Fashion Design Career Outlook

Over the past twenty years the fashion industry has seen explosive growth as fashion trends have become a main priority for consumers. Since the advent of the Internet and advanced software, the fashion design career has become much more technical than in years past. Having access to global markets to find suppliers as well as increased competition via the Internet have also brought about the need for an entire new skill set for those considering a career in fashion design. 

The fashion designer’s main responsibility is to assist with the design and creation of fashion apparel and accessories. Designers not only help create clothes, but also design footwear, hand bags, belts, scarves, jewelry, eyewear, and hats. Once just marketed for women, the accessory business has exploded among the male demographic of 18-40 causing a need for talented designers who can create accessories for men. Other fashion design niches include costumes, sports uniforms, industry and trade uniforms, mass market designs, and high-fashion designs.
 
Some design professionals specialize in one particular area while others design clothing and accessories. The entire process from concept to production is lengthy and may take as long as two years. Fashion designers at smaller firms tend to be more involved during the entire process than those who work for large companies. A designer at a small firm may create fashion forecasting reports, design the clothing, attend fashion trade shows, assist with tailoring and sewing, and help with marketing. A designer at a large firm might only assist with the conceptual design of the product before it is delegated out to another department. 
 
The work environment for fashion designers also varies by size of business. Designers working in large firms tend to work regular business hours while designers working for a small business, or who may own their own business, tend to work longer hours. Travel can be a large part of the job as many designers attend fashion industry trade shows to meet with material suppliers and manufacturers. 
 
To become a fashion designer, an education between two and four years is typically required. There are several hundred colleges that offer degrees in fashion design and fashion management. It is becoming more common to combine a creative fashion design degree with a practical degree in business management or marketing. Many fashion schools and colleges are creating degrees with a blended curriculum that includes design and business courses. 
 
The typical graduate with a fashion design degree can expect to receive an entry-level job as an assistant. Typical entry-level jobs include fashion assistant, patternmaker, or sketch assistant. Students with solid computer-aided drafting skills may obtain higher-level positions because of their technical acumen. Many graduates also choose to start their own fashion design business rather than working for design firms.
 
The projected growth of fashion design jobs is expected to be fairly flat through 2018. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were 22,700 fashion design jobs in 2008 with an expected growth rate of one percent through 2018. Although the demand for fashion apparel and accessories is growing, there is a lot of competition for jobs as many people are attracted to the industry because of its creativity and glamour. Another reason for the slow growth is that many jobs that used to be done in the United States are now being outsourced to foreign countries because of cheaper labor costs. The number of expected new jobs in the fashion design industry is expected to increase by 200, for a total of 22,900 jobs in the year 2018. The majority of those jobs will be in design firms that market clothing sold to department stores and retail stores who cater to middle-income consumers who are looking for affordable and stylish apparel.