Fashion Design

Archive for February, 2010

Online distance education is a strong industry that is continuing to grow and change as more people realize the benefits of receiving their education online. In addition to more traditional programs, there are a number of specializations that are currently available through distance education. If your goal is to attend fashion school and work in the fashion industry, there are many online fashion design schools are available to choose from.
There are many benefits to taking courses online. Distance education cuts out anything extraneous, like commuting, so you can focus solely on your education. You will have much more flexibility, and can study at your own pace. Many people who learn online have other jobs and commitments, and with a little planning and effort, they are able to both study and work at the same time. Taking online courses does require some dedication, but if you are self-motivated, it can be a great way to learn.
With many online fashion design schools, you will fill out either a mail or online application to register for the courses. Your classes will be a mixture of self-study, usually with a textbook or workbook, and online lesson modules. You may have the ability to work with others online, or have online or email chat to the teacher and other students. Some classes may even utilize a web cam, so you can see others, and your teacher and classmates can see you. Because of the nature of online courses, you may even have your final exam be open book, with an emphasis on critical thinking, or involved projects.
If you are planning to attend a US-based school, you will want to make sure they are accredited. Many schools will offer an associate degree,and some may even offer a bachelor. The Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), is the accrediting body for distance education programs, and some schools may even have an additional accreditation specifically related to fashion design.
Many of the traditional campuses for vocational and technical schools also offer an online fashion design program. For example, Westwood College, a leading vocational school,offers an online Bachelor Degree in Fashion Merchandising. The Art Institute also has a variety of online programs, including a Fashion and Retail Management Program.
If you are truly interested in receiving a fashion design education, you can make it happen. With the Internet, distance does not have to be an impediment to learning. If you are self-motivated and self-directed, an online fashion design program could be the next step in your fashion design career.

Amy Wells writes about fashion education. Thinking of attending Fashion
School? Get the facts first, find out where to go and how to save money on Fashion
School.

If you can read colors, feel textures, notice blends and believe that you can create the look – fashion designing is a good option.

Fashion designers are trendsetters, but even they have to take an entrance exam and need to study. If you think shoes, belts and hats are style statements and speak louder and more eloquently than the design itself, complement the cut and contribute meaningfully towards an ensemble, another option could be accessory / Jewellery design.

Another option could also be fashion merchandising – lending your talent to the production process that is an essential part of the fashion industry. Merchandising is a specialized management function within the fashion industry. Fashion Merchandisers are responsible for selection of materials, liasoning with the production team and meeting market requirements. The job demands knowledge of fashion trends, textures, materials and colors on one hand and understanding of market demand and the production processes on the other.

(A)The Prospects

Opportunities for jobs exist in the following sectors:

1.)      Export houses dealing with garment/textile/handloom exports 2.)      Retail and wholesale garment businesses in men’s/women’s/children clothing in sportswear/casual wear, etc. 3.)      Haute Couture 4.)      Government/Semi government-handloom/textile manufacturers 5.)      Fashion show organizers/Fashion publishers 6.)      TV/Film fashion program producers/compeers/costume designers, etc. 7.)      With Film production units 8.)      Teaching design

(B) The Job

Fashion Design 1.)      Exploration and research 2.)      Sketching the original idea on paper 3.)      Shaping the pattern pieces which make the garment 4.)      The pieces are then drawn in actual size on paper and cut out on a rough material, stitched together and fitted on a model. 5.)      Modifications in the pattern pieces or other features of the mock garment are made and thus the design is completed 6.)      Garments are then made in the final fabric 7.)      Junior designers: Junior designers generally do the first pattern cutting. They assemble the first samples with fabrics they have selected from the market.

Fashion Merchandising

1.)      A merchandiser is primarily a coordinator. 2.)      Merchandisers study buying trends and the buyer’s needs 3.)      They collect specifications from the buyers and coordinate with fashion designers to develop a product which is market specific.

Accessory Designers

1.)      Accessory designers are trained as stylists for men’s, ladies or children’s accessories 2.)      They specialise in leather designing /jewellery designing etc. 3.)      After carrying out a detailed research about the accessory they are required to work on, designers create new and attractive designs for their clients 4.)      In the traditional, studio–based design sector, crafts people work to prepare each article individually 5.)      Work is sold through local outlets, at tourist destinations, emporia and through craft melas.

Jewellery Design

1.)      Jewellery designers create new designs for gold, silver and precious metal jewellery 2.)      Large exporters employ designers or select designs from eminent freelancer 3.)      Gemologists are experts in assessing the quality, value and use of gems for jewellery. They are experts in grading, sorting and setting of gems in various metals.

(C)  Personality Traits

1.)      Artistic, Creative and imaginative 2.)      Know-how of textiles 3.)      Original and inventive 4.)      Flair for creating with fabric or gems 5.)      Fashion Conscious 6.)      Good Communicators 7.)      Persuasive 8.)      Business acumen

(D)  Career Progression

1.)      To start with, one has to be prepared to work in a junior position as a trainee or a design room assistant and the work could involve anything from developing other people’s designs to working as a colourist or in a pattern cutting role. 2.)      You could expect to move from being a trainee or a design room assistant to an assistant designer and subsequently to designer and even head designer. 3.)      Career progression often means moving to a new employer. 4.)      Once you have established yourself you can look at working on your own either on a free lance basis or setting up your own boutique / design house.

(E)  Salaries

1.)     The best bet for a beginner is to get associated with an established designer or design house, and begin with doing the menial work. Most trainee designers get a stipend of around Rs. 4000, but what you can learn in terms of working knowledge is immense. Working as a part of a design team fetches around Rs.12,000 a month. 2.)     After you have the necessary know-how as to how a designer operates on his/her own, which can take any amount of time from months to years, you can work on your own terms and command your own price.

To know more about other relevant information about Career in Fashion Design, read the Second Part (2) of this article.

Anir ban writes on behalf of Shiksha.com. Shiksha is a portal that connects education seeker with education provider.Shiksha provides information about Fashion Courses and Fashion Design colleges.