Fashion
About The Fashion Industry
The fashion industry is truly a global industry, where fashion designers, manufacturers, merchandisers, and retailers work together from all parts of the world to design and sell clothing, shoes, accessories and other items. Fashion is a fast-paced, ever-changing, and competitive field to work in. If you have interest in influencing the exciting world of fashion, a degree in fashion design or merchandising would be a great way to jump start your career.
The process of creating a new fashion item can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months. This includes the time from which the piece is designed, to the time that it is ready for retail sale. Fashion designers often start this process by conducting research or consulting trend reports to determine which patterns, fabrics, materials, and design elements will be popular for the upcoming season. Some fashion designers will also visit trade shows to get ideas for new pieces. They will then turn their ideas into sketches and create prototypes that they will be able to show to potential buyers. Once fashion designers are happy with a prototype, they may choose to showcase their work at fashion shows. At these fashion shows, retailers will be able to purchase items to stock in their stores.
The fashion industry, however, is not made solely of designers. For every fashion designer, there needs to be a fashion merchandiser to promote the work of designers. While designers are creating new fashion items, merchandisers are busy buying, displaying, advertising, promoting and selling the pieces. Fashion merchandisers do not only need to have an excellent sense for style and trends, they also need be able to think analytically, have good communication skills, and be excellent business people.
It is very important for both fashion designers and merchandisers to have extensive knowledge of the fashion industry, so formal training is recommended.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition
