Fashion designer (Modeontwerper)
Information on this skill...
A fashion designer is a designer and stylist who specializes in designing clothing. Especially for people with a creative streak, a broad imagination and an aptitude for drawing, the profession of fashion designer is suitable and often loved. The work of a fashion designer consists in short of designing, drawing and sewing clothing. As a fashion designer you usually work as an entrepreneur, but a fashion designer can also work in the ready-to-wear or fashion industry. The work usually consists of compiling or designing clothing collections. Creativity is a quality that should not be missing as a fashion designer. As a fashion designer, you are looking for new fashion trends every day and you may decide the new fashion yourself, if you are able to design clothes that appeal to a large target group. The profession of fashion designer is broad and does not only consist of designing new clothes. Think, for example, of clothing accessories, such as hats, bags and belts. In addition, a fashion designer may have specialized in certain clothing, such as lingerie, swimwear, jackets, shoes or dresses. What exactly a fashion designer designs can therefore differ per fashion designer. In general, it is true that fashion designers mainly deal with special clothing or clothing accessories, which can not just be found in the store. Obviously, a fashion designer can also have to deal with ready-to-wear clothing. In that case, it usually concerns cheaper clothing, which is produced in standard sizes. A fashion designer has much more to do with customization and clothing, which is not mass produced. Garments designed by a fashion designer are often referred to as haute couture. In that case, it concerns unique and special clothing, which is made to measure.
Thus, a fashion designer is responsible for designing clothes, drawing clothes and sewing clothes. An important addition to this is that a fashion designer must also be regarded as a stylist. Designing fashion clothing cannot be separated from styling. If a fashion designer is only responsible for sewing or entertaining clothes, we speak of a coupeuse or tailor. A fashion designer isn't just responsible for sewing or entertaining clothes. In most cases, a fashion designer will focus on haute couture. The big dream of fashion designers is to design and make unique clothing, which is worn by many people. This will mean that a fashion designer will have to organize his own fashion shows, in which the new clothing will be shown to the public. Fashion clothing that should be classified as haute couture will be shown to the public by mannequins. There are quite a few fashion designers who work as independent entrepreneurs, who in many cases hope to break through as a well-known fashion designer sooner or later. Becoming a well-known fashion designer is not easy and will require a lot of perseverance. As most fashion designers know, the fashion world is not the easiest industry to work in.
WORKING IN THE FASHION WORLD
The fashion world is dynamic and versatile, because the fashion industry never stands still. Those who, as a successful fashion designer, appeal to the general public can look forward to a bright future. Suddenly all the magazines are full of your clothes and you regularly appear on television. Of course, this is not for everyone, but nothing is impossible. Designing new clothes takes a lot of time, and the result of collections is highly dependent on the audience. The hardest thing about new clothes is still making the clothes recognizable, so that people want to buy the clothes and start wearing them. It often happens that fashion designers only break through when well-known artists wear the clothes. It's not that all fashion designers focus solely on haute couture. Think also of the ready-to-wear industry, which is heavily dependent on new fashion. In that case, as a fashion designer, it is important to get to know the right people. Think, for example, of approaching clothing buyers, retail managers or purchasing managers. In most cases, retailers can help enormously with the marketing. Think, for example, of the use of market researchers, marketing analysts, brand managers and product managers, who have specialized in promoting products in various ways. In addition, in most cases retailers have a large market due to a well-known webshop and several stores.
WHAT DO FASHION DESIGNERS DESIGN
As described earlier, a fashion designer can have specialized in designing clothes in different ways. Think, for example, of lingerie, bags, bridal fashion and hats. In addition, most fashion designers can be classified as image consultants. In that case, a fashion designer will look at the overall picture with regard to styling. The substantive work of a fashion designer can differ per fashion designer. It is also possible that a fashion designer has a preference for certain materials. Think, for example, of fashion designers, who prefer to work with leather, wool or fabrics.
WHAT DOES A FASHION DESIGNER DO:
TRAINING TO BECOME A FASHION DESIGNER
There are various training opportunities for the profession of fashion designer, such as the Mbo training employee fashion / tailor-made clothing specialist. This fashion course has different levels with different components, such as Fashion Design, Fashion and Tailor-made Clothing and Production Coordinator Fashion. With the MBO diploma at level four, you can then also easily move on to a hbo education, such as the study at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. During this Hbo programme, various directions are possible in which you can graduate, such as Fashion and Design, Fashion and Management and Fashion and Branding. Some components that will be covered during the training, depending on the chosen direction, are textile knowledge, pattern drawing, drawing, production theory, ICT logistics, international business operations, marketing, design, brand strategy and design. This hbo education that prepares you for a future in the fashion world will usually take four years. In addition, there are also plenty of external training institutes where you can follow a course. Accounting is also important as an entrepreneur.
COMPANIES WHERE A FASHION DESIGNER CAN WORK
In most cases, a fashion designer will work as an entrepreneur. This does not alter the fact that a fashion designer can also work for clothing manufacturers or fashion houses. If a fashion designer has his own studio, the name 'medium-sized business' may apply. As a medium-sized business owner, you sell directly to consumers. Of course, there are also many hobbyists who like to design clothes themselves.
COMPETENCES FASHION DESIGNER
The most important competence of a fashion designer is the professional knowledge of clothing and fashion. The necessary creativity and inspiration should not be lacking as a fashion designer. Another important competence is keeping a close eye on possible new trends. Because in most cases you work as an entrepreneur, you must have a commercial attitude. Networking also plays an important role within the fashion industry. As an entrepreneur, it is also important that you have good communication skills. Generally important words are negotiation, contract management, courage, perseverance, planning, organizing and stress resistance.
LABOUR MARKET PERSPECTIVE AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A FASHION DESIGNER
The job market perspective of a fashion designer does not really apply, because most fashion designers work as entrepreneurs. An entrepreneur will have to determine his own labour market perspective by doing business successfully. The career opportunities of a fashion designer can only be seen as building a good name within the fashion world and setting up your own clothing line. In some cases, the position of creative director may be possible. Another option is to start your own fashion blog.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND SALARY FASHION DESIGNER
There are no specific employment conditions for this profession, because you can work for different types of companies at different levels. A fashion designer with an MBO diploma, employed by a fashion house or shop, will usually earn a salary between 1800 and 2500 euros gross per month depending on education, age and responsibilities. As an independent fashion designer, your income is of course entirely dependent on your assignments and sales.
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