Description and Duties

Designers normally work from 9am to 5pm, but they may work longer hours when preparing samples for buyers or collections for fashion shows. Fashion designers usually work in a studio or small workshop. They may attend fashion shows, prediction fairs and exhibitions, as well as visit clients.

Working as a fashion designer involves a great deal of knowing what kind of things you are designing and who wants to buy the clothing. You need to know the age range of people buying the clothing, the price range, the style and what's in fashion.

Although tasks depend on where you work and the demands of that particular firm, these are some core duties when working as a Fashion Designer:

• Keeping up to date with latest trends in your area of fashion and audience
• Creating an idea and producing it by hand or using a computer software
• Planning and developing ideas and ranges of clothing
• Working with others like buyers, the design team and forecasters to develop products to meet a brief
• Understanding design from a technical perspective
• Adapting existing designs for mass production
• Overseeing production
• Negotiating with customers and suppliers
• Managing marketing, finances and other business activities (if working on a self employed basis)