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Five
Myths and Five Tips for Breaking
into a Career as a Fashion Designer
by Jennie S. Bev, StyleCareer.com Editor-in-Chief
For
many women, becoming a fashion designer is a lifelong dream.We
all love to wear beautiful clothes and make ourselves feel
good from the inside out.
We often
imagine what it feels like to actually make money doing something
this great: dressing people up and making them feel good,
models catwalking the runway gracefully to showcase our designs,
stylists working frantically at the backstage and we are introduced
as the designer at the closing. Ah, pretty tempting,
indeed, but somehow it feels so surreal. Can I actually become
a fashion designer?
Despite
the misconception that only those who graduate from New York
prestigious fashion schools can make it big in this highly
lucrative and competitive field, many fashion designers literally
work their way up working from home.
Karen
and Warren Hipwell, for instance, started and still operate
design studio from their residence in Massachusetts. Despite
their humble start, now their products are sold in 110 retailers
nationwide. Pure luck? Think again.
You, too,
can become a fashion designer even if you have never worn
designer clothes, dont have a fashion degree,
cant draw or sew, and live far away from New York or
Los Angeles. These are no more than myths. Let me briefly
explain them to you.
Myth One:
I have never worn designer clothes.
Reality: All clothes, including those in your closet, are
designed by fashion designers. Many people confuse designer
collection, which means high-priced seasonal line
designed by top designers, with the person who
designs clothes.
Myth Two:
I dont have a fashion degree.
Reality: Unlike the medical professions, which require extensive
classroom and hands-on training, you can learn how to design
anywhere. No special education is needed. Youll be surprised
to know that many established designers dont have any
special training.
Myth Three:
I live far away from New York or Los Angeles.
Reality: While NY and LA are great places to find an internship
position with established designers, fashion is a part of
life and fashion designers can be found everywhere. Whether
you live in a city of millions or a town of 10,000, there
must be at least a few local fashion designers.
Myth Four:
I cannot draw or sew.
Reality: Nobody can at the beginning. Strong motivation and
perseverance are more important than how well you can draw
or sew. Such skills can be learned easily (including using
some free resources).
Myth Five:
I dont feel comfortable working in a high-profile industry.
Reality: Well, this glamorous image is no more than the most
over-rated trait of the fashion industry. This image is created
by the media with the help of fashion publicists and marketers
to boost sales. Thus, the purpose is pure business. The better
the coverage, the better the sales will be. Fashion designers
work very hard for 18 to 24 months to deliver the best designs
of the season.
Now youre
ready to plunge into this often-misunderstood field, here
are some tips:
First,
a fashion designer is an artist and an entrepreneur in one.
Why? Because if you design in the name of art without considering
the marketability, its very likely you wont be
successful. Many designers fail because of this.
Second,
you can choose your design specializations from a long list
of classifications. Trivial items, such as beach and leg wears,
are highly profitable products and relatively easy to produce
compared with haute couture pieces.
Third,
understand what your career goal is. You can choose whether
you want to work for others or for yourself. Whichever one
your choice is, apprenticeship is always a great option for
new designers.
Fourth,
keep up with the industry trends and news. Travel and read
a lot to be informed and inspired. New insights will keep
your creative skills fresh and ready to roll.
Fifth,
persevere. Perseverance is the most important virtue of all
because without it, nothing can be completed. Perseverance
is your ticket to the peak of your career.
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Jennie
S. Bev is an author and the Editor-in-Chief of StyleCareer.com
(http://www.stylecareer.com).
StyleCareer.com publishes eGuides that help fashion job seekers
breaking into and succeeding in their dream careers.
also see
in Fashion
-> Haute
Couture Designers
New
York Fashion Week
Other
Web Sites of Interest:
Fashion
Colleges and Schools
U.S.
Department of Labor: Designers
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