Life As a Fashion Designer
Job Description: Design clothing and accessories. Create original designs or adapt fashion trends.
Responsibilities
- Sew together sections of material to form mockups or samples of garments or articles, using sewing equipment.
- Determine prices for styles.
- Collaborate with other designers to coordinate special products and designs.
- Research the styles and periods of clothing needed for film or theatrical productions.
- Test fabrics or oversee testing so that garment care labels can be created.
- Purchase new or used clothing and accessory items as needed to complete designs.
Key Skills
- Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem‑solving and decision‑making.
Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Excel, Word, Office, Outlook, Web browser software
- Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator
- CorelDraw Graphics Suite, Corel Painter
- Autodesk SketchBook Pro
Salary
The salary for Fashion Designers ranges between about $36,420 and $155,470 a year. Uniforms in certain states may have higher compensation.