The Fashion Designer Profession

The Fashion Designer profession has recently emerged as one of the most sorts out careers among the youths. These youths have their own creative style of dressing and believe in setting a trend rather than following a trend set by others. A career in Fashion Design not only involves meeting glamorous people and interacting with rich and famous but also gives an impetus to the creative flair of the people who possess a sense of style. The major functional areas in the industry are designing garments, cutting the cloth, sewing the pieces together and finally merchandising. Popularizing and marketing of the various styles and products is done through ramp shows and fashion write-ups.

The job of a fashion designer is a high profile one and exciting indeed. But another aspect of this profession is a lot of hard work that is needed to be able to reach the top of this line and stay there. It is certainly not as easy as it sounds.

Fashion is a term commonly used in relation to clothes, dresses, garments, textiles, etc. There is an increase in quality textiles and materials for the fashion designers to work with. Fashion is identified today with status, acceptance and it almost implies social involvement.

Bangladesh has recently come to the focus. Along with the world demand, the local market is also altering itself to rapid changes in fashion trends. Bangladesh’s largest sector Garments/Textiles is recently looking for Fashion Designers and Highly skilled technical Personnel.

Fashion Designer creates designs for almost anything, which is part of the garment of men, women, and children. Designers understanding the needs of their clients create attractive and functional garments and accessories according to the latest trends, market conditions, weather and also keeping a close watch on the fit, style, color, texture, size and material. The process of making a dress starts with the sketching the original idea on paper. Then shaping the pattern pieces, which make the garment. The pieces are then drawn in actual size on paper and cut out on a rough material. These pieces are stitched together and fitted on a model. From the rough model sample garments are made in the final fabric. Much time of the designer is spent in exploration and research. Knowledge about fabric, weave, draping qualities, material, color and design and the changing trend is important. You could have your own label or start work as a part of a team for a designer with his / her own label.

As an Assistant Designer, you would be required to co-ordinate the activities of the tailors, master cutters and embroiderers. This also includes responsibility for the dyeing of yarn, handling of trims and buttons and cutting and sewing of the samples. Along with the work related to the clothes you would also have to do a lot of market research and work on the design ideas simultaneously.

To become a successful fashion designer, you should know about the latest trends and tastes in this field. This field is highly competitive and you need to be not just talented, but also very determined, ambitious and hardworking with a good business sense. Communication skills are important to be able to put across ideas and concepts clearly for the workers as well as the clients. A good hand at sketching can be helpful. In the long run, to make it on your own, you should have knowledge of colors, styles, shapes and the various types of fabrics. A well-groomed and attractive personality is also important.

The main area of work in the fashion industry is:

1.Design Department: Manufacturing units’ work on a large scale. They employ designers, cutting assistants, sketching assistants, and junior designers. Cutting assistants have to cut samples as per specifications of the designer. This is followed by draping and garment construction. Sketching assistants make the technical sketches of the garment, which are passed on, to cutting assistants. From the making of specification drawings decide how a garment has to be fabricated to the selection of fabrics is often the duty of the sketching assistant. Junior designers generally do the first pattern cutting. They assemble the first samples with fabrics they have selected from the market.

1.Marketing and Merchandising: Fashion trends are constantly changing; the people in the merchandising and marketing have a good knowledge of fashion trends, of sales data and the organizations marketing objectives. Based on this information the marketing department plans the company’s overall direction. It determines the price, product requirement, and hence they often work with the styling department when a new product id conceived.

2.Manufacturing department: The production manager is at the head of the manufacturing unit. He is responsible for scheduling work goals, training of workers, managing all activities in order to maintain quality in production. The Production manager oversees the work of pattern cutting – from pattern grading, spreading and marking to cutting, assembling and finishing. With the production manager are the production assistants who supervise the work at each stage.

3.Fashion coordinators: They coordinate with the buyer and the production manager. The fashion coordinator makes sure production schedules are kept, meets buyers goes through specification for fabrics, colors, designs, and keeps an eye on the quality. When buyers give their own designs, the coordinator helps decide the fabric colours and accessories that should be used to suit the designs. They explain the design to the production pattern makers and get sample pieces made. The sample is draped on a dummy to see if some changes in details or style are required. Once the sample is finalized, its pieces are measured precisely. It is the coordinator who suggests how the cloth should be cut so as to minimize wastage. The garment is then finally presented for sale.

There are opportunities for work with the various sectors dealing with fashion. The opportunities for job exist in the following sectors:

a.Export houses dealing with garment/textile/handloom exports.

b.Retail and wholesale garment businesses in men’s/women’s/children clothing in sportswear /casual wear, etc.

d.Government/Semi government-handloom/textile manufacturers

e.Fashion show organizers/Fashion publishers

f.TV/Film fashion programme producers/costume designers, etc.

g.Choreographer for fashion shows or become a fashion writer with one of the fashion publications.

Fashion Design Institutes in Bangladesh

To be a full pledged professional designer you have to knock the door of some of the Fashion Design Institutes of the country. A good institute will ensure that along with the requisite theoretical inputs, you also get adequate practical exposure to the entire gamut of processes right from formation of textiles and fabric to the most elaborate design elements.

Recently several Institutes have started giving training of several kinds, like Merchandising, Knitwear Design & Technology, Apparel Manufacturing, Marketing and Merchandizing.

These Institutes are using world standard curriculum and methodology to build up sharp designers in the demanding Garments & Textile Sector home and abroad.

Persons already working in the Garments/Textile Sector/Buying House/RMG Factories can attend these courses to develop their career. Fresher also, to become an expert in the Sector can attend these courses.

NIFD, the premier fashion & textile design training institute renowned in India, has also started its activities in Dhaka in January 2002. The NIFD center in Dhaka will cater the students in an exciting environment of learning from an expert faculty in scientifically designed labs and studios with a course that is not just restricted to books, syllabus and exams but also includes field trips, variety of fashion show programs, exhibitions, and industry interaction. NIFD is promoting its commitment to fashion that has been widely acknowledged by professionals, business and media alike.

NIFD (National Institute Of Fashion Design) is a trend setting institute known as “The Cradle of Designers” among the glamour world. It is for those who dream of joining the fascinating fashionable world, and for those who wish to become fashionable themselves. One will learn the basics of fashion and train to develop his/her own spirit of a designer, with a view of the world and the designer collection. Fashion design course prepares you for careers in merchandising fashion, coordination, client servicing, marketing and many more fields. NIFD promises to make its students real professionals having an integrated personality. Besides, you will learn how to make yourself known and to make a living. At NIFD, you will learn not just the art of design, but also the art of being a professional.

The programs being offered by NIFD are outlined below:

·Apparel Manufacturing, Marketing and Merchandizing

·Pattern Making & Drafting/Construction

BGMEA INSTITUTE OF FASHION & TECHNOLOGY

The ready-made garments (RMG) sector in Bangladesh is an important sector of the nation’s economy that gives employment to about 1.5 million workers and earns about 76% of total foreign exchange. Considering the vital contribution of the garment industry, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association (BGMEA) has set up the BGMEA Institute of Fashion & Technology (BIFT). The aim is to offer continuous training for existing employees and to prepare dynamic young people prepared to address the challenges of 2004 and beyond with professionalism and creativity.

The main objective of BIFT is to help the students understand the intricacies and the relationships of fashion design and clothing technology within the garment sector. Through professional programs of education, research, service training and the provision of technical assistance to manufacturers, designers and exporters of fashion products this objective is met. BIFT is a forward looking. Dynamic center of academic excellence that provides extensive education to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The provision of improved social conditions, the increase in design and product development and a global perspective will enable the industry to survive and grow in preparation for the changes of 2004.

BIFT has been offering 4 years Undergraduate courses, also several Certificate courses of 6 months duration. The certificates courses are suitable for Garments/Buying House professionals who want to enhance their career. Undergraduate course is suitable for Fresher who has an aim to target the Apparel Industry.

As we conclude that Fashion Designing profession, has recently emerged as one of the most sorts out careers among the youths. Bangladesh has recently come to the focus and along with the world demand; the local market is also altering itself to rapid changes in fashion trends. This has turned out to be a very good opportunity for the youths of the country who are interested in fashion designing. With the passage of time the importance of the profession has been rising and will be elevated to a respectful profession in the near future.

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