Education and training:
There are many Graduate, Post graduate, Certificate and Diploma courses in Fashion Designing. Minimum eligibility required for the undergraduate courses is 10+2 and for post graduation is graduation. Admission to these courses is made through written test, group discussion and interview. There are some institutes who take students on the basis of their marks in 10+2 or graduation. Students can opt for any particular one according to their interest from several courses available in areas such as Accessory & Jewelry Design, Garment Designing, Textile Technology, Textile Design, Leather Design, Foot-wear Design & allied subjects.
Personality traits:
Fashion designers need to be artistic, innovative, creative, must have visual imagination and knowledge of market trends. They should have self-confidence, adaptability, ambition, ability to work in a group, ability to draw beautifully is not necessary, but basic aptitude for visual expression-drawing, exploring color, painting and texture is important for fashion designing.
Work profile and environment:
Fashion designers make trendy clothes and accessories through their original designs or adapting fashion trends to suit buyers. They are the ones who grant final samples before they go into production. Designers understand the needs of the client/market in terms of the changing trends and budgets etc then the designers start the designing process. Accessory designers are specialized in designing shoes, bags, scarves, jewellery and ties etc which complete the look of the clothing. The work environment for designers varies like some works in quite, well-ventilated areas and some work in small areas close to crowded workrooms. They may used to travel out of the country for shows.
Job prospects:
Fashion designers can find employment with professional designers as learners, with manufacturing units, export houses, boutiques, media as costume designers and freelancing for fashion houses and boutiques. You will also find employment as costume designer, fashion consultant, personal stylist, graphic designer, technical designer, production pattern maker, fashion coordinator, apparel production manager, fabric quality control manager, fabric buyer, show room sales representative, illustrator, cutting assistant and outside sales representative in this industry.