Introduction.
Many people believe that fashion designers are born with an innate ability to draw. However, the truth is that every fashion designer was once in your shoes and had no idea where to begin. Fashion designers are not born; they are made. Like any other skill, you can develop it over time with practice, patience, and dedication. In this post, we will take you through the step by step process of how to start a career in fashion design.
- Understanding Fashion as a Language
The first thing you need to know is that fashion is a language. It speaks volumes about your personality, style, and attitude. When you communicate through fashion you say:
Silhouette = attitude
Color = emotion
Fabric = feeling
Details = personality
Once you understand fashion as a language, you will start designing with intention and purpose. You will not just copy outfits; you will create and communicate through clothes.
- Training Your Creative Observation
Observation is a key skill to have as a fashion designer. You do not necessarily need to have a sketchpad and pencil to practice your observation skills. You can simply observe:
People’s styles on the streets
Characters’ wardrobes in your favorite movie
The movement of waves or patterns and textures in nature
Buildings and architectural forms
The possibilities are endless, and once you have trained your eye, you will see inspiration all around you.
- Sketching Without Fear
If you cannot draw, this is probably the number one reason most people are afraid to start a career in fashion. However, sketching is just like any other skill, it can be developed over time. Do not compare yourself to others, compare yourself to who you were yesterday. The goal of sketching at this stage is not to create perfect sketches but to get your ideas down on paper.
- Building Your First Design Habits
The most successful fashion designers are those who are consistent in their work. Even practicing for as little as 20-30 minutes a day will take you a long way. You can cultivate the following habits to help you in your journey:
Practice sketching every day
Gather references and inspiration
Re-design basic clothes
Study the construction of garments
As time progresses, these activities will become second nature to you.
- Experimentation: Where Style is Born
The best way to develop your personal style is through experimenting. Do not be afraid to try new and daring things like:
Mixing different fabrics and textures
Trying out different and weird silhouettes
Layering clothes
Ignoring the rules of fashion
It is only through experimentation that you will develop your unique voice and style.
- From Ideas to a Collection
As you gain confidence in your designing skills, you can now start designing a collection. A collection consists of:
A theme or concept
5-10 looks
A distinct style
A message
Even as a beginner, you can create a mini-collection. Do not aim for perfection; aim for coherency.
- The Role of Education and Structure
Even though you can learn how to design on your own, enrolling in a class can help you speed up the learning process. In a class, you will learn:
Mistakes to avoid as a beginner
Professional and expert techniques
The standards of the fashion industry
How to create a portfolio
For this reason, we created the WearFormArt platform, to organize your learning process into achievable goals.
Conclusion
Becoming a fashion designer takes time and patience. It is not an inborn skill but one that you can learn over time. So do not be afraid to get started even when you do not know where to begin. With time, patience, and dedication, you will get to where you need to be. Remember that every great fashion designer started with their first sketch, and it was probably horrible. But they did not stop there.