Stability Of A Fashion Design Job (Is Fashion Design A Stable Job?)

When you’re looking to work in a creative field—and one that continues to be extremely public—it’s easy to question whether that sort of job is a stable one. How stable is a fashion design job, and can you make a decent living off of one?

Fashion design can be a stable job depending on what path you take in the fashion design industry. Working for a fashion house with an established salary can be hard to achieve, but is much more stable than working as a freelance fashion designer. 

So the stability of a fashion design job may vary, but how can you make your position more stable? What are the most stable jobs industry? Read on to find out more. 

Fashion Design: Stability vs. Income

Stability of a Fashion Design Job. (Is Fashion Design A Stable Job?)

There are many reasons why any job could be unstable, and the fashion design industry falls into that category. When it comes to creative positions, it can be very competitive, along with having high turnover rates based on success or failure. If you don’t provide the right amount of success, it’s easy to see your job on the chopping block. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says about 2,500 fashion designer jobs are projected on average annually. What does this mean? More and more fashion houses are looking for fashion designers—and competition will be strong. But it also means you’ll be working hard over more than forty hours per week. Depending on the time of year, you might have a fashion show to help put together, and that can lead to long hours in the office. While these jobs can be considered stable, you never know when they might fall through—but in most cases, it’s similar to the overall job market when it comes to layoffs or budget cuts. 

Some many consider “stability” and “income” to be the same thing. While it depends on your personal definition of what stable means, fashion design is also notorious for being lucrative—if you work hard and work your way up the ranks. So what makes it lucrative? There are a few reasons:

  • All people need fashion, creating a constant demand. Going into public means wearing some sort of clothing, which means you’re participating in the fashion industry, whether you realize it or not. This makes the demand constant and ever growing. 
  • People are always falling into different niches. Have you ever found a brand that completely fits into your personal style? That’s because it’s incredibly hard to both make money and stick with one specific niche, meaning businesses continue to fill those gaps. 
  • Fashion houses are always hiring. With the growing business, they’re constantly looking for more and more designers. 
  • Fashion design is creative and ever changing. While this fact can make the job outlook less stable, it does mean that if you leave one fashion house, you’re sure to find another with your level of experience and drive. 

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What can I do to make my position more stable as a fashion designer?

There are some steps you can take to make your position more stable and make your inclusion on any team worthwhile. Before you start looking for a new, more stable job, consider taking these steps to solidify your hold on the fashion design market. 

Stability of a Fashion Design Job. (Is Fashion Design A Stable Job?)
  • Get an advanced degree. While so many big names—think Michael Kors or CoCo Chanel—never had a fashion design degree, you don’t need one to break into the business. That being said, though, it’s definitely helpful for your success. If you’re looking to get into the fashion design business, a degree in fashion design or graphic design will help you in the long run. 
  • Increase your fashion skills. What does this mean? When you’re creating your own pieces and need to create your portfolio, start learning to sew in earnest. You need to have examples of your pieces, and to do that, you need to be able to show off your own vision. Improve on your sewing skills, pattern making, or even your actual graphic design skills to make yourself more marketable. 
  • Research your favorite brands and trends. Come to the table with more advanced knowledge of the industry and of the possible competitors. The more you know about the industry, the better, because you’ll understand not only what your fashion house wants to do, but what the others around you are doing—and you can get a leg up on their trends before they even begin.
  • Network. Talk to everyone. Make sure you make friends in any rank in a fashion house—you never know who you might influence or meet. Whether they’re another fashion designer or writer, a CEO or a mailroom clerk, you’re sure to find a reason that your relationship can both benefit you and them in the long run. 
  • Continue to develop soft skills. What are soft skills? They’re those personality traits that can be developed, but often come with who you are. The better you can communicate, the easier it is to remain in a stable job position. Bine g a strong leader, focusing on networking and working with others, creating a positive work environment, and having good organization skills are all things you should be able to do when working in the fashion industry. 

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Stable Jobs in the Fashion Industry

If you’re looking for something stable but still want to work in the fashion industry, there are options for you. 

Stability of a Fashion Design Job. (Is Fashion Design A Stable Job?)
  • Fashion and Lifestyle Bloggers. This is a growing career option for many individuals and can be much more stable than working as a fashion designer. You can seek employment with a fashion magazine or website, or you can freelance with others, or even run your own. You may not be designing your own fashion with this job, but you will be able to write about other trends and designers along with adding your own personal flair and opinion. 
  • Marketing and social media managers. Any business needs someone to market their goods and services, and the fashion industry is definitely one of those businesses. Look to get into social media marketing or general marketing. You’ll have your finger on the pulse of the fashion industry without having as much stress to produce the most trendy or most popular clothing items—it’s just your responsibility to sell them. 
  • Customer Service managers. While not always the most glamorous of positions, businesses always need individuals to work directly with their customers in customer service. If you have all those skills listed above, you’d be great to work with customers and promote the positivity of your business. 
  • Virtual experience managers. With our digital age continuing to grow and the online environment here to stay, it’s no question that more and more fashion houses are turning their sights to more online experiences. What does that mean? Creating virtual fashion shows, showing off clothing online, and doing whatever the industry needs at that time—it’s so new, the position is still being developed. 

When it comes down to it, stability is relative. What you may consider stable may be incredibly unstable to another person, so make sure you do your research on the industry before you decide to step into a job within the fashion industry. Find out what you want out of your job and pursue it, whether it’s becoming a freelance fashion designer or looking for something within the fashion blogging industry. Regardless of your decision, make sure it’s what’s best for you and your future. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG5_xW6869c&pp=ygU0RmFzaGlvbiBCdXNpbmVzczpTdGFibGUgSm9icyBpbiB0aGUgRmFzaGlvbiBJbmR1c3RyeQ%3D%3D

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Related Questions

As a freelance fashion designer, how can I gain more customers?

If you’re working as a freelancer, you will have to work hard to gain the attention of customers or even a fashion house. Make sure you maintain a consistent brand throughout your marketing and understand the audience you’re designing for. Create an online portfolio through your social media and website to push your designs out to the masses—but make sure you feature your best pieces. You can also work with an influencer to bolster your social media presence, along with making it easier to find your items online by posting on social media or purchasing ads. 

I’m freelancing as a fashion designer. How can I get in with a fashion house?

While it can be competitive working with a fashion house, there are ways to get their attention just like you would a customer. Make sure you network with everyone, and talk to the individual, not just the position. As you reach out, make sure you’re patient, but also be persistent. Stay up to date on trends so you know what the fashion houses are looking for, and keep your work efficient and continue to work hard. 

Can I teach myself fashion design?

It’s possible to teach yourself fashion design, but it takes hard work. First, educate yourself in the fashion industry. Learn the basics of fashion design, including how to draw your own clothing and how to create them through sewing. Start your own portfolio by creating those drawings and examples of your clothing. You can also get experience working within a fashion house, and promote your designs online while you network with potential customers and business partners. 

To learn more about how to start your own fashion clothing line check out my startup documents here

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.