What Skills Will I Learn as a Fashion Designer?

Fashion designers create garments and accessories. They may choose to specialize in swimwear, evening gowns, shoes, handbags, or any specific accessory. Some fashion designers rise to the top of their profession and become trend setters and are sought after by celebrities and the elite. Most fashion designers work for fashion houses and clothing manufacturers and adapt new clothing lines for the general market. Before entering the world of high fashion, one must first obtain a degree and develop the fashion design skills which will be required of them in their daily job.

One fashion design skill which must be learned is fashion sketching. Fashion sketching teaches students about proper body proportion and attention to garment detail. By creating a fashion sketching portfolio, an individual style will emerge over time.

Clothing construction techniques must also be learned. These skills are learned in progressively more advanced classes. The students learn basic fabric selection and garment construction and go on to learn how to construct more difficult pieces with speed and accuracy.

Draping is one of the important fashion design skills that must be learned. A bachelor's degree in fashion design may require three to four courses on this technique alone. Draping involves the draping of various types of fabrics over differently shaped forms. For example, it might include draping satin over a human shaped torso and creating a dress that is fastened only with ties or pins. Stitches are not used when draping.

Students must also learn pattern drafting skills which involve creating, drawing, and cutting a pattern used in the creation of a garment or accessory. Students will become skilled in creating finished designs from the patterns and will also learn how to alter completed designs.

Learning how to organize, market, and produce fashion shows are other skills which must be learned by those who want to enter the fashion industry. Classes may be taken in event planning and trend forecasting as well.

Skills which must be learned to be successful in a fashion design career include keeping abreast of current fashion trends and learning how to design and construct garments. Students must also learn how to organize fashion show events including how to market them. In addition, students must be creative and learn how to envision original creations and learn how to copy and improve upon existing designs. One typically enters the fashion design world as an assistant and works their way up to a head designer position. They can specialize in a particular garment such as skirts or a genre such as theatrical costumes.

Good people skills must also be learned as well as good organizational and business skills. The fashion industry is often fast paced and highly charged. One may need to deal with buyers, sellers, models, and celebrity designers.

Having the proper fashion design skills is important. A good education along with a portfolio of original designs will help secure a well paying career in the fashion industry. Students can seek a two year AA degree, a four year BA degree, or go on to complete a master's degree in fashion design. The level of education would depend upon the career objectives. A two year degree will supply the necessary skills to enter the workplace as a fashion design assistant.