Fashion designers and fashion merchandisers are two of the most important members of the fashion industry. These people play a huge role in creating the latest fashion trends and making them readily available to the public.
Fashion design and fashion merchandising are generally interrelated. However, both fields have different focal points. Fashion design involves designing accessories and clothes, whereas fashion merchandising involves developing brand awareness, marketing strategies, retailing, and merchandising products.
Both are business-oriented career tracks, ultimately with customer satisfaction and profit in mind.
A Quick Look at the Differences Between Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising
While both professionals have a say in choosing accessories and garments to sell to people, there are key differences between fashion designers and fashion merchandisers
How Can You Get Started in Fashion Design?
Fashion design is a type of art dedicated to the designing and creation of clothes and other lifestyle accessories. Today, modern fashion design has two basic categories: ready-to-wear collections that are mass-produced for standard wear and haute couture collections that are custom-fitted clothing for high-end markets.
The industry offers a lot of promise to aspiring fashion designers. The fashion industry rakes in a substantial amount of money for key players who possess unique skills that complement their talents.
Education Requirements for Fashion Design
A Bachelor’s in Fashion Design covers up-to-date techniques in pattern making, tailoring, and sewing, which every fashion design specialist is expected to know! This undergraduate program lets you in on the latest technologies in the industry. In fact, Fashion Design majors are required to learn CAD (computer-aided design) technology.
Did you know that a fashion design career usually begins with an internship? Most budding fashion designers start as assistant designers. These internships provide you with industry insights, degree credits, skill development, work experience, and a professional network!
Many argue that Fashion Design may not strictly require a college degree. However, it pays to complete an academic program because fashion houses prefer to hire not only talented designers but also those with an academic background with relevant experience.
Essential Skills of a Fashion Designer
- Creativity and Proactivity: A fashion designer is expected to develop the latest and most exciting fashion ideas. You need creative thinking skills to remain relevant in the industry.
- Interpersonal Skills: Since fashion designers constantly work with many people (agents, clients, models, photographers), they must have the right interpersonal skills and understand how to interact with these people.
- Excellent Sewing Skills: A fashion designer must know the different styles of stitching, including slip stitch, basting stitch, zigzag stitch, blanket stitch, catch stitch, and running stitch.
Opportunities for Advancement in Fashion Design
Numerous fashion design opportunities await the most skilled professionals in this vibrant field! If you intend to push yourself further in terms of competencies, you can be an expert and snag these roles:
- Certified Technical Designer
- Professional Designation in Fashion Design
- Certified Fashion Designer Level 1
- Draping Certificate
- Fashion Industry Essential Certificate
- Sustainable Design Entrepreneur Certificate
- Apparel Technical Design Certificate
- Digital Pattern-Making Certificate
- Fashion Business Essentials
- Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)- Adobe Photoshop
To Be or Not To Be
Why Fashion Design could be for you:
- You have a passion for design, creativity, and self-expression.
- You like working with different materials that make fashionable products.
- You want to work in a high-skill industry.
Why Fashion Design isn’t for you:
- You don’t like dealing or working with different types of people.
- You want a fixed working schedule.
- You can’t handle the heavy competition.
How Can You Get Started in Fashion Merchandising?
Fashion merchandising pertains to the way clothing items and accessories are presented to customers at the right time and with the most ideal price. To become successful in the field, you should learn about careful planning and promotion of products that are likely to sell well!
Fashion merchandising applies the principles used in retail, sales, and marketing careers: a primary goal is to maximize profits. Fashion brands tap the services of professional fashion merchandising teams who can present their products to their potential customers.
Education Requirements for Fashion Merchandising
Starting with an Associate in Fashion Merchandising is an excellent way to start a career in this field! It also helps to supplement this with any related field like Business, Marketing, or Financing. The next academic route is the Bachelor’s in Fashion Merchandising, which makes you better qualified for full-time positions and offers career stability.
It’s wise to gain experience to enhance your skills in Fashion Merchandising. Building your professional network matters, too! It pays to be actively involved in groups that are dedicated to fashion and the fashion industry.
Essential Skills of a Fashion Merchandiser
- Knowledge of Fashion Industry Trends: Fashion merchandisers must always be updated on the latest trends, including styles, fabrics, colors, and consumer behavior. Staying up-to-date needs a constant willingness to research and learn more.
- Passion for Fashion: Fashion merchandisers must love fashion since this will propel them to succeed in this dynamic industry.
- Strong Organizational Skills: Fashion merchandisers must learn how to manage budgets, timelines, and schedules. Strong organizational skills are always needed so you can keep track of deadlines, projects, and stakeholders.
Opportunities for Advancement in Fashion Merchandising
If you want to take it a step further in your career, a Master’s in Fashion Merchandising and Management program is your way to earn specialized skill sets and gain a unique perspective of the fashion industry.
To Be or Not To Be
Why Fashion Merchandising could be for you:
- You wish to marry fashion and business and believe it to be a promising prospect.
- You like working around high-end fashion brands and products.
- You want to gain a well-rounded knowledge of fashion as a career path.
Why Fashion Merchandising isn’t for you:
- You can’t handle a highly competitive sector.
- You don’t like pay rates that can be unpredictable.
- You are not skilled in image building, which is integral to merchandising.
Summary
Fashion designers and fashion merchandisers both play important roles in the industry. For those who aspire to find a place in the fashion industry, remember that while fashion design and fashion merchandise are closely related, both fields are distinct from each other.
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