Notable fashion designers are often considered a rare breed but there is a range of other jobs that make fashion design come to life, and without them, the industry wouldn’t be where it is today. So one of the first steps to securing a job in fashion is to think about the types of careers you could have outside the coveted fashion designer route. Of course, this career isn’t entirely out of reach but considering other options may actually put you in a better position and give you extensive experience before you reach out and make your mark.

Take a look at some of the top careers in fashion and see how you could develop your knowledge and experience of this exciting industry.

Fashion Designer

This role is considered one of the highest and most elite career choices in the industry, but unless you specifically want to show your collections at London Fashion Week, there are a host of sectors to choose from, in which you can become an original and reputable fashion designer without the pressure of high-end fashion. Brands are always on the lookout for creative individuals to take their products to the next level, and whether this is in footwear, accessories or childrenswear, you can showcase your talents to a wide audience in a host of retail environments.

Garment Technologist

Garment manufacturing is seeing steady growth in the UK, and this sector is an exciting and innovative place to be. In this job, you will be at the forefront of development, testing and design of new materials. Plus, this role also ensures clothing factories work efficiently and have the right tools to accommodate client requirements.

Fashion And Retail Buyers

If you love buying clothing and always get complimented on how well you put styles and trends together, a role in fashion buying could be for you. This rewarding career puts you at the hub of sourcing trends and fashion before the new seasons start. Of course, it’s not just all about having a creative eye, as you’ll also be working with others to analyse consumer and market habits to forecast customer demand. Using initiative and brainpower, this job puts you in an influential and respected position.

Starting Your Own Fashion Brand

This might seem like the impossible for someone with little or no experience but if you have the ideas and passion, starting your own fashion brand isn’t out of reach. There is a range of ways to begin the process and using resources such as Sewport: Clothing Manufacturers for Your Fashion Brand gives you access to hundreds of clothing manufacturers that can help produce your new collections.

Stylist

Fashion stylists play a pivotal part in bringing a designer or creatives ideas to life especially during photo-shoots, filming and advertorial work. This role entails individuals to have a keen eye for detail and of course, an innate sense of what works and what doesn’t. There are no formal qualifications in becoming a stylist, but work experience is key. This role is very social and involves working with others, in some cases for long periods of time, so if you are a people-person who has a sharp eye, this could be perfect for you.

Textile Designer

The world of design is a diverse place, and if you love creating original work and love fashion, the route of textile designer could be for you. Ever wondered who makes the prints and patterns for designs; well this is your answer. Textile or surface designers create 2D ideas that are then transferred onto fabric. Seeing your creations in fashion collections is a rewarding achievement and helps to inspire designers for their new pieces.

Fashion Illustrator

Many people have a romantic ideal of fashion where designers create amazing sketches then transform these into beautiful designs but in reality, the talent behind those conceptual drawings is often down to a fashion illustrator. This role assists designers in getting their ideas onto paper in a translatable way so products can be produced to specification. Illustrators are also often involved into the promotional aspects of a fashion brand including editorial and online drawings.

Fashion Merchandising

This vital role complements a fashion buying team and works closely with them to ensure products get to stores at the right time, and in the correct quantities. This role is typically office-based and requires an analytical mind as you’ll be dealing with extensive data on sales performance, logistics and forecasting. In some cases, you may work closely with individual stores to arrange promotions and launch timelines to boost the profitability of collections.

Fashion Marketing

Marketing covers a host of career choices, and there is something for all levels of experience and interests. Take a look at some of the most popular fashion marketing careers below:

PR

Public relations (PR) has a significant role in how successful a brand can be. This career is great for anyone that loves interacting with people, but can also involve unsociable hours especially during campaign launches and events. PR is essential for any brand as it helps to build an identity and image of the company. You will be involved in everything from gaining media exposure to assisting with events. This type of role may also require travel overseas dependent on the kind of organisation you work for.

Journalism And Writing

With news and information available at the click of a button, keeping up to date with ‘what’s hot’ and ‘what’s not’ of fashion has never been easier. That said, good quality content is still key in any industry, and there has never been a better time to pursue a career in fashion journalism and writing. There are several areas of fashion writing including editorial, reporting, blogging and video creation that are key areas to explore. Some avenues require specific qualifications such as the NCJT in Journalism while other aspects just entail a passion for writing and a love of fashion to get started.

There are so many avenues into fashion for aspiring creatives. Take a look at what careers are available and see how you could make your mark in the industry.