A day in the life of a fashion designer
"I'm passionate to be a fashion designer," Roberto Cavalli once told CNN, "because fashion is part of our life… Fashion is our mind. That is the reason I love being a fashion designer because I can use it to measure your mood, your life. I love being a fashion designer."
Being a fashion designer is probably one of the most diverse and exciting professions imaginable. Every day is different, and every day brings a new challenge and a new adventure. It's definitely ‘life', rather than ‘work'. What's the average week like? Well, there's never an average week in fashion, but it will probably mean everything from designing new garments to being interviewed for a magazine, and from choosing models for a catwalk show to meeting with the buyers of a department store.
Designing a new collection usually occurs over time, drawing in different influences, and being broken up by other demands of the business. While fashion designers will usually spend time sketching out designs, and making notes about color and fabric, they'll also want to go shopping, to explore what's in the stores. Usually that means an opportunity for lunch with an assistant, to discuss how the collection is developing, or how it should develop. Or, if the designer is especially busy, lunch might mean meeting a business contact, discussing the look of a new website or promotional campaign, or being interviewed for a magazine – trust me, a lot happens at lunch.
Later, back at the studio, the designer will be fitting the newest garments on ‘fit models', making sure that they are comfortable and look hot. Working with the pattern cutter and assistants, the designer will want to make alterations, and will probably want to develop new garments from those that are working well – for example, designing an ankle-length skirt from a shorter one. The fashion designer will direct, while staff pin and tack the garments the fit model is wearing. Once the designer has chosen the fabric, it can be made up.
While the new collection is just getting underway, the previous collection might be about to hit the catwalk or the stores. If dozens or hundreds of boxes have arrived back for the garment manufacturer, they'll need to be checked over. Later, buyers can be met, and shown the collection.
If the fashion show is approaching, the fashion designer will be looking through dozens of models' books, and getting model agencies to send the selected few to the studio to see how they look in the flesh. A lot of designers will also have the models walk the length of the studio – in a kind of practice run – to make sure they have the right ‘presence' for the show. Once the designer has decided exactly which models to use, they will be back on the phone to the model agencies, as well as booking a photographer for the website, look book, and ad campaign. As anyone who's been around a successful fashion designer knows, all of this is going to happen while the designer's mobile phone is ringing off the hook, and other important meetings and events are arranged.
If you think all of this means never getting out of the city, think again. A fashion designer might have to fly to Paris, Milan, Tokyo or any other international city for anything from staging a fashion show, visiting a trend and fabric show to find out about the latest developments, or just to go shopping for the weekend, and getting a little more inspired. As Michael Harper, co-founder of www.Startingaclothingline.com says, "fashion design is demanding and rewarding. And there's never a dull moment."
About the Author
Jay Arrington is Co-owner of Harper Arrington Media Group, the parent company of www.StartingaClothingLine.com, and www.DigitalFashionPro.com. He along with his business partner Michael J. Harper has authored several books on fashion designing and on how to start a clothing line, with The Official Step by Step Guide to Starting a Clothing Line being one of their titles. They have also introduced the world to Digital Fashion Pro a fantastic fashion designing software, that allows the user to create lifelike fashion design sketches! In addition, the two are also the proud owners of Harper-Arrington Publishing www.HApub.com home of The Little Entrepreneur book series for kids and young adults, www.thelittleE.com. As entrepreneurs and educators it is very important to Jay and Michael that they provide fellow future and present business owners with the very best information possible!
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