| Find out what you should look for when | | | | necessary technical and business skills |
| choosing a Fashion design school. | | | | involved, from sketching and pattern-making, |
| | | | sowing, design theory to the practicalities |
| There are many ways to get into a career in | | | | of accounting, retail, store merchandising, |
| fashion. Gianfranco Ferrer, who recently left | | | | marketing and management.: |
| us and was best known as the creative | | | | |
| director of Christian Dior from 1989 on, | | | | Getting a job in the fashion industry is no |
| studied architecture instead of art. He then | | | | easy business, but do not be discouraged - |
| turned to fashion design, launching his own | | | | prospective employers are looking for |
| label in 1978. | | | | commitment, enthusiasm and a solid foundation |
| | | | in terms of training. Only the determined |
| For most of us mortals, however, going to | | | | will make it in such a highly competitive |
| design school will be a necessary and | | | | field. To optimize your chances of getting |
| pleasurable way of stepping into a career in | | | | on, follow our tips below: Connections are |
| fashion. There are more openings than ever | | | | everything. Employers like recommendations |
| before in this exciting field. Fashion | | | | and it is up to 60% likely that you will be |
| awareness has grown enormously in recent | | | | offered a job because a friend or |
| years and people are becoming more | | | | acquaintance has passed on your résumé. |
| brand-conscious. Many fashion design schools | | | | Bosses from way back, former colleagues, |
| offer degrees in fashion design, marketing, | | | | neighbors, your hairdresser or bank manager |
| and merchandising, to give you the necessary | | | | - Networking is where it's at. So send out |
| leverage launch the career of your choice. | | | | those mails, letting everyone know you are |
| For a strong foundation in both traditional | | | | looking for a post. If you do not currently |
| and high-tech approaches, you could opt for | | | | have a job, you should be investing at least |
| any number of excellent schools. Fashion | | | | a full 40 hour working week in job hunting, |
| design school is like a little bit of history | | | | half of which you will be devoting to |
| repeating. You will find that there is | | | | networking. Follow up leads, make notes, call |
| nothing new under the sun - the most | | | | back, insist. There is no mystery - |
| abstruse-seeming designs are almost always | | | | perseverance will get you what you want. |
| borrowed from somewhere or other. The knack | | | | |
| is to come up with a new fashion or accessory | | | | There are a number of things you should watch |
| design based on a development of something | | | | out for when choosing a school: Look at their |
| with a historical perspective. | | | | statistics - how many of the ex-students went |
| | | | on to successfully embark on a fashion |
| Fashion is an expression of the times, so it | | | | career? The hub of the fashion design world |
| is important to keep up with the latest | | | | is in New York City and Los Angeles, so |
| trends in politics and art. Design school | | | | people tend to gravitate there - about two |
| courses will help you to explore these | | | | thirds of those working in the industry are |
| tendencies. | | | | established in these cities. A quarter are |
| | | | self-employed, while 35% are working under a |
| Design would be nothing these days without a | | | | corporate umbrella. Another quarter are |
| deep understanding of technological devices | | | | clothing wholesalers, while a mere 15% are |
| and tools - CAD is something you will need to | | | | clothing manufacturers. Competition in all |
| learn in depth. | | | | fields is fierce, so you will do well to |
| | | | enter the fashion school which will give you |
| Fashion design schools also teach the | | | | the best chances possible. |