So you wanna be a fashion designer, huh? Well buckle up, buttercup, cuz you're in for a wild ride. As someone who knows a thing or two about fashion - I mean, I wear clothes every day - I'm here to give you the lowdown on what it takes to make it in this cutthroat industry.
The Very Best Reason You Should Use A Fashion Designer
Hint: It's probably not what you think
Okay, listen up. The best thing about being a fashion designer is NOT getting to make your own clothes, or even seeing people wear them. No, the best thing about being a fashion designer is all the free fabric swatches you get to collect. Seriously, do you know how expensive that stuff is? And now you get to hoard it all to yourself. Score!
What Should I Study To Become A Fashion Designer
Hint: It's probably not basket weaving
Okay, so obviously you're gonna need some education if you wanna make it in this biz. But that doesn't mean you need to study fashion design specifically. In fact, some of the best fashion designers out there have backgrounds in architecture, fine art, or even chemistry. So go ahead and get that degree in underwater basket weaving. You never know when it might come in handy.
2021 How much do fashion designers make? What is the opportunity?
Hint: It's probably more than you think. Unless you're really bad at it.
Listen, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it - being a fashion designer is tough work. But if you're good at it, you can make some serious bank. And I'm not talking pocket change, here. I'm talking Marc Jacobs-level money. Of course, if you're not great at it, you might end up living in a cardboard box. So, y'know, maybe practice a little before you quit your day job.
8 Most Important Tips You Need to Learn as a Fashion Designer!
Hint: Bet you didn't know "Use a sewing machine" was gonna be on the list
Okay, so you're serious about this fashion thing. Good for you. But before you start churning out those haute couture designs, there are some things you need to know. Lucky for you, I'm feeling generous, so I'm gonna give you the top 8 tips that every fashion designer should know:
- Learn how to sew (shocking, I know)
- Know your fabrics - what works well together, what doesn't
- Keep up with the latest fashion trends - even if you don't follow them, you need to know what's going on
- Be willing to take risks - don't be afraid to try something new
- Know your audience - if you're designing for teens, don't make everything look like it belongs in your grandma's closet
- Learn how to sketch - this isn't a stick figure kind of job
- Get organized - there are a lot of moving parts in this industry, so you need to be able to keep track of everything
- Be persistent - Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a successful fashion brand
7 things to know before you decide to be a fashion designer
Hint: There's a reason I wear sweats all the time
So, you're still here. I guess that means you're pretty serious about this whole "fashion designer" thing. But before you take the plunge, there are a few things you need to know:
- You're gonna work long hours - forget having a social life
- You're gonna have to deal with some seriously picky clients - "I said I wanted this skirt to be six inches shorter AND I MEANT IT"
- You're gonna need some serious startup money - fabric ain't cheap, y'all
- You're gonna have to be able to take criticism - not everyone is gonna love your designs
- You're gonna have to work your butt off - success doesn't come easy in this industry
- You're gonna need some serious multitasking skills - juggling multiple clients, deadlines, and designs at once is no joke
- You're gonna have to learn to think on your feet - fashion moves fast, and you need to be able to keep up
So there you have it, folks. Everything you need to know if you wanna be a fashion designer. Best of luck to you - you're gonna need it!
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