Wednesday 23 July 2014

Rules Of The Game: Where To Begin With Fashion Designing




Rules Of The Game: Where To Begin With Fashion Designing

While you may not need a formal education to become a fashion designer, you still need to spend time learning what it takes to achieve your goals. The cut throat industry of designing requires knowledge of a combination of skill sets and an unwavering determination. Here are a few short tips that will help you on your road to success.


Developing Your Skills
Do you love designing storyboards but hate sewing? Well, beginning fashion designers need to know and understand a wide array of skills to get ahead of the game. Drawing, draping, visualizing, cutting, and sewing are just a few of the tasks that will help you succeed. Don't be afraid to take a few classes or apply for an internship to learn more about your passions.


The Business Side of Design
Talent and creativity are just one part of being a fashion designer. Marketing yourself and managing your finances can make or break your fashion designing career. Sign up for a local class or pick up a few books at your local bookstore. Also, make sure to stay updated on the latest happening in the industry. Know who your customers and competitors are so that you can surpass all of their needs.

Your Fashion Portfolio
This is vital to your fashion design career wether you're applying to jobs and internships or you're seeking funding for an upcoming project. Many designers have both physical and online portfolios. The online version will help others find your work but also keep a physical version you can take to meetings that will present further detailing and specifics of your excellent work.

           Understanding the Business      

Unfortunately, it's not enough for a designer to be creative; you also have to have some business sense. 
As fashion gets more and more corporate driven, it's important to be aware of the business climate and understanding the mechanics behind it. By religiously reading trade papers like "Women's Wear Daily"  http://www.wwd.com/ will get a lot of valuable information. 

If you want to run your own company, you need to be extremely organized and learn at least the basics of economics. A lot of fashion schools are currently increasing business classes in their curriculum. It's perhaps telling that many of the designers that are really successful today, like Calvin Klein or Tom Ford, are involved in every aspect of the business -- from licensing strategies to ad campaigns to actually designing the clothes

In NY there are many it’s just a matter of finding the one that works for you and your timeline as well as budget
Fashion Institute Of Technology or “ FIT”http://www.fitnyc.edu/
As a former alumna I feel this would be a great place to start for the basic to advanced fundamentals of being a designer covering all aspects from drawing an designing functional clothing, forecasting as well as showing and fashion shows marketing and selling in the fashion industry or building a strong portfolio
for entry to the design market or feild.

Parsons New School Of Design  http://www.newschool.edu/parsons also a fantastic choice to gain what you need to have a designing edge as well as a better understanding of how things work 

 Take a look at the programs they both offer see if Saturday classes are available you can also do a Google search for fashion design programs in your area if you are not located in New York

      There are so many options to get you started but you must be informed it’s not just making pretty pictures you got to do the work to reap the benefits.


Need additional help getting your fashion designing career off the ground?
Visit our webpage for more tips and tricks and coming soon e-book and fashion designer starter kits templates for getting your  designs on paper  templates