It’s secure to say that not all people could be the subsequent Jimmy Choo or Donatella Versace – and never all people desires to be. Whereas some trend careers are extra well-known than others, thanks partly to their glamorous portrayal within the media, the style trade covers an enormous vary of a jobs. There could even be some roles you haven’t thought-about earlier than.
It might be inconceivable to checklist each job obtainable within the trend trade, however listed below are among the most typical profession paths.
Clothier
You would specialize in an space equivalent to childrenswear, footwear, purses, lingerie, menswear, sportswear or womenswear. You’ll normally begin off as a trend design assistant and progress to dressmaker and design director. You would even begin your personal trend line.
You would work for top avenue shops, unbiased labels or a design studio – which is perhaps in-house (eg for a retailer) or specialist.
A associated diploma, HND or basis diploma is often wanted to get began in trend design. You would examine, for example, trend enterprise, artwork and design, graphic design or trend and trend design.
- To enhance your possibilities of securing your first function as a dressmaker uncover suggestions from a John Lewis dressmaker .
Garment technologist
You’ll be answerable for selecting and testing materials, guaranteeing the design could be made inside price range, overseeing garment development strategies and finishing up the standard management of merchandise to examine for faults. You might also make manufacturing processes extra environment friendly and/or sustainable.
You’re prone to work for manufacturing and retail employers within the trend trade as a garment technologist. Nevertheless, you might additionally work for corporations that produce technical textiles – equivalent to spacesuits or garments for firefighters.
A associated diploma (eg in garment know-how and manufacturing) is the standard route into this job function, though you would possibly be capable to achieve the required expertise and data by one other sort of qualification – equivalent to a sophisticated apprenticeship.
Textile designer
Usually employed by trend designers, you’ll create the 2D patterns for his or her designs. Textile designers are extremely technical and possess in-depth data concerning the manufacturing of textiles, together with kinds of material and yarns, color, dyeing, weaving, embroidery and printing strategies.
Textile designers could be self-employed or work as a part of a design staff – equivalent to for a clothes model or retailer.
Associated levels, equivalent to artwork and design, trend and textiles, ought to allow you to enter this trade. You would additionally take a textiles-specific diploma (eg printed textiles) – significantly in the event you’re sure concerning the form of work you need to do. A HND in trend design and/or textile design is an alternate route.
Vogue illustrator
You’ll work intently with trend designers to debate their necessities and create conceptual sketches and illustrations of their merchandise. This might contain utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) software program, portray and/or free-hand sketching.
Many trend illustrators work on a self-employed foundation. You would additionally work for a design studio or retailer.
Sure levels, equivalent to graphic design and illustration, can assist you to construct up your expertise and portfolio for this function. Nevertheless, this isn’t required: proof of your aptitude for illustration and creativity (equivalent to by a portfolio) is often regarded by employers as extra essential than levels/diploma topic.
Sample cutter/grader
You’ll work with designers and garment technologists to create sample templates based mostly on the drawings given to you. Your job will contain utilizing dummies to create and refine patterns, working with machinists to create samples and utilizing computer-aided design (CAD) applications.
You would work for a clothes model or producer.
You do not want a selected diploma to develop into a sample cutter, though a fashion-related qualification might stand you in good stead. You would work your means up – eg from an entry-level sample slicing assistant function.
Stylist
You’ll put collectively visually interesting outfits (assume garments, equipment and props) that match the inventive imaginative and prescient set out for you, whether or not it’s for a catwalk present, picture shoot, commercial, TV present, film, live performance or music video.
You would work for a lot of typed of employers, together with picture manufacturing groups, giant retailers, magazines and musicians.
As sensible and artistic expertise are sometimes considered as extra essential than tutorial {qualifications} by recruiters on this trade, you do not want a selected qualification. In case you’d prefer to, nevertheless, you might achieve experience by a level equivalent to trend communication and styling or trend styling and manufacturing.
Private stylist/private shopper
One for a fashionista who desires to advise people on their private model. You would work for a retailer, serving to most of the people, or you might work for the celebrities, serving to celebrities look their greatest on and off the crimson carpet.
You gained’t sometimes want a qualification to enter these careers, though there are related ones obtainable (eg private styling diplomas) that would assist you to face out to recruiters. Customer support expertise are essential for private styling and procuring, so any work expertise demonstrating these will probably be priceless.
Vogue purchaser
Combining trend with enterprise, you’ll be the brains behind which merchandise a retailer sells. You’ll have to anticipate which traits are going to explode months upfront, whereas additionally contemplating elements such because the model aesthetic, buyer shopping for habits, high quality and price range.
Vogue patrons sometimes work for retailers – equivalent to clothes retailers (each on-line and excessive avenue) and supermarkets.
It is a profession open to graduates of all diploma disciplines (and doubtlessly different {qualifications} – equivalent to HNDs – for these with enough related expertise). A level in retail or enterprise may very well be a robust place to begin, nevertheless.
- Discover out what a place as a retail purchaser (together with, however not restricted to, trend retail) entails.
Vogue merchandiser
You’ll work intently with patrons to make sure the correct amount of inventory is distributed to the proper shops on the proper time. You might also be concerned in coordinating gross sales and promotional affords. A head for numbers will assist with the important forecasting and monitoring of gross sales.
As with trend patrons, trend merchandisers are most certainly to be employed by retailers.
Though graduates of all diploma {qualifications} (and doubtlessly different {qualifications} – for these with enough related expertise) might get began on this profession, topics that may offer you a head-start embody enterprise, advertising and retail administration.
- Uncover the function of a retail merchandiser .
Visible merchandiser
Working for a retailer, you will be responsible of tempting folks to stroll into shops and half methods with their cash – just by designing retailer layouts which can be as irresistible as doable, from eye-catching window shows to envy-inducing mannequins.
A level isn’t a requirement for this profession – you might enter it by beginning on the store ground (eg as a gross sales assistant). Nevertheless, inventive levels are prone to be seemed upon favourably by some employers.
- Discover out extra about visible merchandising .
Vogue author
You would work for a newspaper, print journal or web site, writing articles on completely something fashion-related, from stay protection of trend weeks to a high ten checklist of Kate Middleton’s greatest trend moments. You’ll normally begin off in an entry-level function, equivalent to editorial assistant.
Expertise and proof of your work (eg by a portfolio) are extra essential than particular {qualifications} for this profession. Nevertheless, gaining a associated qualification (eg a diploma from the Nationwide Council for the Coaching of Journalists or a level associated to trend) might enhance your data and writing expertise.
Graphic designer
You’ll spend your time creating look books, journal spreads, advertising supplies, bespoke packaging, web sites and social media content material. You might also design graphics to function on clothes or equipment (generally referred to as a print designer).
You would work for businesses specialising in promoting design, magazines, publishers, native authorities, academic establishments and video games corporations – to call a number of.
When you might be able to begin out on this profession with no associated qualification, profession development will probably be tough with out formal coaching. So, gaining a associated diploma or HND (eg in graphic design, visible artwork or 3D design) is advisable.
- Discover out extra concerning the function of graphic designer .
Vogue photographer/filmmaker
You’ll most likely work as a freelancer (though you might work for a trend retailer or model), assembly designers, arising with ideas for shoots, organising tools and lighting on set, directing fashions and selecting/enhancing the perfect photos or movies. Relying on every job, you might end up in a studio or on location anyplace on the planet.
A particular qualification isn’t required to develop into a trend photographer/filmmaker, though a level intently associated to images might assist you to achieve expertise and up-to-date data that may assist you to ascertain your profession.
Vogue blogger/vlogger
You may make trend running a blog your job. You’ll cowl plenty of areas: writing, images/filming, web site design, modelling/styling, social media, advert gross sales and public relations. In addition to planning and creating your content material, you’ll want to seek out methods to achieve followers and make your weblog/vlog worthwhile.
You’ll most likely work as a freelancer and gained’t want a selected qualification for this function, though any course/qualification that gives you with data of the style trade, the chance to hone your writing expertise or running a blog recommendation is perhaps helpful.
Mannequin
When you have the proper look, you might make a profession out of it. There are several types of fashions, together with: trend (editorial) fashions, runway fashions, industrial fashions (who function in catalogues, adverts, billboards, web sites and social media), health fashions or swimsuit and lingerie fashions.
You would work for an company or on a contract foundation.
A particular qualification isn’t required to start your profession in modelling. Sturdy portfolios of images/movies and networks of contacts are extra essential.
Vogue advertising and PR
Your job will probably be to interact extra clients and enhance model consciousness, for instance by planning advertising campaigns, writing press releases, managing social media accounts and placing on occasions/reveals. You would work for one model or for an company that works for a number of purchasers.
You gained’t want a selected qualification to be in with an opportunity of gaining a job in trend advertising and PR, though this might assist to set you other than the competitors. It’s doubtless that levels or {qualifications} associated to advertising, communication or trend will probably be regarded extremely.
- Uncover part-time jobs and actions that offers you advertising and PR expertise .
Development forecaster
You’ll determine new traits and predict which traits are going out of trend. For instance, you would possibly examine what’s sizzling and what’s not by way of colors, patterns, silhouettes and materials – after which report these findings to retailers to assist them transfer in the proper path.
You would work for a development forecasting company, or one other firm specialising in gaining and offering different corporations with knowledge and knowledge.
You don’t want a selected qualification to develop into a development forecaster, however one which builds up expertise in knowledge evaluation and analysis might enhance your enchantment to recruiters.
- Our article on the traits within the trend trade is a superb place to start your analysis in the direction of a place as a development forecaster.
Ecommerce supervisor
You’ll answerable for managing a model’s on-line gross sales. Your focus will probably be on changing guests to the web site to gross sales and it’s possible you’ll oversee the design and improvement of the web site, on-line advertising, web site safety, visitors analytics and search engine optimisation (web optimization).
It’s doubtless that you simply’ll work for a retailer, both one which trades on-line and in retailer or an online-only firm.
You gained’t want a level to get began in ecommerce (eg as an ecommerce assistant), permitting you to progress to the place of ecommerce supervisor. Nevertheless, some employers would like candidates with a level, and topics associated to IT, enterprise or retail may very well be significantly related.
- Uncover extra about working in retail ecommerce, together with the distinction between specialising on this and know-how, by studying this text .
Boutique proprietor
One for budding entrepreneurs, you’ll be answerable for all elements of your store, from shopping for (or designing!) your inventory, creating a web site and social media accounts and deciding on the shop structure, to aiding clients, coaching new employees and dealing with the admin and funds.
You’ll be self-employed and gained’t want any particular {qualifications}, though any associated to enterprise or trend might enhance your understanding – making it extra doubtless that you simply create a profitable enterprise.
- If that is the profession for you, uncover how one can be an entrepreneur if you graduate .
Wardrobe assistant
You’ll specialize in both theatre, movie or TV and also you’ll assist to make, discover and take care of the garments wanted for the manufacturing. Day-to-day, you is perhaps sourcing garments and equipment for various characters, becoming costumes for performers, and cleansing, mending and altering the garments.
You would work for quite a lot of employers, equivalent to leisure corporations, theatres and manufacturing corporations. You would additionally work on a contract foundation.
Though you don’t want any explicit {qualifications} to be eligible for this place, a level equivalent to trend, textiles and costume design might assist you display your expertise and enthusiasm.
Costume designer
It’s possible you’ll tackle among the similar sensible duties as a wardrobe assistant (see above), however you’ll be the one who creates the outfits the viewers will see. You’ll want to review the script, sketch costume designs and analysis kinds and materials earlier than discussing your concepts and instructing others.
Identical to wardrobe assistants, you is perhaps employed by an leisure or manufacturing firm, or a theatre.
A level in costume design or a associated topic could also be most popular or required by employers, however this isn’t the case throughout the board. You’ll be able to enter this profession with out particular {qualifications}.
Make-up artist/hair stylist
An ideal outfit isn’t full with out the hair and make-up to match. You’ll be working exhausting behind the scenes to create a glance that matches the imaginative and prescient of the model – and to make sure that the fashions look precisely as deliberate (usually on the final minute).
You would work for a lot of completely different employers, and your alternative may very well be guided by the form of make-up you specialize in. As an example, you would possibly work for manufacturing corporations, theatres or TV channels.
Whereas {qualifications} haven’t historically been as essential on this trade as proof of sensible expertise, extra make-up artists and hairstylists are finding out for {qualifications} equivalent to levels or HNDs in – as one instance – media and theatrical make-up.
Studio supervisor
You’ll work for a trend home and oversee its studio, coordinating the sample cutters, machinists and garment technologists. You’ll be certain that the work is progressing as deliberate, the deadlines are met, the price range is caught to and patterns are made to the proper customary.
You would begin out ready equivalent to studio assistant and work your means up. Any qualification associated to trend is prone to stand you in good stead for this profession, too.
Retail supervisor
Each trend retailer with bodily shops wants managers. It’s possible you’ll effectively begin off as a gross sales assistant and work your means as much as administration. Engaged on the store ground, you’ll guarantee the shop is run efficiently – each by way of glorious customer support and monetary efficiency.
You would work your means as much as this function, or be a part of a graduate scheme with any diploma background. Levels in topics equivalent to retail advertising and enterprise retail administration might put you , however work expertise within the retail trade is extra essential.
- To seek out out extra about this job function, check out our retail supervisor job description .
Copywriter
You’ll normally discover jobs with retailers, writing all kinds of copy – from product descriptions and weblog posts to press releases, promotional emails and social media posts. You’ll be anticipated to jot down copy that completely captures the picture of the model you’re working for.
There aren’t any {qualifications} required to be a copywriter, however any that display your writing capacity and/or curiosity in trend might offer you a bonus.
Social media assistant
Focusing particularly on social media, your job will probably be to determine the perfect platforms to succeed in your audience on – from Fb and Instagram to Snapchat and TikTok – and create the perfect content material to generate a buzz round your model.
You would work for trend retailers or manufacturers.
You gained’t want any explicit diploma or different qualification to develop into a social media assistant. Evidenced aptitude for producing standard content material for social media channels and a flare for writing are each extra prone to be required.
Occasion supervisor
With loads of trend events and occasions to plan, this function could provide the likelihood to rub shoulders with trend’s elite. From discovering venues to promotion, your job will probably be to make sure that all people remembers your model’s occasions (for the proper causes).
You would work for a trend model, or doubtlessly a big and standard retailer (eg a flagship retailer).
Though work expertise is often extra helpful than {qualifications} on this line of labor (significantly after getting been within the profession for a while), associated levels could be helpful.
- For extra details about this function and what you’ll should be an occasion supervisor in any sector, check out this job description .
Instructor/lecturer
Go your trend data onto the subsequent era by changing into a design and know-how/textiles instructor at a secondary faculty or additional schooling faculty – or a lecturer for a trend division of a college. Loads of academics and lecturers achieve expertise in trade earlier than shifting into an educational setting.
You’ll have to observe the qualification course of to develop into a instructor or lecturer for this function. For secondary faculty instructing, for instance, you’ll want a level that mixes trend/textiles with instructing or a trend/textiles-related undergraduate diploma with a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificates in Training).
- Get an perception into the function of lecturer for greater schooling , additional schooling and grownup schooling .
- Uncover the function of a secondary faculty instructor , together with how one can qualify.
Additional analysis
All the above roles would, after all, profit from an up-to-date understanding of the style trade. If you wish to discover out extra concerning the completely different roles within the trend trade, it’s possible you’ll discover it useful to learn The Vogue Careers Guidebook by Julia Yates. It additionally consists of recommendation on work expertise, CVs, portfolios and look books, interviews and networking.
The most effective methods to achieve data concerning the trade is to achieve work expertise. Discover out extra concerning the sorts of expertise you might achieve, how one can go about making use of and the way it may gain advantage you by studying our article on trend internships and different work expertise .