Even as engineering and medical courses remain popular among a large number of young people, in sync with changing times a career in fashion designing is also coveted by many who seek to be different. A degree in fashion designing allows one to understand the basics of fashion entailing cuts, shapes, colours, fabrics, textiles and much more. This helps one to gain a holistic understanding of how a particular design or a look can set the fashion arena on fire or fall flat on its face. This course offered by many a top fashion design institute across the country has produced some of the best brains in the business and continues to foster talents who are making a mark in areas more than one. A career in this field is for one who has a passion for creativity, style and originality and wishes to rock the world of global fashion.
While glamour, fame and a lucrative pay package are a part of the deal, the other facet of this highly challenging industry is that one must be ready to slog till one drops. The hours are regular and also way beyond it for it is a creative arena, so how can one call it a day till one is satisfied with what one has produced. A few skills that come in handy are:
- A good eye for hues, texture, shape and trends
- A basic understanding of the nature of different fabrics and how best they can be put to use
- Though there will be team of skilled tailors, one must have
- Working knowledge of pattern making and sewing
- More than good drawing skills for one will have to express the designs conceived through rough sketches
- It is also about being tech savvy for one must have the ability to use software design packages to fine tune one’s creations
- Good communication skills to understand what a client wants
- Finally, one must be ready to work as part of a team.
While this industry promises recognition and a chance to brush shoulders with celebrities, the day to day work schedule could be a tad daunting. Yes, the work is endless, especially when one has to constantly innovate and surprise. One cannot afford to switch off completely lest one loses track of the latest trends and a contemporary designer beats one to that. The not so glamorous aspects of the job are:
- Reading up or surfing the Net for the latest trends in fashion, both in the country as well as worldwide
- Wracking one’s brains to hit on something truly inspiring and sketching the same on a sheet of paper
- Taking a call and zeroing in on the right fabric and colour
- Working on the basic shapes through patterns
- Getting the rough design in place and checking out the same on a model or a mannequin
- Coordinating with the team to get the final design on the chosen fabric
- Making time for clients to understand what they love.
Exciting and adventurous this field surely is and there is also no end to how much one can make at the end of the day. One of the best ways to foray into this arena is to go for a course offered by an established fashion design institute where one can pick up the tricks of the trade. For a promising career in fashion designing, opt for programmes that combine the best in conceptual knowledge with real world application and focus on imparting job specific skills, knowledge and attitude to enhance productivity.