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If you’ve watched The Devil Wears Prada a million times and the annual Met Gala event is your idea of heaven, then I think it’s pretty safe to say you’d enjoy a career in fashion.
The world of fashion design is a fickle, dog-eat-dog world and only the very few hit the design heights of Lagerfeld or Versace. But that said, there are plenty of other jobs you can do with a fashion degree that could be very rewarding indeed…
Here’s a look at some of the different opportunities out there, including some that you might not have considered…
Fashion designer
This is the job everyone with a passion for fashion dreams about. If you are good (and lucky) enough to make it to the big time, you’ll get the chance to see your own visions hit the runway and be worn by models and celebrities.
However, some designers also work for big brands and other design-houses, designing clothes/footwear according to a brief given to them by someone else. Either way, designers get to spend their work time being really creative and producing products that will one day be worn and loved by others.
Designers can work across a number of different markets, from womenswear to children’s wear or footwear, and from haute couture or boutique fashion, to mass-produced high street clothes.
Responsibilities vary depending on if you head up your own brand or work within a team of other designers. Your main task will be to come up with the initial ideas, but you might have to spend time assisting with pattern cutting, working with buyers in sourcing materials and liaising with sales and marketing.
To get a job as a designer, you should look to study fashion (obvs) at uni, however make sure you check what modules you’ll be taking. While theory is good, you want to study a degree that gives you the practical skills too – especially in pattern cutting, design (CAD) and garment construction.
You could also look to do a specialist degree if, for example, you wanted to get in to footwear design, jewellery design, or accessories.
Alongside your degree, getting some work experience (either in your spare time or as part of a placement year) and building up a portfolio to impress prospective employers after you graduate.
Fashion illustrator
Fashion illustrators work directly with designers or art directors to turn their visions, ideas and early sketches in to full and accurate illustrations. Sometimes the designer will know exactly what they want, whereas others will give you a brief from which to work from.
This role is perfect for someone who is really good at art, as you will need to be skilled in drawing designs both by hand and also using computer software.
To get in to this career, one path is to get a degree in graphic design or art before pursuing a career in fashion at postgraduate level, or choose a fashion design degree that includes graphic design or illustration modules. There are even some specific fashion illustration degrees you could study.
To get accepted onto degrees of this kind, you will need relevant A-levels, and you might even need to do a foundation degree. Alongside your degree, you should build up a strong portfolio and gain experience in relevant positions to impress prospective employees
Pattern cutter/grader
Pattern cutters work to turn the illustrations made by the designer or illustrator in to patterns that can be used to make sample clothes and the final product. They either work by hand, using dummies to pin and shape the patterns, or use computer-generated models to create them.
Pattern graders work alongside cutters to scale the original pattern up and down, so that the manufacturers are able to produce the same garment design to fit different sizes of woman or man.
For both jobs, you not only need an interest in fashion and a keen eye for detail, you’ll also need some mathematical skills in order to produce and scale the patterns correctly. To become a pattern cutter or grader you can study a general fashion design degree which included pattern-cutting as part of its modules or look for a specific pattern cutting degree.
Stylist
If you love fashion but not sure you have the design or tech skills to become an illustrator or pattern cutter, then a stylist might be a good job you could do with your fashion degree.
Stylists can work in chain/department stores helping customers select outfits; privately for individuals; or for TV, magazines or catalogues, styling the models/actors/presenters.
In order to succeed you need to have a broad understanding of the work that goes in to design and manufacturing of products and also of the latest trends and developments in design, so a fashion degree will be useful.
Fashion journalist
A fashion journalist writes about the latest trends and news in clothing and/or accessories – either for magazines, TV, or online blogs. They will also network with and interview designers, models, and other industry experts, so need really good communication skills. They can work either freelance of for a single employer.
If you love fashion and have a flair for writing and love the prospect of getting to travel (as this might well be a large part of your job), fashion journalism is definitely a job you should consider with your fashion degree.
To get this role, you could do a straight fashion degree, which will give you’re the industry knowledge (and keep your options open for other jobs) and then build up a portfolio/blog of writing, or do work experience to show potential employers that you can write.
Or if you are sure fashion journalism is the only path for you, you could do a specific fashion journalism degree.
As you can see, there are many interesting jobs you can do with a fashion related degree. It’s not all just about being a designer.
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