Fashion Designers

Fashion Design Skills 101 - Skills That Fashion Schools Don't Cover Nearly Enough

2012-02-14T02:48:00.002-08:00

In fashion school, most of your time was spent learning to create fashion illustrations, draping, sewing, and flat patternmaking. While these are good skills to have, they aren't very practical when you're trying to land your first job in the fashion industry. In the real world you'll be expected to know how to create computerized flat sketches, develop garment specs, CADs, and presentation boards. And I know some of you are thinking "But I learned those things in school too!" To which I reply: You think you know, but you have no idea! Take it from experience: fashion schools don't focus on those skills nearly enough to fully prepare you for your first design position. In this article I will discuss each skill and its importance in the fashion industry.

Draping and Patternmaking - Low Importance
While patternmaking and draping are valuable skills, they usually only come in handy when you deal with a lot of fits. However, fittings are usually conducted by technical design teams so if you got into fashion for creative reasons, you'll most likely be miserable in this type of position. On the creative side of design, all you need is a basic understanding of what creates a good fit, and how to fix a bad one. In the majority of design positions, hands-on patternmaking skills are not necessary, unless you plan to enter Project Runway!

Sewing - Low Importance
On the creative side of design, sewing isn't that relevant. Yes, it's good to understand the general concepts of garment construction, but you don't need to be a great seamstress. On the job, if you need to know how a certain garment is constructed, there are tons of references available: from clothes at the stores, to "how to" books and online articles. The point I'm trying to make is: if you're sewing skills leave something to be desired, don't stress over it.

Illustration - Almost Unnecessary
Sadly, fashion illustrations are a dying art in the industry - they are scarcely used by designers in the real world. The fashion illustration has been replaced with computer drawn stylized technical sketches (floats) or more accurate technical flats, which are faster to sketch and much more practical. Not only do they present a clear representation of design concept, but they are a must have for production. Flats can be turned into CADs and can be used in mood/presentation boards. Fashion schools have not followed this shift and still focus more heavily on illustrations, and not enough on flat sketching.

Computer Programs - Must Know
I can't stress enough the importance of knowing popular computer applications for creating floats, flats and CADs. Most companies expect proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Microsoft Excel since they are relatively affordable in comparison to more industry specific software. Unfortunately, the coverage of Illustrator and Photoshop provided by fashion schools does not meet the actual demands of the fashion industry. Many companies are also requesting knowledge of WebPDM, so if your college offers a course in this program, it would be to your benefit to take it. If your school does not teach this program, find a school or venue that does offer this program and take it!

Flat Sketching - Must Know
While interviewing candidates for design positions, we've seen applicants' portfolios filled with beautiful illustrations and then say "That's nice, but can you flat sketch?" If flats are included in their portfolios, they are usually basic, lack important details, and are not visually appealing. If the candidates sketches are halfway decent; my next question is "do you know Illustrator and Photoshop? " Almost everyone says yes, but it's usually far from the truth.

A lot of fashion school grads seriously believe that they know these programs well, but what you learned in school isn't enough - fashion schools don't teach these skills well enough for entry level designers to be competent within the fashion industry. Schools just cover basics, which are usually forgotten without practice. Take the extra effort to practice and become comfortable with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop and other programs beyond what schools teach: read books and take additional courses (offered in either classroom or online settings).

Creating Specs in a Copycat Industry - Must Know
Knowing how to spec (measure and detail) a garment to create garment specifications, or "specs" is a fundamental skill. Many companies create their spec sheets using Excel. Although garment sizes and measurements vary from company to company, depending on different market segments and categories, if you know the principles, you'll be able to quickly adapt to the standards of any company. You don't even need to know how to develop specs from scratch!

As a head designer, to set spec standards for a company, I usually went to different stores, found garments with a good fit and copied the basic measurements. This is quite common - the fashion industry is a copycat industry- most fashions hanging in the stores are knock-offs of another company. Once, during a shopping trip in London, a store salesperson noticed I was a fashion designer collecting style ideas. He mentioned that his store received a constant flow of American design companies such as Calvin Klein, whose designers come to knockoff their merchandise. That's right - even top designer brands use knockoffs for their ready-to-wear collections. There are even official terms: a "knockoff" is when a style is copied and a "rub-off" is when patterns are copied.

Educate Yourself!
Many fashion schools such as FIT in New York (Fashion Institute of Technology) offer important classes like "flats and specs for the fashion industry", but believe it or not, these courses are not required by the curriculum! Another handy course that should be taken is "creative fashion presentation." Salespeople use presentations a lot as visual aids. In addition they create a good impression and convey creativity level. If you can make outstanding presentations you'll be assigned to do them often, and believe me it's more fun to make boards than do fits or send faxes and organize showrooms.

To sum up: in order to get a job before the rest of the entry level fashion design candidates, you need to focus on refining skills that are highly demanded in the industry. Become proficient with flat sketching, include flats in your portfolio, and be extremely comfortable and knowledgeable in Illustrator and Photoshop. Not only will you be ready with the skills you need to succeed in fashion, but discussing how you went the extra mile to keep up with industry standards will definitely impress any prospective employer!

For your reference and use, we have posted lots of industry standard flat sketches and CADs in JPEG and vector (Illustrator) formats on DesignersNexus.com. If you can improve your skills to reach the quality of those shown, you'll be in a very good shape

© 2008 Designers Nexus Inc. All rights reserved. Originally published at DesignersNexus.com. This article may be reproduced unedited, unaltered and in its entirety. This copyright, author bio(s) and all active links must be preserved and included when reproducing this article. Contact us for approval if you wish to publish it contrary to these guidelines.

As a NYC fashion designer, Natalie has traveled to Europe and Asia for shopping, researching trends and production. In a 14 year career, she has gained a lot of insights in the industry, and has trained designers with her knowledge of global trend market. Due to popular demand in response to her advice and training, she created a free fashion resource center at DesignersNexus.com to share her experiences with a larger audience, helping aspiring designers learn from her mistakes and successes creating their own successful careers.

Fashion Design From Concept to Retail - The Who, What, Why and Wear of How a Garment is Made

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We wear clothes all day and every day, but most people don't think about how their garments make their way from the fashion designer's imagination to the store. Sure, we know that designers come up with the concepts, and that stores sell the clothing, but what happens in between? As you'll see, the fashion design process has many steps and countless professionals involved along the way. It really makes one appreciate the work that goes into what we wear - and how large the fashion industry is.

1. Research. Before any design can begin, the fashion designer has to do some research. First of all, who is the target market? Is it men or women? What age group? How much money do they make? What are their interests? The second type of research needed is trend forecasting. Since it can take up to two years before a garment makes it to retail, designers have to know what will be popular in the future in terms of styles, trends, and colors. Fortunately, there are companies who specialize in market research and trend forecasting, so apparel companies can subscribe to the information without actually doing all the legwork.

2. Design. After digesting all the research, the fashion designer begins creating. He or she will hand sketch the designs using the industry standard Nine Heads drawing technique, or sketch them with a computer program. In the margins, the designer will write specs, e.g., the color, fabric, texture and other details. The fashion sketch is called a "croquis."

3. Sourcing materials. Once the sketch is completed, the materials need to be found. Either the designer or a design assistant looks for fabric, buttons, trim, zippers, anything that is necessary to complete the garment. It sounds like a fun shopping trip, but keep in mind that the person sourcing has to stay within a budget.

4. Pattern making. Next, the pattern maker takes the fashion designer's sketch and creates a workable pattern from which the actual garment can be sewn. The pattern maker also develops the marker, a layout for how the pattern goes onto the fabric. All the pieces of the garment, in every size, are configured on the marker so there is minimal fabric wasted.

5. Production. When the pattern is created, apparel manufacturing can begin. This step involves many areas including costing, production planning, global dynamics, and quality control. At this stage the company must decide whether to manufacture locally, or even within the United States, or overseas, where labor is cheaper. With so many components and production channels involved, the manufacturing aspect of fashion design is an industry within itself.

6. Buying. Unless apparel companies have their own stores, they will present their merchandise at trade events to fashion buyers. Buyers then choose the pieces they feel will sell at their stores at the best price. Just as the fashion designer must forecast the styles that will appeal to consumers in the future, so must the buyer.

7. Marketing. Behind the scenes, the fashion marketing machine is in full motion so that when the clothes are manufactured and hit the stores, shoppers will want to snap them up off the racks. Marketers need to understand consumer attitudes and behavior and develop a keen sense of the emotional triggers that will persuade them to make purchase decisions.

8. Merchandising and retail. Once the clothes hit retail, it's the job of the fashion merchandiser to create a visually appealing merchandise display to lure consumers into the store to buy, buy, buy. Mannequins, props, and sometimes very unexpected elements all work together to stop customers in their tracks. But merchandising is only part of the equation at retail. Savvy fashion design companies educate retailers on their merchandise so the sales staff can be knowledgeable about the product line and more effectively sell one-on-one with customers. Marketing and merchandising hooks them in; the retail staff closes the deal.

Although the preceding was a very basic rundown of the production of a garment, it's clear that the fashion design industry is huge, with many layers and players. It bodes well for those interested in a fashion career, as there are myriad job positions besides the fashion designer. Therefore, whatever interests or skills one might have, there's probably a career in fashion for them.

Top Fashion Designers

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Most of us tend to stick to the high street for our retail therapy, but sometimes it's well worth spending a big extra on that special piece of designer clothing. The competition is fierce out there as there are loads of hot designers to choose from, all with unique and fabulous styles.

Burberry

Burberry is a British fashion label whose design is an instantly recognisable beige tartan colour. The label was created by Thomas Burberry in 1856, and has grown in popularity throughout the years. It is adored by celebrities including Sarah Jessica Parker, who is often seen wearing the designs in the Sex and the City television series. Burberry designs clothing and fashion accessories, with the latest range being a more tougher leather look, including thigh high boots and leather jackets. The 'right on trend' aviator jacket was also part of the Burberry collection, displayed recently at London Fashion Week.

Dolce and Gabbana

Dolce and Gabbana, or D & G as it is also known as, is a famous Italian fashion label created by two dynamic individuals. Dolce and Gabbana is famous for it's clothing, jewellery, footwear, with a large slice of the sunglasses market. Many of the clothes designed by the label are black in colour and the look is always sexy, young and extremely vibrant.

DKNY

DKNY (Donna Karan New York) was created by American designer, Donna Karan and has a sophisticated but fun style. The label's new collection features in House of Fraser and consists of lots of winter styles, including gorgeous cardigans and jackets. The DKNY label has many different brands, including DKNY Active, Kids and Baby.

Christian Dior

Christian Dior is a French design house, established in 1947. The label creates clothing and accessories, which are of a very feminine and sensual quality. Dior has many celebrity fans, including Charlize Theron and Sharon Stone. The latest collection from this designer follows with the latest trend of leather and sexy thigh high boots.

Marc Jacobs

American designer, Marc Jacobs is known for his feminine style, gorgeous dresses and fabulous cuts. Selma Blair and Soffia Coppola are both celebrity followers of this highly respected designer. Marc Jacobs latest collection has followed the current trends.

Prada

Prada is an Italian fashion label, which oozes celebrity status. This fashion label is
one of the top influences throughout the design world whose styles are worn by the crème de la crème of society. Prada is known for its feminine styles which are both sensual and seductive. Recently the fashion label has started to use more curvaceous women to model their clothing range, a positive move which is bound to spark a following from other competitors.

Chanel

Parisian fashion house, Chanel is a huge player in the fashion world, with an impressive celebrity following, including Nicole Kidman and Keira Knightley. The main trend by Chanel for this season is fur, and lots of it.

Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen is a fashion label with plenty of pizazz and creativity. Many designs by this label are worn by Lady Ga Ga, which gives you an idea of how far out and imaginative the clothing ranges are.

What's Hot Across The Pond: European Fashion Designers

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It seems like Europe is always one step ahead of the United States of America when it comes to fashion design. Whether you know it yet or not, what's fierce on the runways of Paris and Milan's fashion weeks have likely not made it over to American runways just yet, and when they do, Europe will likely be on to more cutting-edge trends by then. So what is it that keeps the European fashion market one step ahead of the American market? Among many things, fashion school students speculate that it is the inventive European designers that keep their eyes wide open and their collections fresh and innovative. For those of you in speculation of this phenomenon, here's a list of European designers who put on 2011 runway shows that awed young fashion lovers, photographers, magazine editors and seasoned fashion veterans alike!

Daughter of Beatle, Paul McCartney, the British-born Stella McCartney has been a successful designer since the nineteen-nineties. Though some speculate that she got an industry advantage because of her ultra-famous father, McCartney has proved herself time and time again to have immense creative vision and talent. After she graduated from fashion college in England, she was quickly appointed chief designer at the Paris fashion house of Chloe. Since then, her designs have been almost unanimously commercially successful. Her most recent collection for Autumn of 2011 plays with a lot of delightful gender ambiguity. McCartney has created loose, yet tailored women's wear, including collared coats and blazers with a playful sensibility.

British shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood was raved about after February's Autumn/Winter 2011 fashion week presentations. Relatively new as fashion industry insider, the designer has practically re-defined what is thought to be possible in shoe-design, with his alienous, decorative collection. Kirkwood's shoes are usually unthinkably high, and they are often sprouting fur, feathers and beads. Often, they feature wild patterns, layered and diverse fabrics and materials, and always artful and unexpected angles. Kirkwood's Fall and Winter shoes are truly a fashion delight.

Of Italian and Japanese heritage, Nicola Formichetti is the creative director for the French fashion house, Thierry Mugler, and the chief designer for pop sensation Lady Gaga. Originally an architecture student, Formichetti dropped out of school and became heavily involved in London's club scene and immersed himself in the world of European street fashion. Eventually, he got himself a job at a fashionable boutique called The Pineal Eye quickly working his way up to art director and head buyer. His talent was soon recognized by fashion editors, which led to work in several high fashion publications, and eventually to his position at Mugler. Formichetti's designs are often futuristic and hyper-sexual, evocative of the club scene he was once so heavily immersed in.

McCartney, Kirkwood and Formichetti are only three of the countless innovative minds in European fashion design. We look forward to future fashion seasons, and the striking collections that they will surely produce in years to come.

Fashion Design Supplies

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Fashion design may appear to be a glamorous profession with branded clothing and accessories. However, a lot of hard work goes into the creation of a designer item. Creation of a design involves a multi-step process. The designer has to keep in the mind not only the theme of the design but also how to create that design. This requires a proper selection of fashion supplies.

The designer has information of all the work aids. These include pattern masters, rulers, French curves and setsquares with engraved markings. A Pattern master comes in different sizes for cutting patterns, while a flexi curve draws the design along it. A metric vary form curve helps in the creation of flowing lines.

The colorings of designs require color pastel and high quality charcoal sticks.

The designers also need a hem maker for making chalk lines at the hem length of the cloth.

Other supplies include the grader ruler, which is used for measuring curves. The designers also use the fashion scale, which contains curves for making armholes, necklines and sleeves.

Another item that helps in the process of style planning is the fashion tape. It is used for fixing up the designed outfit on the dress stand.

Both amateur and the professional artists use non water-soluble pencils in the process of designing the outfits. In addition to these supplies, there are the pin holders used for pinning the fabric.

The other essential supplies are the dressmaking dummies and the tailors bust forms that assist in cutting of the patterns and making samples.

The fashion designers need carrying cases for carrying their sketches, patterns, fabric or incomplete garments from one place to another. The wallets are also used by the designers to carry their fashion portfolios.

All these supplies put together help a fashion designer complete his job in the best possible manner. From the first sketch to the final outfit, these fashion supplies are almost indispensable.

4 Steps to the Right Fashion Design School for You

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Right after taking the major step of deciding to study Fashion, the next big question is: WHERE? There are many design schools available, each with their pros and cons. You might be considering one with better facilities, or one which produces famous couturiers, you might even be thinking about the total amount you will be spending for your education - right down to your transport fees. So how exactly do we figure out which option's the best?

Here's a guide to find out what you'll need to look out for in a Fashion school:

Step 1: Decide on your Dream Job!
First up, it's important to know which career direction you like to adopt. The earlier you figure out what you want to do, the more time you will have to fine-tune and develop skills in your choice of expertise.

These are a few career paths that you can learn about in Fashion Design school:

- Costume Designer/ Coordinator (for Television, Film or Theatre)
- Fashion Designer/ Assistant designer
- Pattern maker
- Fashion Illustrator
- Fashion Merchandiser/ Buyer
- Fashion Stylist

The fashion industry is enormous and is worth hundreds of billions of dollars every year, worldwide. Some might think that the fashion industry is exclusive and hard to break into. But try to get to know your opportunities better before giving into the temptation of settling with a mundane career.

Step 2: Find out Your Dream Job's Responsibilities
Having an ambition is great, but if you want to turn it into reality, you've got to be realistic. Fashion may be a creative field, but employers tend to prefer and respect job candidates who know their responsibilities. To find out your future job description, simply search for your job in a career search engine and you'll see a list of hiring companies. Click on the more reputable-looking ads and collate what they have in common.

Normally, employers would expect a fashion designer to have:

- Proficiency in software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Freehand and CorelDRAW
- A portfolio
- A keen eye for fashion

Knowing what you will need to learn for career purposes will allow you to understand what you see in module guides from school brochures.

Step 3: Look for a Reputable School
You can spend thousands on a certificate, but if it's not recognized, it will be hard or in some cases, impossible to advance your studies. It can even hinder your chances of getting a job in Fashion. Look out for schools that are accredited by the country's education ministry - it will at least ensure that your certificate is recognized in your country. Look out for their track record, find out how their graduates are faring in the fashion industry.

Step 4: Select your Country of Choice
If you have got extra cash to spend, have a good idea of how you are going to repay your student loan, or if you have got yourself a scholarship, consider studying overseas. Choosing to study locally or overseas depends on what you want out of your educational experience, the price of living in the country, how accessible it is and how much you are willing to travel.

Hardcore fashionistas may insist on schooling in elegant/romantic France which produced top notch designers like Issey Miyake, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent. But if you are up for exotic fashion and culture, the Asia Pacific could be an ideal option with at least half the world's population here.

Verdict
A school is ultimately a place for you to study, develop your portfolio and contacts that will help you in your future career. Choosing a school is like shopping for stuff - you can get branded stuff with lots of quality and recognition that makes you feel good, or you can settle with a school that suits your needs and gets you where you want to be.

Donald Pang is the International Admissions Director of Raffles Education Corporation, a company that operates 36 business & fashion design schools in Asia Pacific across 33 cities in 13 countries (Singapore, China, Australia, New Zealand, India, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia and Hong Kong). If you have further questions about studying abroad in Asia especially in the fields of fashion design, interior design, product design etc, submit an online enquiry at our Raffles International Admissions Office site.

Want to Become a Fashion Designer? Learn What Attending a Fashion School Will Do For You

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If you are planning to become a fashion designer attending school is more than just learning the skills you need to succeed in the fashion world. When you want to become a fashion designer school is an opportunity to work more closely with the fashion industry. Therefore, lets take a look at what schools you should attend, how long you will attend school, what you will learn in school and the fashion show held in school.

1. Choosing a school to become a fashion designer-There are various schools that offer courses to become a fashion designer, however if you want to boost the possibility of jump starting your career you must try to choose a school that is good and prestigious. However, keep in mind that schools with reputations are very selective when it comes to choosing new students.

2. How many years do you need to study to become a fashion designer? The amount of years you will study to become a fashion designer will vary from one individual to another. However, most schools offer programs that last three or four years.

3. A sneak peak at what you will learn in school- In fashion school you will study drawing, color composition and form, pattern making, draping and cutting techniques. It is also important to choose a business curriculum. Why? In order for you do succeed in the fashion world you need to have a basic understanding on business because you need to be able to negotiate a contract and choose a business partner.

4. End of semester fashion show- At the end of each school semester you will be apple to attend a fashion show. If you managed to enroll in a prestigious school, a lot of famous and important people will attend the fashion show. Which means that when you participate (you need to be a graduating student to take part on the fashion show) on the fashion show you will have a great opportunity to be notice by someone important and possibly become famous or get a job.

There are is also a very importing thing you need to know before entering a fashion designer school. In fashion, art plays a very important role; hence you are expected to have some kind of drawing ability. Although having drawing abilities is not always important, you do need to create a portfolio to get into a fashion school. For this reason, make sure to create a portfolio that is breathtaking and shows your passion for fashion. (Especially if you want to join a prestigious fashion school) Aside from school, you also need to keep in mind that fashion designers are hard working individuals that work hard long hours. Why? The fashion world is a very competitive industry that is always changing, therefore new and famous designers need to work hard and keep in the loop of what changes in the fashion world. Now that you know why school is so important if you are planning to become a fashion designer it's a good idea to start planning and working on your portfolio.

Famous Fashion Designers

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Fashion designers use flair and know-how to create everything from hospital uniforms to the eye-popping outfits worn by rock stars and models. Jobs for fashion designers are expected to grow more slowly than the average for all careers through 2014, according to government economists. A study of the work of several other fashion designers records how fashion changed throughout the decade.

Fashion

Fashion design is also a labor of love, requiring long hours and little chance of superstardom -- but for many, the work itself is the reward. Fashion designers, in fact, are some of the most creative and eclectic people that you will ever meet. Men's fashions during the 19th and 20th centuries have been conservative and dull in comparison to women's. The fashion industry is a big part of our economy. Here is a short list: Chanel Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel (1883-1971) created feminine fashion that provided the feeling of luxury and combined traditional women's clothing with styles, fabrics, and articles of clothing used by men. Her fashion revolution liberated women to express their femininity with elegance and grace.

The Hollywood film "The Devil Wears Prada", starring Meryl Streep, has brought a lot of attention to the world of fashion. More information about Prada Versace Gianni Versace (1946-1997) became interested in fashion working in his mother's small dress shop. By 1978 he had become a design leader of women's and men's fashions. More information about Giorgio Armani Jean-Paul Gaultier (1952- ) is a French fashion designer who never received formal design training. In 1967 he purchased the Polo label and launched a world-wide fashion empire that includes clothing lines for men and women.

Fashion

The high prices commanded by the fashionable Fendi purses have created a large market for fake goods from Asia bearing logos that are eerily similar to the inverted FF. In 1985, they took part in a fashion show featuring "New Talent", and the following year, they presented their first independent women's ready-to-wear show. You'd have to be walking around with a shopping bag over your head to not realize that fashion is everywhere. In order to succeed in the often cutthroat--and frequently debt-ridden--world of fashion, designers can no longer hide behind their model's skirts.

Most fashion designers, however, work for apparel manufacturers, creating designs of men's, women's, and children's fashions for the mass market. Employment growth for fashion designers will be slowed, however, by declines in the apparel manufacturing industries Designers in most fields are expected to face strong competition for available positions.

Most women of means had a dressmaker who would create garments according to the latest fashions. Instead of catering strictly to a few wealthy clients, coveted fashion designers now create product lines ranging from perfumes to pantyhose that can reach consumers at every price point. "Consumers at the middle and lower level have realized they can get just as good a fashion direction with clothing at disposable prices that they can wear once and throw away--or if it falls apart, who cares.

Fashion Design Templates

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Fashion design templates are layouts that are pre-designed. These can be used to make new designs by adding certain features. Fashion design templates are extensively used for making fashion drawings. The templates are available in different sizes. Templates are of different types such as fashion silhouette templates, posture template and free fashion and body silhouette template. The templates are the best option for those who do not have the necessary drawing skills.

The fashion design templates display the outline of a model in different poses and sizes. The designer has to make his own judgment about the pose and the size of the template that would be chosen for the display of the fashion apparel or accessory. For instance, if the costume is classy and represents the bygone era, the designers would normally choose a template that is more elegant and refined.

The templates are important for the proper presentation of the designer's artistic skill. The templates have to be chosen according to the theme of the apparel ready for display. If the template chosen for a particular designer apparel or accessory is not correct, it might give a misrepresentation of the theme and the concept of the design, and have a negative impact on the marketability of the design.

Considering the importance of templates, many people have come out with e-books based on templates. Similarly, there are web templates that serve the fashion needs of the budding as well as the established designers.

The templates can either be downloaded or they can be used to produce similar images for the purpose of sketching. The templates display basic outline of the models .The outlines can be drawn upon or a print can be taken to create a fashion design befitting the template.

The fashion design template is an important tool that can be used by the designer to escape the drudgery of drawing or for getting a fair idea of what to incorporate in his creations.

Fashion Design In Film

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It is no surprise that fashion plays a large role in film, which is perhaps the most collaborative of all modern art forms. So far in the year 2010, many groundbreaking films have hit theaters and have transported movie-goers to all different places and eras. And from futuristic looks to classic vintage throwbacks, style plays a major part in the believability and success of these movies, along with cinematography, set design, and a million other complex elements. Here are some of the past year's top films and the styles featured in them that led to critical acclaim.

Director Tim Burton's 2010 film adaptation of the story Alice in Wonderland features a distinct, whimsical style that combines classic Victorian-age fashions with the magic of Wonderland. While the movie starts by showcasing classic Victorian gowns, complete with fitted corset bodices, things get weirder once Alice falls down the rabbit hole and lands inside the gates of the Queen of Heart's castle. Costume designers for this movie used bright colors, psychedelic flower and tree motif's, and fun accessories like flamboyant wigs, huge hats and funky spectacles to create the Wonderland look.

Director Christopher Nolan's 2010 box office smash, Inception was illuminated by the expertly chosen costumes that don the cast throughout the entire movie. Costume designer Jeffrey Kurland dressed all of the characters in an intriguing mix of smooth retro style and a futuristic look. The outcome? Upscale, sophisticated, well-fitting business suits, and old-world glamour gowns that exude a timeless style, while still ambiguous enough to keep film from being dated.

Director Michael Patrick King's 2010 release of Sex and the City 2 is a flamboyant showcase of style. America's most beloved modern women are adorned in the hottest, most contemporary fashions the whole movie long. Costume designer Patricia Fields tried hard to put the women in clothes that would work with the organic forms of their bodies to create a beautiful, glamorous look. She claims to have veered away from things like shoulder pads and balloon hems, and things that have nothing to do with the natural shape of a woman's body. Additionally, she tried to dress the women in original, creative looks that appear timeless in the film.

Let this be a lesson that film is a great inspirational tool for aspiring students of fashion design, style junkies and creative costume designers.

Fashion Designer Jobs - Where Style Meets Substance

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Fashion designing has always been a popular choice of young men and women all over the world. Stylish and well paid, these jobs would help you to gauge the pulse of the changing fashions in fashion capitals like New York and Paris. Fashion designing would teach you to consider clothes as a strong expression of one's persona and style statement rather than just protection of the body. Fashion can make a person feel confident and strong as it has a bearing on the personality of the wearer.

There is a bevy of option son fashion designing including haute couture, wedding dresses, sports wear and fashion design among others. There are various reputed fashion institutes from where you can fine hone your aesthetic sense and innovation. A successful fashion designer should have an open mind and an eye for details. Customized fashion styling would help you to remain in the race.

Fashion designing has huge demand in the contemporary world where fashion is a potent weapon. As long as there are style- conscious, men and women on this planet the scope for this job would only go up. Fashion designers should creative hot and innovative designs that imbibe the current trends, select the right fabric and colors to infuse life into the designs. They would be required to work for long or irregular hours and hence they should be robust and active all round the clock Accessorizing is also part of fashion designing as a great dress alone would not complete the style statement.

Fashion Design involves various branches like Garment design, Leather design, and Accessory & Jewelry design. Fashion designing a great bet to mingle with the rich and the famous and some of the most famous figurines of the movie and fashion world, which in itself is an attraction for many youngsters to pursue a career in fashion technology.

Fashion designers are in great demand. Apart from fashion boutiques and ready made shops, fashion designers can also set up their own business with the minimum set up cost or do freelancing for well known fashion houses and designer labels. Freshers can think of Apprenticeship under a well-known designer to showcase your talent. The fame and glitter of the fashion world is the added attraction of these career options. The sense of accomplishment when your creation is admired by some of the most famous men and women in the world cannot be expressed in words.

Tips for Those Interested in Fashion Design Careers

2012-02-14T02:44:00.001-08:00

If you want to work as a fashion designer, then you've chosen an exciting career. Fashion designers get to share their vision with the world, and their works become an intimate part of people's daily lives. What could be more intimate than the clothes we wear on our bodies, after all? Your creations could become part of people's weddings, proms and trips to the beach. Maybe a pair of jeans you design will be responsible for a woman first attracting the attention of the man she'll eventually marry.

But before you can become a fashion designer, there are a few important things you should know. The first is that in order to become a fashion designer, the study of fashion has to become a serious part of your life. You should be studying it all the time. Read books on fashion; follow the latest fashion news online. Also, go to as many fashion shows as you can. And when you go to a fashion show, don't just attend as a passive observer; walk around, introduce yourself to as many people as possible, explain that your aspiration is to become a fashion designer. If you're bold, you might even ask if you can go backstage and talk to some of the designers and models. And if you're really bold, you might even wear some clothes that you've designed and tell everyone that you made your own clothes.

To become a fashion designer, you need to live and breathe fashion. When you go to the mall, study the clothes that department stores put on display. When you're at the park, sit on a bench and observe the clothes passers-by are wearing. You also need to set aside a substantial amount of time each day to practice designing. Draw all the ideas you have, no matter how wild they might seem. Refine your pencil line and your color sense. You should also practice sewing. You won't get very far in the fashion world if you aren't an expert sewer. Try making your own patterns to sew with, too; this is an important step in improving your overall technique.

You'll want to take art courses in high school, and apply to a college fashion design program. You can become a fashion designer with an associate's degree, but a bachelor's degree will give you a leg-up on the competition.

You must begin compiling a portfolio as early as you can. A portfolio is an organized collection of the illustrations and photos that best represent your work. A good portfolio will get you jobs, so make sure you put plenty of time and effort into it over the years.

Another tip is to see if you can get local stores to sell some of the clothes you design. This can be hard, but if you know someone who owns a clothing shop this person might be willing to do you a favor.

Fashion Designer Education

2012-02-14T02:43:00.001-08:00

Fashion designer school is for people that have a passion or extreme interest in all things fashion. While putting together great outfits for friends has always been something you've liked to do on the side, you can do it for a living. Creating clothing and accessory designs just comes naturally to some people, and when you attend classes to really refine your skills you'll be impressed not only with how much you can learn, but how much you can be paid to do the things that you love to do! While designing clothes and even putting together patterns and outfits for yourself and your friends may be a great hobby, it can be an even better job if you go to school and learn how to do it all the right way so that you can come across creative and professional to prospective clients.

Fashion designers will be taught to sketch their ideas, draw and cut patterns, create simple garments, fit and modify finished garments, arrange showings for press as well as buyers, compare merchandise to that of competitors, learn how to keep current, and how to visit textile showrooms when they attend fashion design school. These skills will all contribute to helping someone with a passion for fashion develop their skill and utilize it in the real world.

Most fashion designers are self-employed and simply design for individual clients. Designers become popular by setting themselves apart by being professional, reliable, and using different colors, shapes, and materials that will allow them to stand out among their competition. A great way to learn how to create your own methods of creating great clothing, accessories, or jewelry is to become a designer's assistant. Helping a designer will not only allow those that are learning to see what goes into the business, but will also help them define a sense of self and a true sense of what they want to do in the fashion business.

Some fashion designers work for larger firms and this may be a great way to get a fashion designer education when you get out of fashion designer school, as well. These firms or corporations typically have a head designer, which is responsible for most of the creative aspects and supervision of the design room staff. Assistant designers are often hired by firms and often make the first patterns and help the head designer oversee creative and personnel issues. There are also specialty designers that may be hired by corporations that will work with other designers to help create limited or special lines of clothing. Special designers will often have a specific article of clothing or accessory that they work with and often they design for a specific market or country and can play a vital role in a large design company. There are also theatrical costume designers that create costumes or articles of clothing and accessories for plays, movies, or other theatrical productions and these designers may work on contract. Of course, all of these jobs can be done independent of a firm, but some individuals find these jobs easier to get through a firm first, for a more consistent income.

The work environment for every designer varies, as some work in very professional settings while others work in very cramped and rushed environments. If you work for yourself you can really set the standard for yourself so that you do not have to work in unfavorable situations. If you are looking at working for a firm, be sure to ask hard questions about the work environment and schedule. Just because you just graduated from fashion designer school doesn't mean that you should be subjected to less than comfortable working conditions! Freelance fashion designer work can also be done outside of your own job so that you can slowly create your own client base away from your corporate job.

There is a lot of money to be made by fashion designers once they have graduated and obtained some experience. Many designers make more than $20 an hour and the average salary for a designer is more than $57,000 a year! Of course, education, experience, licensing and a grasp of trends and professionalism are what get you to such a salary, but after attending fashion designer school you can achieve all of these things. Remember that you may not start out at the top, but when you get there all the little jobs you have worked will seem more than worth it so get your fashion designer education now.

History Of Fashion Design

2012-02-14T02:43:00.000-08:00

The realm of fashion design, by its sheer glamour and grace, has always been exciting and intriguing. When we talk of fashion design, it implies a form of art that incorporates the nuances of creating clothes and accessories.

The history of fashion design can be traced back to the beginning of the19th century when the designs were the product of the dresses worn in the royal courts. Eventually, Charles Frederick Worth, the first fashion designer, set up his first fashion house in Paris. His designs greatly influenced the people and they labeled them as the designs of the "House Of Worth." As a result, a designer became synonymous with a particular brand.

Another important designer who made a significant contribution to the evolution of the fashion was Paul Poi Ret. He blended the classical style consisting of aesthetic dressing with Paris fashion. Other important designers of this age were Patou, Vionnet, Fortuny, Lanvin and Chanel.

Throughout the 20th century, Paris remained the world's fashion hub, with countries such as the US and Britain openly aping the French designs. The post World War era saw the emergence of other countries as the centers of fashion and Paris ceased to be the sole influential factor. The rising British fashion industry brought a new range of street fashion focusing mainly on the young consumers.

Later, American designers such as Calvin Klein And Ralph Lauren came to the fore with their sportswear and made it a style statement. Today, fashion designs can be categorized into two main categories. The haute couture is designed for individual customers. The other category is the ready-to-wear collection. While the former is based on certain themes and is more for creating a style statement, the latter is meant for the masses.

The mid-90s saw the emergence of a new breed of designers who redefined traditional concepts. They looked at fashion from a new angle, creating their own new concepts.

Thus, the world of fashion design has witnessed a steady evolution over the years and has been the by-product of the sincere efforts of many of the top designers.

Fashion Design Sketches

2012-02-14T02:42:00.000-08:00

The intense competition in the fashion industry makes it important for any fashion designer to showcase the designs to a larger audience. This can be done by creating fashion sketches and displaying them on the Internet. The sketches give an insight to the fashion fraternity and also to the common audience on the concept behind a particular fashion design. It is a way of communicating the theme to the people associated with the apparel industry. Hence, they are extremely important for any fashion designer.

Fashion sketches are illustrations made by professional artists and designed in a way that they can be easily displayed on the Internet. They portray the true creative genius of the designer. These can be considered a blue print of the final product. The perfection in making sketches is a prerequisite as they serve as the main marketing tool of the fashion professionals. The sketches reflect trends and the value added features of the design. They can also be used to evaluate the various patters used by different designers.

Fashion sketches are important, since they are the preliminary designs that have to be taken to the different apparel manufacturers in the market. The sketches are then used to select the different fabric samples from the wide range on offer.

Computers are increasingly being used for the purpose of making fashion design sketches. Several software are now available that assist the designers in making the drawings. While some still prefer the traditional hand-drawn sketches, others choose to opt for the speed and convenience of computer-aided designing. Hand-drawn sketches can also be fed into the computer with the help of a scanner.

The art of making fashion design sketches is important for creating a niche in the highly competitive fashion industry. Fashion designers can make their presence felt only if their sketches are different and original. Good quality sketches are the only means of establishing a firm foothold in the fashion industry.

Welcome Fashion Designers

2012-02-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

The following article presents the very latest information on Fashion Designers. If you have a particular interest in Fashion Designers, then this informative article is required reading.

Is everything making sense so far? If not, I'm sure that with just a little more reading, all the facts will fall into place.

Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories

Of course, it's impossible to put everything about Fashion Designers into just one article. But you can't deny that you've just added to your understanding about Fashion Designers, and that's time well spent.

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2011-11-01T04:55:00.001-07:00

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