Become the best fashion designer!
You know you're destined to be a fashion designer if you: a) spent most of your childhood making clothes for your Barbie dolls instead of playing with your friends; b) read fashion magazines instead of your school books; c) ran a boutique out of your basement at age 10. In other words, if you want to be the next Yves Saint Laurent, it helps to be completely and utterly obsessed with fashion.
However, the profession encompasses many facets. Working as a fashion designer can just as well mean supervising a design team at a sportswear company as producing a label under your own name. Although the former career may not seem as glamorous as the latter, it certainly will make your life less stressful. To create your own label takes a lot of time, dedication, and hard work. Additionally, you must endure years of living barely above the poverty line.
Choosing a strategy
There are as many different ways to embark upon a fashion career as there are styles of design. A small tie collection that Ralph Lauren sold to Bloomingdales laid the foundation for his Polo empire. When Helmut Lang couldn't find a t-shirt he liked, he decided to open his own clothing store. Michael Kors built up a network of customers by selling clothes in a trendy NYC boutique. However, most people find that the best foundation for a design career is to get a fine arts degree in fashion at a prestigious school. Besides teaching you the craft, a good school will also add credibility to your résumé. "We live in a brandname society, and having the name of a good school behind you really does help," says Carol Mongo, Director of the Fashion Department at Parsons School of Design in Paris.
Applying to a school
Many colleges offer fashion programs, but only a select few have the reputation to significantly advance your career. It's challenging to gain admission into these schools due to the intense competition and their selective nature. You apply by sending a portfolio of drawings of your designs. "We can't teach you how to be creative—you have to bring your creativity to us and let us lead you on your way," says Carol Mongo. She recommends students get some sewing experience before they apply. Drawing is also an important skill for a designer; it is the way you communicate your ideas. In order to build an impressive portfolio, it's a good idea to have some experience in sketching; taking art classes will help you understand form and proportion. However, admission to a school doesn't require you to be an expert drawer. "The most important quality that we look for in our students is that they are truly passionate and exuberant about fashion," says Mongo. If you have great ideas but can't draw, there are always solutions. You could, for example, put your designs on a mannequin and take pictures of it."
What school will do for you?
Most fashion programs are three to four years long. During that time you will take fine arts classes and study drawing, color composition, and form. You will also learn pattern-making, draping, and cutting techniques. One of the most important advantages of design schools is that they work really closely with the industry. Parsons, for example, have "designer critic projects" where successful designers like Donna Karan and Michael Kors work directly with the graduating students. Ambitious students also have the chance to win prestigious awards and grants, which bring them a lot of attention as well as financial support. One significant event is the fashion show at the end of the last semester, when graduating students show their collections. A lot of important people from the fashion industry attend these shows to scout new talent. Additionally, it presents a chance to showcase outrageousness and garner media attention. Hussein Chalayan, for example, became instantly infamous when he showed rotting clothes that he had buried in his backyard for his graduation show at Saint Martins.
Alternative routes
"Let's be realistic," says Carol Mongo at Parsons. "School's not for everyone. If you're just looking to get a job in the fashion industry—not a career as a designer—you probably don't need to go to school." If you want to work as a seamstress or a patternmaker, the best thing is probably to apply for an internship at a fashion house and work your way up. However, there are many examples of famous designers who started out as interns with no formal training. For example, Dior's brightest new star, men's wear designer Hedi Slimane, had a degree in journalism when he started working with men's wear designer José Levy. Balenciaga's Nicolas Ghesquière is another example of a brilliantly successful designer who learned the job hands-on as an assistant at Jean-Paul Gaultier. Usually, you apply for an internship by sending a portfolio to a fashion house you're interested in. But it's a beneficial idea to call them up beforehand to see exactly what they need. It's also important to note that competition is fierce, and unless you have personal connections, it's very difficult to get an internship without an education.Some designers, such as Luella Bartley, began their own business after working as stylists for several years, thereby building an industry network and developing strong marketing skills.
Understanding the business
Unfortunately, talented designers need business acumen too. As fashion gets more and more corporate-driven, it's important to be aware of the business climate and understand the mechanics behind it. By religiously reading trade papers like "Women's Wear Daily," you will get a lot of valuable information. If you want to run your own company, you need to be extremely organized and learn at least the basics of economics. Many fashion schools are currently expanding their curriculum to include business classes. "Our students have to be smart enough to know how to negotiate a contract or to pick a business partner," says Carol Mongo. It's perhaps telling that many of today's truly successful designers, such as Calvin Klein or Tom Ford, are involved in every aspect of the business, from licensing strategies to ad campaigns to actually designing the clothes.
About the author:
Owner of TheHeer boutique, fashion designer Omar Ejaz, has previously exhibited in Lahore, Karachi, New Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Glasgow, and the USA, receiving high appreciation for his creations. Omer works with a variety of fabrics, and what truly sets them apart is the innovative way he combines two or more textures in a single garment.
TheHeer Carries Women's Designer Clothing, Shalwar Kameez, Indian/PPakistani Wedding Lehenga, Bridal Dresses, Bridesmaid Dresses, Casual Wear, Formal Wear, Evening Wear, and Party Wear. They design and sell Indian and Pakistani fashion dresses. Pakistani clothing store. They offer custom-made Pakistani/Indian fashion dresses such as shalwar kameez, sherwani dress, embroidered khussa shoes, men's shalwar kameez, lehnga, and ghagra.
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