Fashion Designers – How Do They Get The Job?

Fashion is an art form of individual autonomy and self-expression in a certain time and setting and in a certain context, of clothes, footwear, fashion, life, makeup, haircut, and physique. The word itself implies a style defined by the fashion industry; what is trendy. What is fashionable is up to individual taste. What is trendy today may be deemed bumbling and ridiculous tomorrow. But such flexibility in terms of definitions renders fashion less of a discipline and more of an attitude, with its attendant impositions, implied limitations and aspirations. The fashion world is not much different from any other sphere of human activity in that the people who make it up are interested in making something that stands out from the rest, that requires an audience, that makes them seem cool, a little ahead of the curve, etc., and that they will go to great lengths, often quite absurdly, to do so.

There are many talented people in the world who, for very good reasons, have chosen to pursue careers as fashion designers. It is a highly creative and demanding field, with very rigorous deadlines and expectations. It requires creativity, speed, attention to detail, a sense of humor, and an uncommon gift for figuring out how to get something fashionable and still fairly affordable. It is also very hard work. There are some exceptionally skilled designers who earn a very good living working only part time from their homes.

The fashion industry itself has specific design schools, known as mba schools, that train young people on the technical aspects of the clothing business. Many graduates of these schools, especially those who go on to become professional designers, have a strong desire to educate themselves on the principles of marketing and design, to learn about the history of fashion, and to understand the social and political influences upon fashion trends. Many designers find that the fashion industry provides them with an unusual number of opportunities to create not only physical products, but also social products such as clothing for charities or causes that appeal to a wide variety of tastes. In fact, some fashion designers find that the work environment is generally friendlier than the design one of many other professions.