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