Glamourous, exciting, and always at the forefront of the latest trends—what more could you want from a career in the fashion industry? While it might seem like it’s all glitz and glamour, a career in the fashion world involves more The Devil Wears Prada would have you believe… here are some of the most common job titles and descriptions you can expect in the fashion industry:
Fashion Designer
Of course, the first role we must mention in an article about fashion careers is that of a fashion designer. If you’re someone who loves to create your own unique pieces and be inspired by new trends, a career in fashion design might be right for you. A fashion designer is responsible for designing and creating clothes, accessories, and shoes. Their role may involve producing concepts, making sketches by hand or on the computer, overseeing production, and being aware of trends. Fashion designers can work as part of in-house design teams for retail chains, designer labels, and for clothing manufacturers that produce large quantities of clothes for retailers.
Fashion Buyer
Fashion buyers work for retail stores or boutiques, and they are responsible for buying the clothing pieces that the store sells to its customers.
It is important for buyers to choose items that are appropriate for the store and its customers. They will usually purchase clothing about six months before it reaches stores— therefore, buyers must be able to anticipate fashion trends and consumer needs. To select the best products, fashion buyers are required to attend seasonal fashion shows held by clothing manufacturers that feature the latest designer styles.
Stylist/ Stylist Assistant
Among the more glamorous jobs in the industry is the stylist. Fashion stylists are responsible for creating visual images, such as photographs and graphics used in magazines. Working from a design brief, stylists work with teams of photographers, art directors, designers, lighting technicians, and set builders to create a set for a shoot. Their work involves planning creative solutions to the design briefs, selecting the most suitable accessories to complement garments, and arranging these in a way that looks good.
A typical week can involve contacting public relations companies, manufacturers, and retailers. It can also include dressing people, such as models or celebrities, building up a network of contacts, and keeping an eye on emerging fashion trends. Stylists are generally employed by magazines, retail companies, advertising agencies, media companies, and music production companies.
Art Director
An art director is responsible for the visual styling of a product or shoot. An art director in the fashion industry might work for a fashion magazine, a public relations firm, or a retailer. They are very creative by nature and have a great sense of what images will help sell a product. An art directors’ role typically involves determining how best to represent a concept visually, selecting which photographs, art, or other design elements to use, and developing the overall look or style of a publication, advertisement television, or film set.
Fashion Photographer
A fashion photographer is responsible for how clothing is presented in advertising campaigns and fashion magazines. They tend to work closely with designers and fashion houses to ensure they are conveying the desired image for the brand. The role involves meeting with designers to generate unique concepts for photoshoots and a great fashion photographer must also understand the latest fashions, styles, and fabrics as well as the best way to shoot them. This is a very hands-on, creative role for people who enjoy being at the forefront of the creative process. You can have a good career with promotional modeling agency Dallas as their fashion photographer.
Fashion Editor
Fashion editors work at a fashion publication and typically hold mid to high-level management positions at magazines, newspapers, and editorial websites. The responsibilities will vary depending on the industry and the exact job title. An editor-in-chief oversees the entire publication and assumes the most responsibility, followed by the managing editor, senior editor, and associate editor. According to a Forbes article, as of 2012, eight of the most powerful and influential fashion publications have female editors-in-chief, including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Alternately, learn how to become a model in Australia if that is a fashion route you’d prefer to go down!