Fashion designing is one of the coolest and most desired career choices.
CAREER COUNSELLING
Fashion designing is one of the coolest and most desired career choices. It is indeed a worthy profession, but don’t think of it as duck soup; it’s just as challenging as other fields. Success in every profession requires determination, preparation and proactive behaviour and fashion designing is no different. An outsider may only get to see its fantasy element and think it’s full of wonders and beauty, but all of this relies on tireless labour of people working behind the scenes to achieve it.
As strenuous as it is, fashion designing is a rewarding career path, too. So, if you are considering adopting it professionally, then there are few things you need to consider.
Researching the field
First of all, make sure you do all your homework regarding it. The internet is full of information; make use of it. Search institutes that teach fashion designing. Many institutes offer various diplomas and degrees in fashion designing. Your task is to list down each of them, visit their websites, and talk to people who might have been associated with the respective institutes.
What next, then? Fashion is mostly an expensive field of study, so you should choose the right institute and hope that whatever you spend does not get wasted. It goes without saying that the costly packages offered by some institutes do not necessarily mean you would get quality. 
Skim through and compare the syllabus of each institute - see that the course you pick offers the skills you’ll need the most in professional life. What’s more, the institute ought to be registered with an official body - from Pakistani perspective, that is HEC - as there is the recent issue of a number of fake institutes cropping up along the landscape that claim to provide foreign diplomas.
Learning and staying up-to-date with fashion world
Your skill is what is going to ensure your success. Based on my experience in a fashion college, I know a majority of people who study fashion are prone to lose their individual identity. When faced with all the superficial action, they end up making childish attempts to attune themselves to this false notion of the world of fashion.
The trick is to remember who you are and stay in control. Be a better person and don’t let your mind be controlled by shallowness; trust me, you are going to need a confident but grounded personality later in professional life as well.
Yet another important habit that you need to cultivate is to stay aware of the latest trends. Joining a fashion school does not automatically make you an authority or even well-informed on what’s in trend. Did you forget those friends and relatives who, knowing you study at a fashion school, cannot stay mum and have a plethora of questions to bug you with? You need to be on the top of your game to satisfy them.
Keep yourself updated on news and events related to your field; read fashion magazines, surf the internet and watch fashion shows. Going out for window shopping is also a good idea for staying informed on latest fashion trends. Again, like every other field, staying informed is not enough for aspiring fashion designers; unleash your creativity as well. Don’t just dwell in fantasies and daydreams; take steps to make your ideas and creativity come to life. Small and realistic but consistent steps, unhindered by fear of failure or lack of determination can make all the difference in the world.
In fashion school, you’ll be taught various things like fashion illustrations, pattern drafting, colour theory, textiles and draping. Make sure you master each skill. Don’t take your patterns for granted and know your fabrics. The more you know about how to materialize your creative ideas, the more confident you will be. And even though fashion designing is not all about stitching - your course may and may not include this - it’s better to learn sewing besides being observant and imaginative.
Drafting a portfolio
After completing your course, you’ll be ready to create your own portfolio. A portfolio is very important in starting a career in fashion designing as this is a way of framing and showcasing your skills. You cannot just rely on the diploma; make your skills speak for you.
Now, there are various ways of starting a career in fashion designing: you can start internship with some good designer; start working with some brand or textile company; or simply start freelancing. The first two options can be really helpful in developing expertise, confidence, and a platform for your work. This, in turn, ensures easier recognition. However, freelancing is also a good option, especially if you cannot find a place to work as an intern.
On the other hand, what happens if you prefer working as a self-employed fashion designer? For one, you’ll need a proactive and determined approach. You’ll have to be ready to take risks by investing in your creations and be smart with the money you spent. For that purpose, you’d have to know your niche very well, including what sells and why; you’d have to build a social circle and promote your ideas and clothes accordingly.
Marketing is the mantra when it comes to starting any business. Visit the markets, find out the differences in prices and quality of fabrics and other materials available in various places so you are able to compete properly.
It’s true that being an entrepreneur is the coolest profession nowadays in spite of the many hurdles there are for one to become a successful businessperson. Foremost of them is the utter disappointment you feel following failures at the beginning. It sounds clichéd to suggest that you should not to be deterred by it and to instead work on developing different skills (e.g. communication, time and stress management skills) and really getting the hang of your own work.
Staying away from plagiarism
One important thing to keep in mind is that like other forms of art, plagiarism is not acceptable in fashion designing as well. Don’t put your professional dignity on stake. Get inspirations, but don’t copy. Read up thoroughly on what is considered plagiarism and the extent to which you can take inspirations from the works of others.
Use your own creativity whether it’s for study assignments or professional work. Creating replicas might be an easy way to attract customers and make money, but you don’t want the habit of creating carbon copies thwart the flow of your creativity and the ability to rely on your own instincts and efforts.
If you dream of becoming a top level designer someday, originality is very important to achieve this goal whereas plagiarism will get you into serious trouble. Work on developing your own signature style.
Designing your own outfits and accessories is not just one of the best marketing tactics, but it also makes you confident in your creation, not to say that it’s always a pleasure to wear something you’ve created exclusively for yourself. Also, in that way, your own persona is going to herald your creativity.
Determination is the key
Last but not the least, if you don’t want to enrol in some expensive fashion designing course or want to be a hobbyist designer, internet is at your service. It is possible to learn many skills such as fashion drawing, patterns, and colour theory with the help of countless tutorials that are available on the web. Are you ready? I hope you have not already forgotten the first rule to pursue fashion designing I mentioned at the beginning: determination and passion.
