeship in the role of fashion studio assistant can be a great place to start.

Most of your training will be on-the-job.

Many designers become self-employed. With experience, some move into senior roles within an organisation.

Qualifications

The usual entry requirements for a relevant Foundation course are:

One to two A-levels. You’ll need an A-level in art or in an art-based subject.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in four to five subjects. Some courses ask that you have a pass in English.

Alternatives to A-levels include:

A BTEC level 3 National diploma in art and design.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Many other qualifications are also accepted so check prospectuses for more details. The entry requirements for relevant HNCs, HNDs and foundation degrees are similar to those needed for the foundation course mentioned above.

If you wish to enter this career through an advanced apprenticeship, you will need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your programme.

To enter any course in art and design, you’ll need a portfolio of your work.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills gained as an assistant in a design studio or workshop, or in a design consultancy are valued. Experience in related fields, such as advertising or marketing, is also useful. Commercial awareness and an understanding of the fashion industry is an advantage. To enter the work or relevant courses, you need to have a portfolio of work showing your creative ability.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details. They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses. It’s also possible to do a part-time art foundation course, which leads to a degree or HND course. Higher National Certificate (HNC) courses are also available part-time, often in the evenings and/or in the daytime. Universities and colleges of higher education (HE) will usually consider applications from candidates who don’t meet their usual entry requirements, especially those with experience in arts, crafts or design. You should check the admissions policy of individual universities and HE colleges.

Relevant courses at various levels in fashion design subjects are offered by a large number of educational centres, by distance learning.

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