I’ve been involved in the digital and web design media industry since 2000 with focus on informative interface, animation, and creative design. I love drawing but also technically savvy. So, every now and then someone offers me projects that are more suitable for fashion designers. So what exactly does a fashion designer do?
A good fashion designer understands that clothes are much more than shield from the elements. Clothes can make people feel confident or powerful. Or they can be comforting. Clothing can be an artistic expression—a projection of the image people wants the world to see. Style can make a person feel better. What people wear shows who they are.
Fashion Design Style – What people wear shows who they are
In this field, there is a long history of people rising from humble beginnings to become fashion designer stars.
- Laura Ashley got her start as a secretary.
Laura Ashley – fashion designer star
- Vera Wang began designing when she became engaged at age 39 and couldn’t find a suitable wedding gown for the mature first bride.
Vera Wang – fashion designer star
- Ralph Lauren was born into a middle-class family who lived in the Bronx, and used to buy suits with his pocket money at age 12. He is now one of the richest and most famous fashion designers in the world.
Ralph Lauren fashion – designer star
Fashion designers regularly study fashion trends, sketch designs, select colors and fabrics, and oversee the process by which their original designs come to completion in the form of new clothes and accessories. Some fashion designers specialize in clothing (men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel), footwear (shoes and boots), or accessory (handbags, belts, scarves, hats, hosiery, etc) design, whereas others create designs in all of these fashion categories.
The design process, involves the following steps:
- Researching future fashion trends.
- Sketching preliminary designs. Although most designers initially sketch designs by hand, a growing number now make use of computer-aided design (CAD) software to translate these hand sketches to the computer. Using CAD software also allows designers to view designs of clothing on virtual models and in different colors and shapes, which will save time by eliminating the need to make as many adjustments later with prototypes and samples.
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Using CAD software for fashion design
- Visiting manufacturers or trade shows to acquire fabric samples in order to decide which fabrics to use with which designs.
- Creating a prototype of the article using cheaper materials and then trying the prototype on a model for design adjustments.
- Making samples using the actual material and then marketing them to clothing retailers and displaying them at fashion and trade shows. When retailers at the shows place orders for certain items, these items can then be manufactured and distributed to stores.
Beginning fashion designers, who usually start out as pattern makers or sketching assistants for more experienced designers, tend to earn low salaries until becoming more established in the industry and advancing to higher level positions. Salaried designers as a rule earn higher and more stable incomes than self-employed designers. However, a small number of self-employed fashion designers who have become very successful earn many times the salary of even the highest paid salaried designers.
Steps you should follow to become a fashion designer:
- Learn to draw and sew. Start at home by sketching some clothing ideas. Save these sketches and continually edit and revise them. Also learn about colors and how to mix them effectively.
- Learn everything possible about the industry. Research companies that sell fashion and learn what type of fashion each company makes.
- Attend a school. Bachelors and associate degree programs in fashion design are offered at many colleges, universities, and private art and design schools. Plan to spend at least two years in any fashion design program.
- Build a portfolio of original designs.
- Get industry experience any way possible. This can come at an early age in the form of volunteer work.
How can to become a GREAT fashion designer?
- Develop a working knowledge of design-related software programs. In today’s world, CAD-type software and programs such as Adobe Photo shop and Illustrator provide a vital capability to fashion designers. It is important to become familiar with as wide a variety of software programs as possible.
- Subscribe to trade newspapers and fashion magazines. This is a great way to keep up-to-date with fashion trends. Industry professionals regularly tap into these publications and successful fashion designers should do the same.
- Make as many industry connections as possible. Many of these relationships can be developed in school. Include people in related fields, such as advertising.
The most important thing in this profession is an appreciation for beauty. Fashion designers also need good communication and problem-solving skills, as well as sketching ability.
Here are some examples of my drawing, step by step sketching for the lindsay lohan fashion line.
- Sketching Tutorial Step 1
- Sketching Tutorial Step 2 Fashion Design
- Sketching Tutorial Step 3 Fashion Design
- Sketching Tutorial Step 4 Fashion Design
- Sketching Tutorial Step 5 Fashion Design
Final Drawing:
- Sketch for the lindsay lohan fashion line
- lindsay lohan fashion line
