CO U R S E S & C A REERS
Becoming a Fashion Designer
1) Education
A university degree can be really important in
becoming a fashion designer. However talented you
are, the fashion industry is very competitive. Education
can make you much more appealing than any other
candidate. You may want to have a master or a
bachelor’s degree in fashion design. Some fashiondesign courses incorporate courses such as business
and marketing, especially for those who want to run
their own company or retail shop. Basic modules
include colour selection, fabric and textiles, sewing and
tailoring, pattern making, fashion-design technology,
fashion history, fashion management and designs of
different kinds of apparel such as menswear or shoes.
Most of the time, modules in these courses also include
subjects such as mathematics and psychology, which
provides a better understanding of design techniques
and marketing strategies.
A lot of universities have such programmes, but only
a handful has the kind of credibility that can actually
drive your career. Getting into these universities can be
tough as competition is high, and the universities might
be extremely selective. You may apply by sending out
a portfolio of drawings of your styles. Drawing is also a
vital skill for a designer – it is the means to convey your
ideas and suggestions.
However, you do not have to be an expert artist to
get accepted to a well-known institution. The most
important quality these institutions are looking for is
really passion and your love of fashion. If you have
remarkable ideas but cannot really draw well, there are
ways to work around that. You could, for example, put
your designs on a model and take photos of them as
part of your portfolio.
Most fashion programmes are three to four years long.
In some universities, students who do well normally
earn the chance to win prestigious awards and grants,
which bring them a great deal of interest in addition
to financial support. One extremely cool thing about
some universities is their well-known ‘style programme’,
designed for their graduating students. This is basically
an opportunity to meet potential employers or wellknown designers (and maybe some fashion celebs) and
showcase their designs or ideas during fashion events.
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easyuni Guide 2014
Issue 2
2) Choose which developing field
is your primary passion
Are you most interested in haute
couture, ready-to-wear, fitness/
leisure equipment, the mass