Becoming a Fashion Designer

Anyone who has ever tried to launch a fashion design career knows how grueling it can be. The fashion industry is a highly prominent field, yielding a competitive environment that is greatly guarded, secretive, and difficult to infiltrate. Becoming a Fashion Designer provides all the information, resources, and tools you need to help you navigate these obstacles and successfully launch a career in fashion design.

Of the various job opportunities available in the fashion industry, the career path of a fashion designer consistently ranks as the most popular position in the field, making the competition even greater. The book pays special attention to this and demonstrates several ways in which an aspiring fashion designer can stand out from the competition. A dynamic and comprehensive career guide, this book imparts insider tips from top fashion designers and executives based around the world. Expert advice includes an introduction to a career in fashion design, educational requirements, career opportunities, the design process, portfolio creation, preparation for getting hired, steps to start and run one's own fashion design business, as well as a forecast of the future of the fashion industry.

• Features original interviews from top designers and high-profile fashion executives, including Ralph Rucci, Reem Acra, Peter Som, Anna Sui, Nanette Lepore, Kay Unger, Stuart Weitzman, Dennis Basso, Randolph Duke, Zang Toi, Pamella Roland, Robert Verdi and Daymond John
• Includes cases in point and insider tips throughout
• Includes illustrations, drawings, sketches, and photographs demonstrating various aspects of working in fashion design, with special contributions from renowned illustrator, Izak Zenou and legendary fashion photographer, Nigel Barker
• Offers in-depth resources to assist you on your journey to becoming a fashion designer

Whether a student, recent college graduate, industry professional or career changer, you'll learn everything you need to know to successfully develop a fashion design career.

Drawing on her years of experience working for top designers and as a fashion journalist, Lisa Springsteel explains everything an aspiring fashion designer needs to know, including:

• Choosing a collegiate educational program
• Turning an internship into a full-time job
• Creating a portfolio and résumé that command attention
• Landing a job in fashion design

In her Foreword, fashion designer Nanette Lepore writes, "Becoming a Fashion Designer is so valuable because it chronicles how we as designers made our big mistakes and where we seized our most vital opportunities. Our stories can help you avoid the setbacks and seize your moment. This book can also reveal the most imperative lessons for success, including how to survive when things aren't going well and how to behave when they are. In fact, I envy you. I wish I had these insider tips when I was just starting out. But now that you have all the information and resources you need from Becoming a Fashion Designer, the pressure is on you to step up and fulfill your dreams. Now it's your turn. Are you ready to become a fashion designer?"

• What do fashion designers do?
• What are the educational requirements for a fashion designer?
• What does a fashion design internship involve?
• How does one become a fashion designer?
• How does one launch his or her own fashion collection?

Here is the completely up-to-date guide to today's careers in fashion design—a clear and concise survey of the fashion design profession and advice for navigating a successful career. Filled with interviews and insight from leading fashion designers and industry executives, as well as current fashion design students and interns, it covers everything from educational requirements and design specialties to finding a job, building a career, and launching your own fashion collection.

Preface

Self-Evaluation: Is Fashion Design For You?

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: An Introduction to a Career in Fashion Design

What is Fashion Design?

An Interview with Costume and Fashion Designer, Todd Thomas

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Nanette Lepore

An Interview with Fashion Designer, ReemAcra

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Anna Sui

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Dennis Basso

What Do Fashion Designers Do?

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Randolph Duke

An Interview with Shoe and Accessories Designer, Stuart Weitzman

What Do You Do on a Daily Basis?

History of Fashion Design: Then and Now

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Peter Som

An Interview with CEO, TV Personality and Entrepreneur,Daymond John

The Worldwide Fashion Industry by the Numbers

An Interview with Fashion Designer, ZangToi

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Kay Unger

Embracing the World of Fashion

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Pamella Roland

An Interview with Chief Creative Officer and President of Kate Spade, Deborah Lloyd

What Advice Would You Give to an Aspiring Fashion Designer?

Finding and Creating Balance

Chapter 2: The Education for a Fashion Design Career

Choosing a Collegiate Educational Program

Undergraduate Education

How Did You Decide Which University to Attend to Obtain Your Education as a Fashion Designer?

An Interview with Assistant Professor of the Fashion Design Program at Oklahoma State University, Mary Ruppert-Stroescu

An Interview with fashion design student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Kendra Barnes

An Interview with fashion design student at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, Scarlett Tull

An Interview with Fashion Design Student at Oklahoma State University, Emily Ferrell

The Value of Internships

An Interview with Studio Intern at Oscar de la Renta, Katie Fong

An Interview with Fashion Design Intern at Derek Lam, Rita Valkovskaya

An Interview with Fashion Design Intern at Donna Karan International, Joseph Singh

An Interview with Fashion Design Intern at Ann Taylor, Natasha Mayinda

How to Turn an Internship Into a Full-Time Position

Studying Abroad

Postgraduate Education

Continuing Education

Chapter 3: The Job Market

Finding your Place in the Crowd

Personal Branding

Creating a Personal Branding Statement by Christopher Bilotta, president of Resource Development Company, Inc.

Portfolio Development

What Should Every Fashion Designer Include in their Portfolio?

Creating a Résumé that Pops

Networking Your Way to a Job Offer

Tried-and-True Job Search Strategies

Perfecting the Job Interview

What Skills Do You Seek When Hiring a Fashion Designer?

Negotiating the Job Offer

Chapter 4: The Fashion Design Process

Conceptual Development

Patternmaking

Sample Creation

Finalization, Presentation and Hand-Off

Chapter 5: Launching Your Own Fashion Collection

Writing a Business Plan

What Was Your Greatest Challenge When Launching Your Collection?

Types of Ownership

Defining Your Brand

An Interview with Fashion Designer, Maggie Norris

An Interview with Fashion Designer, BibhuMohapatra

Laws & Regulations

Intellectual Property Checklist by Karen Artz Ash, Partner, Intellectual Property Department, Katten, Muchin, Rosenman, LLP

What is the Best Way for Design Owners to Protect Their Work from Unauthorized Copying and Infringement?

Hiring Employees, Contractors and Interns

Budgeting, Accounting and Bookkeeping

Sales, Order Fulfillment and Customer Service

Publicity and Promotion

An Interview with Celebrity Stylist and Television Personality, Robert Verdi

An Interview with Fashion Director of Lincoln Center, Stephanie Winston-Wilkoff

Unlocking the Keys to a Successful Public Relations Strategy by Amy Rosi, president of Aros Communications

Chapter 6: The Future of the Fashion Industry

Outsourcing and Globalization

Corporate Social Responsibility

Case In Point: Gucci

Case In Point: Patagonia

Case In Point: Ralph Lauren

Case In Point: Timberland

Case In Point: Anvil Knitwear

An Interview with VP of Corporate Responsibility, Guy Bradford of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc.

Sustainable Clothing Company Profile: Izzy Lane

Sustainable Accessories Company Profile: Khepri NYC

What eco-friendly textiles and materials do you use in your collection?

Appendix A

Resources

Professional Associations, Organizations and Councils

Fashion Industry Networking Websites

Social Networking Websites

Professional Trade Publications

Online Portfolio Websites

Color and Trend Forecasting Companies

Broadcast and Cable Television Programming with a Fashion Theme

Full-Feature Movies with a Fashion Theme

Documentaries with a Fashion Theme

Major Fashion Magazines

Index of Interviews

Index