USA Career Guide- Fashion Designers

Education and Training needed to be Fashion Designer

Aspiring fashion designers should earn a 2-year or 4-year degree in a related field, such as fashion merchandising, to hone technical skills and to improve knowledge of textiles and fabrics.
Degree in fashion design is offered by approximately 300 postsecondary institutions accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design). To get job you should prepare a Portfolio which showcases innovative and new fashion ideas and is a part of curriculum. If you have participated in any contest during your studies include those designs in your portfolio too.
A fashion designer should undergo computer training- Computer aided design (CAD) software. CAD is being used increasingly in Fashion Design industry.
Advancement
In fashion designing companies you can advance your career with experience to- chief designer, creative designer or creative director. After gaining a good experience fashion designers generally open their own companies and boutiques. Many of them work as a personalized designer for selected clients. 

 Pay of Fashion Designers

In any occupation the salary depends on experience, company, educational qualification, knowledge. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, median annual wages in May 2010 were:

Fashion Designers -$64,530
Arts, Designs, Entertainment, Media, Sports Occupation -$42,870

Total, All Occupation-
$33,840

Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics


The wages of fashion designers in May 2010, employed in the industries employing most of the occupations were:-
Management of companies and enterprises - $70,660
Apparel Manufacturing - $65,790
Apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers – $63,750
Specialized design services - $60,900
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries - $44,130
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics

Job Prospects of Fashion Desingers

The facts and figures so produced by US government showcases the employment pattern of fashion industry and conclude that fashion industry will hardly see any change in this decade (2010 to 2020). The self employed fashion designers demand may increase in designing firms. More fashion designers may be required to create designs using new technologies for casual wears with the growing need of customers.
The statistics produced by US Bureau of Labor, reflects that self employed and freelancer may or may not earn more. Few successful business owners earn more than the salaried fashion designers.
Job prospects are the best for the designer show possess formal education, created a good portfolio and gained a good working experience.

Industrial Overview of Fashion Designers

Fashion designers held about 21,500 jobs in 2010. About 30 percent of fashion designers were self-employed in 2010.
Fashion designers are employed in wholesale or manufacturing establishments, apparel companies, retailers, theater or dance companies, and design firms. Most of the fashion designers work for wholesalers or manufacturers than for any other industry.
The requirements of the fashion designers are more in New York and California. According to the US BLS statistical figure, 75% of the fashion designers worked in New York & California.  


Industries that employed the most fashion designers in 2010:

Apparel, piece goods, and notions merchant wholesalers    29%
Apparel manufacturing    14
Management of companies and enterprises    7
Specialized design services    4
Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries    2

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition



 “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” – Antonie de Saint Exupacry

For more information about schools accredited by NASAD click here

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