Have you had a passion for clothing and accessories for as long as you can remember? Can you envision having your collections sold in boutiques and retailers around the world? If you can say yes to these questions, then you might have what it takes to be a fashion designer. However, this career is not exclusively glamorous. There are some aspects of being a fashion designer that you may not be aware of. So, what are some of these things? Let’s find out together…
Five things every fashion designer should know are:
- You will need to possess some artistic skills and creativity.
- Your communication skills need to be top-notch.
- You must be able to sew.
- You have to display an in-depth understanding of fabrics and materials.
- You are going to have to pay your dues.
The fashion industry is full of surprises. Perhaps the biggest mistake that most people make when deciding to pursue a career as a fashion designer is that they enter this industry blindly, without making themselves aware of the many aspects of fashion. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at each of the five things that every fashion designer should know before entering the industry. Let’s read along to see how many of these aspects you were aware of, and how many of them manage to surprise you.
Artistic Skills and Creativity

Okay, if you want to be a fashion designer, let’s start with the most basic thing you will need to know to succeed in this industry. You will have to be highly creative and display some artistic skills if you want to design clothes for a living. Being a fashion designer will require you to be able to create clothing designs that nobody has ever seen before, as well as coordinate entire outfits for fashion shows and displays. You may also have to improvise and make adjustments to designs on the fly. These things would be fairly difficult if you did not have a high level of creativity.
While creativity is a must in the clothing business, you will also need to be able to put the designs that are in your head down on paper. Of course, this is where having at least an intermediate level of artistic ability will come into play. Working as a fashion designer will require you to make sketches of your designs. While this is usually done with a basic pencil and paper drawing, it would not be possible if you didn’t have any artistic ability. After all, nobody else is going to be able to see your vision as well as you can.
Communication Skills
While having great communication skills are a necessary skill that you will need throughout the majority of your life, they are imperative if you want to succeed as a fashion designer. More than likely, you will be working with a design team if you are a fashion designer for a major brand. You will need to be able to communicate effectively with your team if you expect to meet deadlines and create new designs. Knowing how to motivate your design team is an overlooked aspect of communication that can pay big dividends in the fashion world.
Yet another area of your career in fashion where you will need to display good communication skills is in meetings. As a fashion designer, you and your team will have to meet with your supervisors regarding designs and deadlines. If you want retail stores and boutiques to buy your designs, you will also need to be able to hold meetings with these people. While being a fashion designer is largely about designing clothing, another facet of this career is being able to sell your designs. Without communication, you would not be able to accomplish this.
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Sewing Chops

Knowing how to sew is considered to be one of the fundamentals of fashion design. Although having this skill is not considered to be a necessity, it can benefit fashion designers in several ways. First and foremost, being able to sew will give you better insight into how different materials work together in a design, which will benefit you when you are trying to decide which materials to use. However, we will dive deeper into this aspect in the next section.
Many people believe that becoming a fashion designer requires much more of you than simply being creative and knowing how to draw. There is a popular opinion that learning to sew will help you to become a better fashion designer, and here’s why. These individuals believe that there are several basic skills that you learn as part of building the foundation to be a great fashion designer, and sewing is one of these skills. Being able to sew will also help fashion designers to a clearer picture of how the final design will look, which can save you time and material.
Understanding Fabrics and Materials
As I briefly mentioned in the last section, you will need to have a clear understanding of fabrics and materials if you want a career in fashion design. When you are designing an outfit, you will need to understand which fabrics work together, as well as which ones will be the best fit for your design. For example, if you were in charge of designing athletic wear for Nike, they would expect you to know that you should use lightweight materials instead of heavy fabrics.
Understanding fabrics and materials is more than simply knowing how different materials will work together in a design. While the way the various fabrics look and function together is important, understanding how they are sourced will benefit you when it comes to deciding which materials to purchase to complete your design. This will help you to get a much better understanding of how much you will pay for your materials, which may help you in deciding which ones to use.
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Pay Your Dues

One of the most surprising elements of the fashion industry that most people entering the industry are not aware of is that you are going to have to pay your dues before becoming a famous fashion designer. Let’s face it. Chances are that you will not be handed the reins to a famous fashion brand as soon as you finish design school. I want you to think of practically any famous fashion designer you can imagine. Most of them had to start from the bottom and work their way up the proverbial ladder to the top of their trade.
If you were wondering how they managed to accomplish this feat, please allow me to elaborate. One of the smartest moves you can make while you are in school is to seek out a mentor. Not only can they teach you the ropes of the industry, but they can also help you to land a job once you finish school. Upon graduating from design school, you will probably have to accept entry-level positions in the fashion industry before you can become a designer. A few of these jobs include interns, design assistants, editorial assistants, marketing and social media assistant, and personal assistant.
Conclusion
Although there are many intricacies in the world of fashion that you should know if you are going to be a fashion designer, there are five aspects of working in the fashion industry that everybody should know before deciding on a career in it. First, you are going to need to be a creative person who has at least an intermediate level of artistic ability. Next, you will need to be able to communicate with your design team and your supervisors, as well as prospective buyers and retailers who will be carrying your merchandise.
Knowing how to sew and having a working understanding of fabrics or two essential skills that you will need in the fashion industry. This combination will make you a better designer because it will give you a better understanding of how various fabrics work together and how the final product will look. Finally, you need to be prepared to pay your dues if your goal is to become a fashion designer. You may have to start from the bottom, but with a little hard work, you can make it to the top of the ladder in no time.
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Related Questions
What are the most popular fabrics in fashion design?
Perhaps one of the most fascinating aspects of fashion design is that you have a choice in which materials you use to complete your design. With that said, the most popular fabrics and materials used in fashion design today include velvet, crepe, denim, chiffon, and linen. Of course, classics such as polar fleece, tweed, and flannel are always in style.
What sewing techniques are essential in fashion design?
Knowing how to sew is one of the five industrial arts, and is considered to be the basic foundation of fashion design. Some of the sewing techniques that are essential to fashion design include pressing, staystitching, clipping corners and curves, seam finishes, and hems.
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Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.

Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Fashion Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a designer or boutique owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Fashion Business Boss: I want to help fashion business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.