Fashion Designer?
Fashion designer courses involve people who add colour to the clothes we wear and start trends with their designs. They design clothing and accessories as well. Fashion designer careers include creating designs with such patterns and colours, that leave their mark in the minds and receive admiration from all. A career as fashion designers makes every effort to design clothes that are functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. Applying design, aesthetics and natural beauty to clothing and accessories is the art of fashion designing. Social culture and attitude play major roles in Fashion designer career, and it has changed over a period of time and varied according to the place. To become Fashion Designers, students need to have a combination of drawing, sewing, and design skills. Knowledge of the changing fashion industry and unparalleled perseverance help students to become great Fashion Designers. Students need to create a strong fashion portfolio and reinforce their knowledge of business and finance.
A Fashion Designer career is considered the art of applying design aesthetics and natural beauty to clothing and beauty. Fashion is often inspired by cultural and social movements and attitudes and has transformed over the years. A career as Fashion Designers works in various ways such as designing clothes and accessories. Some of the Designs often make fashion statements and are a reflection of society.
How to become a Fashion Designer?
Clear 10+2
Here we will be providing you with a number of steps to know how to become a fashion designer. In order to become a fashion designer one must complete his or her 10+2 with minimum 50 per cent marks. One must complete his 10+2 from any stream. We will discuss some fashion designer course in this section.
Entrance Exams
In this section we have discussed all the steps to know how to become a fashion designer. Several colleges conduct entrance exams before taking student admission. In order to be eligible to sit for the entrance exam, students must complete their 10+2 with a minimum of 50 per cent marks. One can sit for the NIFT entrance in order to get into a NIFT college.
Undergraduate Fashion Designer Entrance Examinations
| AIEED | SEED |
| UCEED | DAT |
| Pearl Academy Entrance Exam | IICD Exam |
| FDDI AIST | – |
Bachelor
After successful completion of 10+2, aspirants are required to enroll themselves in undergraduate Fashion Design programmes.
Popular Fashion Designer Courses
| B.Des. in Fashion Design | B.Sc. Fashion Design |
| Diploma in Fashion Design | B.A. in Fashion Design |
Post Bachelors
Once the bachelor’s degree is completed the student has two options:
Option 1: After successful completion of undergraduate Fashion Designer course, aspirants may get themselves enrolled in postgraduate Fashion Designer course. After completion of their academic qualifications, they may start working in the industry at an entry-level position.
Option 2: After successful completion of undergraduate Fashion Designer course, candidates may start working at an entry-level Fashion Designer position. After acquiring a Fashion Designer work experience of few years, they may further pursue a postgraduate Fashion Designer course.
Postgraduate Fashion Designer Course
| M.Des. in Fashion Design | M.A. in Fashion Design |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion Design | M.Sc. in Fashion Design |
| – | MFM |
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Fashion Designer?
Here we have described the steps to know how to become a Fashion Designer:
Creativity: Inclinations for all kinds of creative fine arts, is the basic skill which students should possess to become fashion designers. The inherent sense of creativity is necessary to become fashion designers. Artistry and imagination provide the urge to convert the material into a magnificent piece of art.
Communication Skills: Communication is required to give instructions and being familiar with clients is necessary. On a particular project, one designer cannot work on his own. The designers need to take the help of others in the field. They require collaboration with other designers as well. While working on a project designer must share their ideas to come out with a good piece of work.
Time Management: The fashion designing profession requires the ability to multitask to satisfy the demand of the clients, in a specific time limit. Designers need to do overtime to complete the tasks in a certain timespan.
Drawing Skills: Drawing skills are necessary for designers to give life to their imagination. A career as fashion designers converts a piece of cloth in various styles of apparel. Without the ability of drawing, fashion designers cannot convey their creativity to the clients.
Attention to Detail: Fashion designers don’t just need to be good artists but also need to have a good eye for details. Fashion designers should be able to take care of the minute and elaborate details on garments. Embroidery should be done extremely carefully and minutely. The best fashion designers have an amazing taste and a great eye for all the delicate complexities. The ruffles and pleats formed at the end of a skirt, at the waist of a blouse or the sleeves are something that needs to be done meticulously.
Visualization: One of the most important fashion designer skills are visualization. Fashion designers must possess strong visualization skills as they need to work for lots of clients along with other fellow colleagues. With strong visualisation skills, fashion designers are proficient to bring the best out of their ideas.
Business Sense: Fashion designers need to have a good understanding of markets and businesses. Fashion designers should know the key business areas such as finance and sales. These components are essential to become a successful designer. Although creativity is the basic element to become fashion designers, without knowing the business, designers will not be able to sustain a profitable fashion brand.
Top Careers in the Fashion Industry
Naturally a career in fashion is a glamorous idea. The industry is diverse with many different roles – a fashion job can be anything from running exotic photo shoots in far-flung corners of the world, to managing a trend-spotting blog in the fashion media.
Garment technologist
Garment technologist is an innovative job, working on the design and development of new materials through testing new combinations of yarns, textiles and fibres. Technologists also look at ways to improve production techniques to be more efficient. Quality control and investigative work is central to the role.
Fashion Designers
One of the highest profile roles in the industry, designers are the creative genius’ who work on the design of clothing and fashion ranges. Designers can work in any specialism, from handbags to sportswear to children’s wear. Fashion designers work across a large number of settings, including large retail brands, boutique labels and freelance.
Retail Buyer
Retail buyers are the brains behind which products or garments are sourced and stocked in advance of a coming season for retail outlets. Purchasing decisions for the company are based on customer demand, market and seasonal trends, store brand, and budget
Fashion Illustrator
Fashion illustrators work with designers to create conceptual sketches and illustrations of fashion products, including clothing, shoes and accessories. In addition, illustrators produce advertising copy and images for promotional material in print and online
Merchandisers
Merchandisers work closely with the buying team to ensure products appear in store, in the right quantities at the right time. To do this effectively requires accurate forecasting and close monitoring of sales performance. The role of merchandiser is closely tied to the profitability of the store each season, and involves organising sales and promotions
Fashion Stylist
Fashion stylists take a photographer or art director’s vision for a photo shoot or film and bring it to life. This is a very creative role – fashion stylists will work with many media organisations, including editorial print, advertising, film and online.
Textile designers
Textile designers create 2D designs for patterns to be used in printed, woven and knitted textiles. There are two major fields in the industry: interiors (carpets and upholstery), and fabrics for clothing
Personal Stylist
Personal stylists usually work in a retail setting with individuals to advise on personal style and clothing. This role has obvious appeal for the die-hard fashionista, and is a job that requires excellent communication and service skills
Fashion Public Relations
Fashion public relations roles have a glamorous appeal, and the job is very people-focussed. PRs work with fashion labels and retailers to build a strong brand profile and public image, and assist with the media coverage of new product launches
Fashion Writer
Fashion writers often work alongside Fashion PRs and produce editorial copy for the extensive fashion media industry. Fashion writers work for newspapers, magazines, fashion websites or blogs, and television.
Types of a Fashion Designer
Apparel Fashion Designers:
Apparel designers are also known as clothing designers. They design different types of outfits such as party, casual, morning, and evening wear. These types of fashion designer careers need to design clothes for fashion shows, events, and also individual clients for their personal requirements. Designers also make clothes for big brands and for retail stores.
Footwear Designers
Footwear designers design and create different types of footwear. They work in the manufacturing industry, retail companies, and high street shops. They may also collaborate with the apparel designers to bring the best product.
Fashion Accessory Designer:
Fashion accessory designers design accessories that complement the entire look. They design jewellery, handbags, belts, and other items. Fashion accessory designers also collaborate with the footwear and apparel designers to make a bridge between the whole style statement.
Costume Designers:
Costume designers make costumes for motion pictures and television productions. They research the styles worn during the period in which the performance is taking place. These types of fashion designer careers work with directors who select and create appropriate attire according to their production requirements.
Jewellery designer:
Jewellery designers works to produce accessories who match the dress with precious metals such as diamonds, beads, and gemstones. Since ancient times, jewellers have been there. In movies and shows focused on ancient history, we can experience it. It gives us a taste into how they used to dress up the rulers and common folks. A career as jewellery designers is not limited to just drawing. However, their daily working life includes experience and knowledge of design processes such as cutting, forming, polishing, setting stones, stacking, welding, and engraving.
Top Recruiters for Fashion Designers
Parading the most tip-top brands has gotten very regular among design lovers, and in the event that you need to be the one, who is working behind these top brand names, at that point check beneath the top recruiting brands and their concise profile.
Raymond
Established in 1925, Raymond Group has grown over the years from a small Indian textile corporation to a multinational conglomerate.
Allen Solly
It’s a project of Madura Fashion & Lifestyle, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Fashion and Lifestyle. Allen Solly is India’s largest and fastest expanding branded clothing group and a luxury lifestyle leader in the retail market.
The Arvind Store
The flagship company of the Lalbhai Group, Arvind Ltd, is one of India’s leading integrated clothing and branded apparel companies. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the company is India’s largest denim maker and the second-largest denim producer and exporter in the world
Lifestyle
Lifestyle delivers a wide variety of products from the country’s leading and multinational brands. Part of the Landmark Group, it includes clothes, fashion accessories, shoes, and so on all under one roof
Pantaloons
Pantaloons was founded in 1997 as a Future Group company. Voted as ‘India’s Most Trusted Apparel Retail Brand’, it is the fastest expanding large-scale retailer in India today
Spykar
Spykar was established in 1992 as the ‘Most Exciting Indian Brand’ by Economic Times (Brand Equity Survey). The unisex Jeanswear brand is committed to incorporating the new trends, designs and style as part of its youth-oriented approach
Adidas
You can encounter various cultures, languages and points of view when working with the Adidas Group. The jobs of its professionals are flourishing on a global context. When you have an overwhelming love of sport and are innovative enough to transform the world of sports clothes and footwear, the German multinational company would be able to hire you for a global role.
Swarovski
The world’s leading jewellery and accessories company was founded in 1895. The organization is renowned for its consistent quality, innovation and distinction. This is involved in the manufacture of the finest crystal jewellery and accessories. Through its 40 offices and seven manufacturing centres globally, as well as more than 2,350 shops in about 170 countries, designers have global career prospects.
Bata
Bata hires creative and skilled artists and empowers them to represent a diverse clientele. Employees are granted incentives to function in a different environment. In fact, they are motivated to improve their talents through the various vocational training courses provided by the organization
Top Fashion Designers in The World
- Sabyasachi
- Guccio Gucci
- Halston Designer
- John Galliano
- Gabrielle Chanel
- Bob Mackie
- Roy Halston
- Cristobal Balenciaga
- Sobia Nazir
- Elsa Schiaparelli
- Riccardo Tisci
- Faiza Saqlain
- Roy Halston Frowick
- Hubert De Givenchy
- Farah Talib Aziz
- Alber Elbaz
Best Fashion Designing Colleges in India
National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi
NIFT was established in Delhi in 1986 and had only one fashion design program in its first year of operation. Subsequently, the campus started to operate from a provisional two-room campus set up in its formative years and moved to a full-length campus in 1994. The building engineered by Dr. B.V. Doshi is constructed on the concept of the crucial step-well preservation of rainwater, the conventional Indian Baoli, and is listed as one of the contemporary Iconic architecture of Delhi. Delhi is the largest campus offering all NIFT courses and programs, i.e. seven Bachelor’s and three Master’s programs, and has the highest academic strength. It is one of the best fashion designing colleges in India.
Admission through: NIFT Entrance Exam
Courses: 6+ UG and PG courses
Pearl Academy, New Delhi
Pearl Academy is one of the best fashion designing colleges in India and is a renowned institute for design, dress design courses, fashion, business, and media, and has been a precursor for student accomplishment across the creative arts for 28 years. The institute offers over 40 distinct courses through campuses in Delhi-West, Delhi-South, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Bengaluru. Their modern educational practices encourage students to explore and drive innovation on the attempted and evaluated ideals of fashion to embrace and shape the design trends of the coming years.
Admission Through: Pearl Academy Entrance Exam
Courses: 10+ UG and PG courses
National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad
National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad is next on our list of best fashion designing colleges in India. It is located between India’s IT hub-Hi-Tech City and the state-owned craft town of Shilparamam; an appropriate epitome of one of its key slogans, culture meets modern architecture. With such close vicinity to the IT industry and a dynamic city sphere, the campus features modern conveniences while still deeply rooted in its multiculturalism. The permanent campus was founded in 1999 and the primary building is known for its architectural splendor and versatility. Campus services provide the perfect setting for an all-around educational experience and comprehensive growth
Admission through: NIFT Entrance Exam
Courses: 6+ UG and PG courses
Symbiosis Institute of Design, Pune
Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), Pune, is one of the best-known design institutes and one of the best fashion designing colleges in India. SID is a member of Symbiosis International University which is very popular for Symbiosis MBA courses as well. The Institute has a powerful advisory board that provides research and logical advice on the design of academics, business, and students. Besides these outstanding accommodations and a serene campus ambiance, learning is great for all students.
Admission through: Common Entrance Examination for Design
Courses: 6+ UG and PG courses
Pearl Academy, New Delhi
Pearl Academy is one of the best fashion designing colleges in India and is a renowned institute for design, dress design courses, fashion, business, and media, and has been a precursor for student accomplishment across the creative arts for 28 years. The institute offers over 40 distinct courses through campuses in Delhi-West, Delhi-South, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Bengaluru. Their modern educational practices encourage students to explore and drive innovation on the attempted and evaluated ideals of fashion to embrace and shape the design trends of the coming years
Admission Through: Pearl Academy Entrance Exam
Courses: 10+ UG and PG courses
MIT Art, Design and Technology University
MIT Art Design and Technology University (MIT ADT University) is a place where creative thinking and innovative thinking exist side-by-side. It is one of the best fashion designing colleges in India. MIT ADT was founded under the head of the MIT Group of Institutions. It is a noted UGC multidisciplinary university and has been awarded the ASSOCHAM ‘Best Campus Award.’
- BDes and MDes programs: Design Aptitude Test (DAT)
- For BTech: MHT CET/ JEE Main/ Uni-GAUGE/ PERA exam
- For Bachelor of Architecture program: scores secured in NATA/ JEE Paper-2
- MBA:students need to clear MHT CET/ CAT/ CMAT/ ATMA/ AIMA/ GMAT exam
- For MTech: valid score in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE)\
Admission through: Common Entrance Examination for Design
Courses: 6+ UG and PG courses Admission through
Amity Institute of Fashion Technology, Noida
Amity School of Fashion Technology offers vocational training in the domain of design, technology, master of fashion management, textile, and clothing industries. Amity School of Fashion Technology is committed to creating professionals who can comprehend the complexities of the global fashion & apparel business environment in the post-quota & liberalized textile industry. The objective of this program is to provide students with the aptitude and expertise to work as professionals in the multiple functional zones of the Fashion & Apparel Industry. It is one of the best fashion designing colleges in India.
Admission through: Merit-based
Courses: 10+ UG and PG courses
Vogue Institute of Art and Design, Bangalore (VIFT)
The Vogue Institute of Art and Design, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, was founded in 1996. It is accredited by NAAC, ISO, and affiliated with Bangalore University. It is one of the best fashion designing colleges in India. The Vogue Institute of Arts and Design, commonly known as VIAD, is a private institute titled the number 1 Institute in Bangalore.
Admission through: Merit-based
Courses: 10+ UG and PG course
Career in India
It is one of the most charismatic career options. It opens up a lot of opportunities for those who are actually passionate about designing art. Talented designers have a huge potential to earn high income, fame, and glamour.
- Textile Export Houses
- Fashion Boutiques
- Work as an Independent and Self-employed
- Textile or Fabric Manufacturing Units
- Retail Chains
- Fashion Brand Showrooms
- TV and Film Industry
- Teach The Course In Institutes
Best Fashion Design Schools in the World
Career in Fashion Design has become a popular choice for youth aiming to develop technical skills and follow current fashion trends. However, which Fashion institute to choose? Picking the right place to begin your career can get a little mind-boggling. Considering your dilemma, we have curated a list of best Fashion Design schools that fits your requirement, budget and other criteria.
Central Saint Martins
Renowned for its diverse practices in the field of Fashion Design and Arts, Central Saint Martins infuses in the minds of the students a creative vision to shape the world. As a part of the University of the Arts London (UAL), they believe in learning through imbibing in students the practical learnings while also having a vibrant and radical approach. This school offers an array of foundational, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in 18 different Fashion Designing subjects such as Arts and Design, 3D Design, Introduction of Design, Media and Screen, Ceramic Design, Jewellery Design, etc. While bringing together a diverse range of creative practices under one roof, this school has successfully produced notable fashion icons like Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Zac Posen and Mary Katrantzou amongst many others.
Kingston University
Kingston School of Art is known for hosting a generation of curious and questioning students with strong creative and visual abilities to learn and understand the features of the design process from concept to collection. They offer exposure to top brands and designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, Urban Outfitters and Zara so that the students assimilate the contemporary thought alongside their fashion course. Being one of the top Fashion Design schools, Kingston University offers BA (Hons) Fashion, Fashion MA and Graduate Diploma Creative Practice to students aspiring to refine their design ideas, processes and methodologies. Technical learning is also a part of their curriculum along with nurturing the creative voices of the students as per the industry demands.
Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp
The academy is known to provide a challenging environment for the budding designers aspiring for personal artistic education. It offers Bachelor and Master of Visual Arts – Fashion encouraging students to work with new forms and creative processes. Through regular workshops and theme projects, Antwerp promotes experimental thinking as the most treasured aspect of education. The study program of their undergraduate course is constructed to equip students with the knowledge of the designs and patterns, artistic-theoretical sciences to impart the understanding of the history of art, and world literature. Other prominent course bachelor’s and master’s courses are in fields like Costume Design, Graphic Design, Jewellery Design and Gold And Silversmithing, to name a few. Having a positive outlook towards personality development, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp encourages students to study both traditional and unconventional techniques. Being one of the most sought-after fashion schools in the world, the academy has produced some notable artists like Léon Abry, Willis Seaver Adams, Henry Allan etc.
Parsons School of Design
With an aim to unleash your creativity, Parson School of Design offers diverse programs in Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing and Fashion Studies. Prominently the only American art and design school within a comprehensive university, it immerses students in focused training and practice-based collaborative learning. It was founded by William Chase, an American Impressionist in the late 1800s, with whopping 10,000 students pursuing 137 different programs. Situated in the city of New York, the institute is surrounded by world’s biggest fashion companies like Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar. The opportunity to engage in research through partnership initiatives with multiple platforms, growth and learning becomes an innate ability here. As per its global rankings according to QS, Parsons is ranked No. 2 in the list of Best Art and Design Schools around the world.
ESMOD, Paris
ESMOD (l’Ecole Supérieure des Arts et techniques de la Mode) has its main campus in Paris and 4 others in French cities. This is one of the prominent Fashion Design schools offering graduate-level courses in Fashion Design and Business, International Development of Fashion and Luxury Industry and Commercial and Communication Strategy in Fashion Design. It also provides short courses in Fashion Business and Pattern Making. Allowing students to push their limits of creativity, the school provides vocational and professional certification to students wanting to become a fashion stylists and designers. Moreover, the capital has a rich history with top designers having a strong influence on the city which makes ESMOD Paris train players for tomorrow’s fashion.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) - Top Recruiters for Fashion Designers
Question: What is a fashion designing?
Answer:
Fashion designing is the applied art of designing and making aesthetic clothing and accessories. It gets its influence from the cultural and social aspect.
Question: What is the eligibility criteria to pursue a bachelor degree in fashion designing?
Answer:
To pursue a bachelor degree in fashion designing, students must pass their 10+2 exam in any discipline from a recognised board.
Question: What is the scope of fashion designing?
Answer:
Fashion designing is one of the most sensational and demanding industry globally. There is a huge scope in the realm of the fashion world for someone who is creative and passionate about this domain. The job opportunities do not restricted in India only but can also work in other countries as well.
Question: What are the skills required to be a fashion designer?
Answer:
The skills required for a fashion designer is mentioned below.
Creative skill
Good eye for colours, textures and shapes
Technical skills like pattern cutting and sewing
Updated with current trends
Sketching
Question: What is the average salary of a fashion designer?
Answer:
The salary of a fashion designer varies as per the experience, brand and place of working. On average an amateur designer can earn up to 15000 to 25000 per month. However, a designer who has the experience for more than 10 years earn around 6.5 lakhs per month.
