Some may wonder what type of career one could have when qualifying in fashion. There are various exciting career types Villioti Fashion Institute can properly prepare you for.
Both the Bachelor of Fashion Degree or the Diploma in Fashion can prepare you for the top 12 jobs in fashion:
FASHION DESIGNER
Fashion design is the art and application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing. As a fashion designer you’ll work on the design of clothing and fashion ranges. You’ll typically specialise in one area of design, such as ready-to-wear or couture, for men, women or children. Fashion designers conduct research on fashion trends and are influenced by social and cultural attitudes. These influences are then interpreted to their audience. Depending on your level of responsibility and the company you work for, you may work to your own brief or be given a brief to work towards, with specifications relating to colour, fabric and budget.
RETAIL STORE OWNER
Owning your own fashion retail store is the epitome of success for those who adore fashion and the industry. As a store owner you have the say on what you sell, where you are situated and who your target customer is. If you own a small store many of the jobs below will form part of your daily life. Travel is essential to find new brands to stock or to be inspired for your own clothing line. Once you grow you will be able to employ people to fill the roles below but still remain the deciding factor. Owning a store can be very lucrative and satisfying. This is the dream and with us you can make it a reality!
BUYER
Travel and visit the fashion capitals of the world!
The role of a fashion buyer is to develop the best product, at the best price, and ensure that this product goes into stores at the correct time to offer our customers the latest fashion. Working together in teams to deliver the fashionable product to store, the buyer needs to drive fashion creativity that meets the needs of the South African customer at affordable prices.
PLANNER
The role of a planner is to forecast the sales for the forthcoming season based on previous seasons’ figures as well as upcoming trends.
Numerical and lateral thinking play a large part in the role of a planner, together with good communication skills and an ability to analyse information.
FASHION EDITOR
Some people have the most glamorous jobs!
Fashion editors work with print and web media, and travel to the fashion capitals of the world discovering new designers and products. A fashion editor is mainly tasked with looking for all the processes that are being done in the creation and development of both the visuals and the content of any fashion-related activities and prints. From there, they ensure that the output is how they wanted and envisioned it to be.
STYLIST
The stylist is responsible for creating “style.” That may sound vague, but a stylist essentially decides what a model or person wears, and how they wear it. The main roles of a stylist can essentially be broken down into these these two categories:
Editorial styling & styling for photoshoots. When a stylist works on a photoshoot, he or she basically chooses the clothing, the accessories, and/or the general “look” of the model for the shoot. Stylists will also contact PR agencies or brand showrooms when they are searching for clothing or accessories for a shoot.
Celebrity styling. A stylist can work with a celebrity on a regular basis (dressing her/him for events or day-to-day living) or for a special occasion, such as an awards show. When dressing a celebrity for an event, the stylist needs to consider the brand, current trends, and what the message is.
VISUAL DISPLAY
All those awesome window and store displays aren’t done by magic. Visual Display teams put them together. The Visual Display department works closely with the Buying Divisions, Fashion Studio and Marketing department to conceptualise windows and in-store display designs. All visual displays are in line with international trends, with inspiration and trends being drawn from regular visits to Europe and the USA as well as extensive reading of trade, technical and décor literature.
BRAND REPRESENTATIVE
Brand representatives get a first-hand look at new samples at showrooms and meet with buyers from all over to get the clothes in stores. Also, they work on the marketing side of things and meet with editors and bloggers so they can preview new collections months before they hit stores. Primary responsibilities include pitching the products to boutiques and press, tracking samples, and following up on orders from clients. It’s very customer service oriented, but hey, at least your clients are very stylish.
BRAND CONSULTANT
This involves several elements, some brands hire brand consultants throughout the design process and others bring in a brand consultant at the end of the collection process, when most of the clothes have been designed, but they need someone to help “pull it together”. If the consultant is involved throughout the whole process, which is unusual but can happen, then they will attend some design meetings from the beginning of the collection process. The designer will show them research, ideas, and sketches, and the stylist will give them input. This can also involve bringing in their own ideas, visual research, interesting garments they have found, etc… and show them to the design team. The brand consultant essentially becomes a part of the design team, but they don’t do any physical designs, they just give their ideas.
PRODUCT DEVELOPER
Perhaps the most important job in the process.
The product developer receives the design and it is their job to bring it to life with a great fit and finish. Many hours are spent on perfecting a garment before it goes to production. Every inch is checked, assessed and if changes are required then the product developer will implement them. A garment pattern and making instructions must be perfect before manufacture. If not, you may end up with 10 000 of the same unsellable pairs of jeans!
COSTUME DESIGNER FOR THEATRE & FILM
This is the job that Hollywood dreams are made of!
The person who plans, designs and gathers the wardrobe that every person on a film set or theatre production wears.
This job entails detailed research into culture, historical factors and let’s not forget the director’s specific requirements.
Travel the world and move location on a regular basis. Meet and dress those Hollywood stars that seem so untouchable.
FASHION SHOW PRODUCTION MANAGER
Fashion shows are spectacular events and it takes an army to arrange these productions. The Fashion Show Production Manager arranges, directs and obtains everything that is required for the production. Casting the models; set, stage and lighting specs, leases with the designer, prepares props and signage, supplies the music, arranges the seating layout and plans the running order of the show etc.
This is a high energy career that is exciting and fast paced.
