In India, there is a good scope of growth in fashion designer jobs because of the significant growth of India’s fashion industry, apparel industry, including a tremendous growth of the media and entertainment industry. Fashion designers jobs are available in apparel companies, wholesale or manufacturing establishments, theater and media companies, film industry, retailers, and in design firms. Fashion designers can also start on their own their own design firm as a business, and offer services to selected clients.

What are different fashion designer jobs?

Fashion designing is a vast course and it covers various specializations. Depending on the specialization, there are different types of fashion designer jobs like as follows:

• Apparel designer
• Fabric designer
• Home furnishings designer
• Jewelry designer
• Footwear designer
• Costume designer
• Accessories designer
• Merchandiser
• Home furnishings designer
• Packing designer
• Quality controller
• Lecturer/Professor/Trainer in fashion design etc.

Basically, a fashion designer is involved in creating and sketching designs for clothes, home furnishings, accessories, footwear etc. He or she is also involved in merchandising jobs related to sourcing or selecting fabrics and other accessories, overseeing the production process. Fashion designers can also be involved in quality checks of final products and quality of raw materials. Those who are interested in academics can join fashion institutes as lecturers or professors to teach the subject.

Eligibility criteria to be in fashion designer jobs

Almost all organizations in India prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor’s degree or higher in fashion designing or fashion merchandising. Candidates can also opt for diploma courses in fashion designing from recognized vocational institutes of the country to apply for fashion designer jobs. Big fashion houses prefer to take candidates passing out from reputed institutes like as National Institute of Fashion Technology, Indian Institute of Fashion Design, JD Institute of Fashion Technology, Pearl Academy, and so on. Employers usually look for candidates who have both design and technical skills so they can not only design but also get involved in the production process of apparel, footwear, accessories etc.

It is advisable for Freshers to work as an intern with a senior fashion designer so as to develop the designing skills practically before applying for full-time fashion designer jobs in companies.

Skills requirement to do well in fashion designer jobs

Not all are meant to be fashion designers even if they have the requisite qualification. Such jobs require a whole lot of creativity and innovation. Aspirants should have an interest in styles, colors, patterns, designs, shapes and sizes. They should have good creativity skills to come up with innovative designs. They should have an apt for drawing as they have to sketch the designs first. Skills such as pattern-cutting and sewing, ability to spot trends are very essential. Team work, interpersonal skills, communication skills, problem solving, technical ability are all essential skills to do well in fashion designer jobs. There is strong competition for fashion designer jobs in this big fashion industry of the country. So, net working is very essential to connect with the right person.

A portfolio is very essential in fashion designer jobs

To apply for fashion designer jobs, a CV or a resume giving your bio and work experience is not enough. Big employers look for actual stuff related to your work. So, when you go for interviews, make sure that you have a proper portfolio of your work to present before your employer or recruiter. Your portfolio should have designs, mood boards, technical drawings, pictures of your designs in actual garments, and so on.

Where are Fashion designer jobs available?

Fashion designers mainly have these career options:

• Domestic Retail industry: For example, Pantaloons, Max, Reliance Trends, Shoppers Stop etc.
• Export houses: Wide demand for fashion designers in the export houses to design clothes and other stuff, which are exported worldwide, under the buyer’s banner.
• Fashion houses: You can also apply for fashion designer jobs with fashion houses which work for international and national brands, and design clothes which are branded under the brand’s banner,
• Top level designers/design firms: Freshers or Junior fashion designers are hired by popular/senior level designers to work under them, and develop couture & custom made high end apparels under their guidance.
• Fashion stylist, blogger, fashion journalism are other career options in fashion designer jobs. Last but not the least, you can start your own designer label.