What You'll Do

  • Direct and coordinate workers involved in drawing and cutting patterns and constructing samples or finished garments.
  • Examine sample garments on and off models, modifying designs to achieve desired effects.
  • Sketch rough and detailed drawings of apparel or accessories, and write specifications such as color schemes, construction, material types, and accessory requirements.
  • Confer with sales and management executives or with clients to discuss design ideas.
  • Identify target markets for designs, looking at factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
  • Attend fashion shows and review garment magazines and manuals to gather information about fashion trends and consumer preferences.
  • Select materials and production techniques to be used for products.
  • Provide sample garments to agents and sales representatives, and arrange for showings of sample garments at sales meetings or fashion shows.
  • Adapt other designers' ideas for the mass market.
  • Purchase new or used clothing and accessory items as needed to complete designs.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 3.88/5
Speaking 3.88/5
Critical Thinking 3.88/5
Active Learning 3.75/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.75/5
Coordination 3.75/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.75/5
Time Management 3.75/5
Reading Comprehension 3.62/5
Persuasion 3.62/5
Negotiation 3.62/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Initiative, Achievement/Effort, Cooperation, Adaptability/Flexibility

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Originality 4.25/5
Written Comprehension 3.88/5
Oral Expression 3.88/5
Fluency of Ideas 3.88/5
Oral Comprehension 3.75/5
Visualization 3.75/5
Near Vision 3.75/5
Visual Color Discrimination 3.75/5

Technologies & Tools

Adobe Acrobat Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Autodesk AutoCAD Design Suite Autodesk Revit Autodesk SketchBook Pro C-DESIGN Fashion CLO Virtual Fashion Marvelous Designer Computer aided design and drafting software CADD Corel CorelDraw Graphics Suite Corel Painter Fashion Toolbox Financial accounting software JavaScript Lectra Prima Vision Print Repeat Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.59/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.41/5)
  • Achievement/Effort (High importance: 4.27/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.26/5)
  • Adaptability/Flexibility (High importance: 4.14/5)

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How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Accessories Designer Apparel Accessories Specialist Apparel and Accessories Designer Apparel Designer Apparel Technical Designer Athletic Shoe Designer Clothes Designer Clothing Designer Costume Designer Costumer Custom Furrier Dance Costume Designer Denim Designer Design Manager Designer Dress Designer Fashion Advisor Fashion Consultant Fashion Design Contractor Fashion Designer Fashion Graphic Designer Fashion Illustrator Fashion Stylist Footwear Designer Fur Designer Fur Remodeler Fur Stylist Furrier Designer Handbag Designer Hat Designer Image Consultant Jewelry Advisor Jewelry Designer Product Developer Shoe Designer Style Advisor Stylist Sweater Designer Swimwear Designer Textile Designer Uniform Designer Wardrobe Consultant Wardrobe Image Consultant Women's Designer