Also known as clothing or fashion designers, Apparel designers conceptualize and create items of clothing. They often specialize in one type of designing line or category such as casual, evening or active wear. Graduates of this discipline can seek work in broad areas of the Apparel Industry which include Ready to Wear, Specialized Fashion, Active Sports-Wear, Functional Clothing, Design Education, etc.
Apparel Design at a Glance
- The concept of ‘fashion/apparel designing’ has extended to other things such as fashion accessories including jewellery, bags, footwear, etc
- Fashion designers who mostly had to be self-employed earlier, now find a number of career opportunities like:
- Working with garment firms and export houses
- Engaging in the job of remodeling haute couture and adapting them to the tastes of the mass markets
- Holding jobs in departmental stores or specialty stores
A number of apparel designers are self- employed and they often :
- Create custom clothing and may work unusual hours to meet clients’ needs
- Travel to visit manufacturers
- Attend trade or fashion shows to gain artistic inspiration
- Study fashion trends
- Sketch designs, select materials, and have a part in all the production aspects of their designs
Aspirants should possess the following skills and qualities in order to be eligible for pursuing a career in Apparel designing :
- Creativity
- A talent for choosing colors, forms and patterns that appeal to consumers
- Business acumen
- Oral and written communication
Personalities to Follow :
- Giorgio Armani
- Masaba Gupta
- Valentino Garavani
- Alexander Mcqueen
- Manish Malhotra
Associations to Follow :
- Versace
- Chanel
- Zara
- Prada
- Burberry
Links to Follow :
- http://www.garancedore.fr/en/
- http://lepetitechomalade.com/
- http://fromme-toyou.tumblr.com/
- http://www.theblondesalad.com/
- http://www.garbagedress.com/
Following are the best companies/studios for Apparel designing in India :
- Armani
- Gucci
- Prada
- Fendi
- House of Versace
- Burberry
- Ralph Lauren
- Chanel
- Hermes
Apparel Designers are mostly employed by wholesale or manufacturing outlets, where garments are typically created for mass production.
They can also work for:
- Apparel Companies
- Retailers
- Design Firms, and
- Theater Companies
