FASHION CAREERS

Fashion Designers

Fashion Designers are people with a desire to create. They combine practical knowledge with artistic ability to turn abstract ideas into formal designs for the clothes we wear.

The first step in developing a new design or altering an existing one is to determine the needs of the client, the ultimate function for which the design is intended, and its appeal to customers or users. When creating a design, designers often begin by researching the desired design characteristics, such as size, shape, weight, color, materials used, cost, ease of use, fit, and safety.

Fashion Designers then prepare sketches, by hand or with the aid of a computer, to illustrate the vision for the design. After consulting with the client, a creative director, or a product development team, designers create detailed designs, using drawings, a structural model, computer simulations, or a full-scale sample in collaboration with the Pattern Maker. Many designers use computer-aided design (CAD) tools to create and better visualize the final product. Computer models allow ease and flexibility in exploring a greater number of design alternatives, thus reducing design costs and cutting the time it takes to deliver a product to market.

Fashion Designers sometimes supervise assistants who carry out their creations. Designers who run their own businesses also may devote a considerable amount of time to developing new business contacts, examining equipment and space needs, and performing administrative tasks, such as reviewing catalogues and ordering samples.

Some High-Fashion Designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. Other High-Fashion Designers cater to specialty stores or High-Fashion department stores. These designers create original garments, as well as clothing that follow established fashion trends. Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs of men's, women's, and children's fashions for the mass market.

Designers need a good sense of color, texture, and style. In addition, they must understand the construction and characteristics of specific fabrics, such as durability and stiffness. Many employers seek designers who know how to use computer-assisted design and with a 2 or 4 year degree who are knowledgeable in the areas of textiles, fabrics, ornamentation, and about trends in the fashion world.

Median annual earnings for fashion designers were $51,290 in 2002 (USA). The middle 50 percent earned between $35,550 and $75,970. The highest 10 percent earned more than $105,280.

Pattern Designers

A professional Pattern Designer is a Master artisan who uses a complex combination of artistic decisions in relation to construction methodologies, textile media and fit, and then implements them to realize a designer's 2 dimensional sketch into a flexible, moving 3 dimensional reality.

Pattern Designers are people with a strong desire to build and see results.

A Master Pattern Designer makes all the difference in between a garment fitting like a bag and an elegant outfit.

The first step in developing a new pattern or altering an existing one is in collaboration with the Fashion Designer, to determine the needs of the client, the ultimate function for which the design is intended, and its appeal to customers or users.

With a precise measurement of the body the Master gives a special attention to detail in order to obtain the highest quality of pattern and make sure the pattern will sew properly and without confusion at the factory level.

For simple pattern development, the pattern designer utilizes computer aided design (CAD), to generate the patterns. The benefit of having patterns stored by computer is to improve measurement accuracy and to be able to transfer patterns/markers via email, print out single size patterns or production markers for shipping to a cutting facility and finally to grade all the necessary sizes.

Before grading, the Pattern Maker checks all pattern pieces to ensure seam lines match. Perfect patterns computerized allow producing highly efficient markers which will reduce fabric costs increasing the profit margins.

Some Master Pattern Designers are self-employed and tailor for individual clients. Other High-Fashion pattern designers working for Couture Houses cater to specialty stores or High-Fashion department stores. Most pattern designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating patterns of men's, women's, and children's fashions for the mass market.

Master Pattern Designers are vital for the Fashion Industry and require none only a solid formation but also years of practice in transforming sketches in beautiful garments. Before becoming Master of their art, they need to develop the sense of it.

An excellent Pattern Designer earn as much as and excellent Fashion Designer.