The fashion industry is one of the most diverse and flexible careers you can have. If you're someone who has a knack for being fashionable and wants to make a living off of it, you've come to the right place. Here's what you need to start your career in the fashion industry.
Degree in Fashion
Obtaining a fashion degree, specifically a BA or higher, can make getting a career in the industry a lot easier. Not only does it supply you with a broad education, you'll also learn and hone the necessary skills. Here's a brief list of the skills you'll learn in this degree program:
Effective communication
Sewing
Drawing and sketching
Artistic creativity
Critical thinking
Strategic planning
Researching target audiences and trends
A bachelor's in this field usually costs $35,000 on average, but if you're looking to take it a step further and acquire a master's, you're looking at around $60,000 to $70,000. It honestly depends on the niche you choose to study in. Either way, you're going to need a way to cover the costs and there's no better way than taking out a student loan. A student loan can finance everything you need to succeed in your program ranging from textbooks to the proper supplies for the course work.
Choose a Niche
There are a lot of niches to choose within the fashion industry. Whether it's apparel for men, women's jewelry or baby clothes, you'll need to choose which one works best for you. The best way to decide is to sit down and think about what you'd want to create. Do you see yourself creating an entire apparel line for a specific gender? Do you prefer to focus on creating clothes for children? Or maybe you want to design accessories, like handbags and necklaces.
Decide on the Job
There are as many jobs as there are niches for you to choose from. You can choose to go the simple route and become a buyer. A buyer is someone who basically chooses what will resonate with the customers the most. In this job, you'd be collaborating with manufacturers and wholesalers. You'll also be constantly researching and forecasting trends to see what the in-thing currently is.
Another job you can aim for is to be a designer. Out of all the jobs in this sector, becoming a designer is the most popular, and for good reason. Fashion designers have one of the highest salaries on top of having lucrative work. Similar to a buyer, you'll be researching ongoing trends. You'll also be put in charge of designing the overall theme of an upcoming collection through a series of computer-aided design programs (CADs).
Don't Hesitate to Ask for Help
Even the best fashion professionals need help from time to time. As such, there's nothing wrong with needing some extra assistance. You will find this is a solid way to relieve stress and anxiety as it is almost impossible to shoulder the weight of everything alone. A great way to find the help you might need is to look towards your own network and see who you can ask. It can be anyone ranging from a fellow colleague to a professional brand manager. The insight they give you can open your mind to new ideas and possibilities.
