Fashion designers use creative and technical skills to design new clothing and fashion ranges.

Types of fashion designer

The main areas of work for fashion designers are:

• high street fashion - this is where the majority of designers work and where garments are mass manufactured (often in Europe or East Asia). Buying patterns, seasonal trends and celebrity catwalk influences play a key role in this design process. It's a commercial, highly media-led area to work in.

• ready-to-wear - established designers create ready-to-wear collections, produced in relatively small numbers.

• haute couture - requires large amounts of time spent on the production of one-off garments for the catwalk. Designs usually endorse the brand and create a 'look'.

Taken from prospects 

Fashion design is a very competitive industry and you'll typically need a degree, HND or foundation degree in a subject that combines both technical and design skills. Relevant subjects include:

• art and design

• fashion and fashion design

• fashion business

• fashion buying, marketing and communication

• garment technology

• graphic design

• textiles and textile design.

Taken from Prospects 2022. 

University courses provide you with historical and contextual knowledge that other routes may not, and such programmes are usually well connected with industry, meaning they're a great way to network and build contacts.

Course options & links :

https://www.whatuni.com/degree-courses/search?subject=fashion-design

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/creative-arts-and-design/5-ways-to-get-into-fashion-design

Personal statement help :

https://www.studential.com/personal-statement-examples/fashion-personal-statement-examples

https://www.applytouni.com/applying/personal-statements/fashion-personal-statement/

You may be able to do a fashion studio assistant advanced apprenticeship and follow the product development and production pathway. You could work as a design assistant in a studio, develop your design skills on the job and work your way into a designer role.

This apprenticeship typically takes 18 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and off-the-job study.

For example : https://www.fashion-enter.com/index.php/apprenticeship/

Most fashion internships are short-term, typically between three months to a year. They're advertised often and filled quickly, so competition for posts is fierce. Voluntary placements typically last between one and three months.

Design houses such as Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson, Mary Katrantzou, Julien MacDonald, House of Holland, Erdem, French Connection and Marks & Spencer all advertise fashion internships.

For more information : https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/job-sectors/creative-arts-and-design/5-ways-to-get-into-fashion-design

https://fashionunited.uk/fashion-jobs/internships

https://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/fashion

https://www.gooverseas.com/internships-abroad/fashion-design

Taken from prospects:

Competition for design jobs is intense throughout the industry, particularly in womenswear design.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Drapersjobs.com

• Fashion United

• Retail Choice

• The Business of Fashion (BoF) Careers

Employment opportunities are often secured via speculative applications and effective networking. It's important to try to build relationships with more established designers and companies, whether you're seeking permanent or freelance openings.

Recruitment agencies, specialist publications and fashion networks are an important source of contacts and vacancies. Specialist recruitment agencies that represent different market levels include:

• Denza International

• Fashion & Retail Personnel

• Indesign