Fashion- You just canNOT have enough of it!

Time and again the world has seen that there is no formal education or certification required to become a successful fashion designer, but that doesn't make the feat of making a mark in this industry any easier for one. In order to become a fashion designer, you will need to have a combination of drawing, sewing, and designing skills and a keen eye for fashion in general, but nowadays with the crazy competition that exists in this industry, one is absolutely required to have a degree in Fashion designing from a reputable institution. When we talk of a ‘reputed fashion institution’, we don’t necessarily mean that you have to be a part of an institution straight in the fashion capital of the world- Paris, but any recognised academy of fashion or accredited institution, around the world can work wonders. Though, a little hands-on research on such colleges/universities is advised. This will help you in getting greater knowledge about the subject and understanding it in detail. With having created a niche in the technical knowledge and the intricacies of fashion with an in-depth knowledge about your work, your career in fashion will get the desired boost that you have dreamt of.

 

Speaking of a degree in fashion designing, this is what you need to keep in mind while pondering over the importance of a good degree from a recognised institution, a degree in fashion designing should be a priority for you if you want the employers to notice and appreciate your work and potential above the hundreds others who might be equally talented like you but without a formal degree in fashion. For a beginner, you can also enrol for foundation courses in fashion designing which will help you in learning of the basics of fashion. Some of these courses, like the degree courses, will reel you in the basics of understanding- designing, textiles, clothing technology and manufacturing. Some people choose to do a post-graduate in fashion designing or major in a fashion specialization before they start working, but that is not a necessity.

 

Now that we have spoken about the importance of a formal education in fashion, let’s dig a little more into how to establish yourself as a fashion designer. Let’s first talk a little more about the type of skills you need to have or build upon while thinking of starting a career in fashion.

 

 

·         A creative and an artistic niche:
If you are thinking of designing clothes, one skill that one needs to be part-born with is a creative and an artistic sense. The ability to visualize, articulate and put together raw materials into beautiful designs of clothing or accessories is something that can take you a long way. This does require an eye for detailing, noticing the intricacies in design and your powerhouse of creativity.

 

·         An eye for the minutest detail:
Assuming the fact that you have voluntarily wanted to be a fashion designer since ever, then we are sure that you have doodled or sketched basic designs and added detailing to them over a period of time. Basic outline designs can remain the same, but the art of detailing is what shall make your clothes stand out. Also to keep up with the times, one has to develop the skill to work on their detailing, develop them with the changing trends, the seasons etc. can help you a lot in the advanced stages of learning fashion.

 

·         Understanding the nuances of Colour, Texture and Fabrics:
Any skill require you to have a thorough understanding of the tools one ought to be working with. Similarly, in order to master your skill of fashion, you need to be thorough and focus on your understanding of colour and their shades, the different types of textures that are present and what fabric qualities are present in different parts of the world. The skill, which is often learnt with time, is the ability to analyse what colour and what texture shall go with a particular fabric, and what pieceof accessory can you ultimately create with it. Mastering such nuances and developing them will help in making your designs unique and consequently your outcome is sheer brilliance!

 

·         Assemble and design a fashion portfolio of your work:
Your fashion design portfolio is one of the most vital tools when applying to companies, internships or to an individual employer, as it gives you a chance to showcase the timeline of your work and also to exhibit the best of your work over the entire period of time while you were honing and developing your skills and learning fashion. Design and organise your work in a neat fashion and in a high-quality binder to silently give the employer an idea that you take your work very seriously We researched and found that mostly these features are to be included in your fashion portfolio :

1.      Hand-drawn sketches from the time you started taking your decision of being in the fashion industry seriously.

2.      Computerised designs which also include the 3D-Designs and the life-like texturing.

3.      A well written resume or what you should rather be calling it- ‘Curriculum Vitae’

4.      Conceptualization and organisational planning.

5.      Colour or textile presentation pages.

6.      Any relevant work of designing, conceptualizing or something which can reflect that you have earned your space to enter into the world of fashion.

 

Clothing designers
these are the designers, who create, design and help manufacture general fashion apparel- which mostly includes casual wear, suits, sportswear, evening wear, lingerie and general day-to-day clothing.

Footwear designers
are the band of wonderful people who design, curate and create styles of  the different types of shoes and boots. To incorporate different styles, different needs and to also to bring in the new-age materials like:  lightweight synthetic materials which are now used in most of the sole of shoes. They also are the ones who constantly work on redefining comfort of footwear, hence which can often be a very challenging job.

Accessory designers
These designers ,design and produce items such as handbags, suitcases, belts, scarves, hats, hosiery, and eyewear- basically any accessory that can you carry along with your everyday clothing is made and curated by them.

Costume designers
these geniuses are the ones who are responsible for designing costumes for the performing arts, for motion picture and majorly all television productions. They research the styles worn during the period in which the performance takes place, or they carefully work alongside the creative team and directors to create an entire line of attires which speak of the era and give essence to the characters. Take a look at the amazing work done in movies like Elizabeth, Jodha Akbar and Pakeezah.You will understand what we are speaking of.


You may certainly love designing clothes but designing clothes is just one chapter in the book of Fashion. You need to understand that you need to prepare and be ready to cross obstacles, get used to your work being challenged and the need to constantly explore newer realms of fashion- before you decide to enter the world of fashion. In today’s world, we need to understand one thing quite clearly, that having a keen eye for fashion and being well versed with fashion know-how is not ENOUGH, you need to work on developing excellent interpersonal skills, a willingness to work very hard and respect deadlines, also to learn to how to sail through a tough tide when your eork is challenged or even criticised, an ability to cope with the stress that stems from having this sort of a challenging but thrilling work, openness to work with various employers from various parts of the globe or your nation. Fashion, as stated by many, isn’t easy. It’s pure poetry, it’s pure art. Be ready to discipline yourself and step inside this magnificent world.