Fashion designer

Last updated: 24 Feb 2023, 11:50

Creates clothing and accessory designs for high-street fashion, ready-to- wear outlets and specialist markets such as haute couture.

Person working in design

Fashion design is the creation of design concepts which are then translated into manufactured garments for every occasion. The fashion industry is a worldwide industry which constantly requires a supply of designers and design concepts to feed a voracious consumer demand for clothes and accessories.

Fashion designers conceptualise and produce creative ranges of clothing and accessories either as in-house or as consultant designers. They analyse fashion trends and working closely with production, marketing and sales departments they design, produce and promote a finished, ready-to-wear product for clothing manufacturers, specialty and retail stores, and individual clients. Designers usually specialise in a specific line of clothing such as women, men, kids, maternity, bridal, sportswear, shoes or accessories. In larger fashion houses, designers may work in very specialised areas, such as t-shirts, evening dresses, maternity clothes, baby outfits or denims.

Fashion designers also make careers in a wide range of associated fashion and clothing areas that support the main fashion industry.

Read about Eileen Pang's experience working as a Fashion Designer with Missguided here .

Work activities

  • Researching fashion trends and staying current on contemporary styles
  • Attending runway or fashion shows to acquire new fashion ideas
  • Developing mood boards to illustrate themes
  • Creating sketches and prototypes
  • Choosing materials
  • Performing business administration tasks
  • Marketing products
  • Supervising or working with design team members.

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