Becoming a high end fashion designer seems to be a rather glamorous activity. There is no doubt, that there is a huge amount of skills needed to become one. No luxury house hires for vibe. Today high end fashion designer must know fabrics, fitting, fashion business and how to make ideas materialize into pieces of clothing that worth a considerable amount of money. Just ask any working high end fashion designer. They will tell you that becoming a high end fashion designer requires an equal share of instinct and hard work.
Dress design is the basic point
To become a high end fashion designer you need to start with dress design. Dresses require all the skills at once: proportional cuts, seam placement, draping and the way how the silhouette moves on the body. That is why many designers build their portfolio starting from designing dresses. Portfolio of dresses will bring you more opportunities to find your place than the portfolio of the concept sketches, because it shows your ability to design the complete garment.
Get the necessary training and gather the experience
Having structured education is always an advantage. Courses in fashion design and luxury brand management give you not only the skills, but also introduce you to people who can help you and open internship positions in established labels. It is also proved by Sothebys Institute of Art and Portobello Institute – a degree alone won't help you to get a job, it will only help to expand your network.
After that you need to gather experience. Look for internships with luxury brands, upscale retailers or fashion PR agencies. Even working as an entry-level employee in an upscale boutique will teach you the process of customer journey and operation of the house. In case you do not find something suitable volunteer in a local upscale shop. Document everything you create, because this documentation will be the portfolio you will show to the hiring manager.
During this period you also need to work on the skills that are checked in luxury houses. Business acumen is required because luxury fashion industry works on the principles different from fast fashion: it is based on the brand reputation and quality of products instead of quantity. Attention to details is required in everything, from seams to displays. Networking is also important, because fashion industry is all about connections, so go to fashion events, use LinkedIn and build your connections, even though you are still early in your career. Knowing digital marketing is also a must, because almost all luxury brands now sell their product online and require designers, who can do e-commerce and manage social media. None of the above mentioned can replace your talent, but the high-end fashion designer, who forgets about business side of the industry won't survive.
Build a portfolio that shows you can produce
The portfolio is a crucial tool for a high end fashion designer. Your portfolio should contain garments, not the sketches. Include dresses, that were designed and sewn by the fashion designer and the information about construction details and reasoning behind each choice. Hiring managers look for proofs that the fashion designer can execute, not that the fashion designer can imagine. The tight portfolio of six or seven pieces performs better than portfolio of thirty weak ones.
Connections, location, and online presence
Relationships are at the core of fashion design. Visit fashion shows, go to showrooms, and network online with those who know what goes on in this field of expertise. Location also plays a crucial role in fashion career development. Staying in Paris, Milan, New York, London, or another fashion capital, even if only for a short period of time, will provide new insights and connections. If the leading fashion houses seem to be out of reach, then emerging designers should be targeted. All major brands had to start somewhere, and a developing company will give you an opportunity to grow.
Online presence can be a part of a portfolio. With Instagram and Pinterest, a designer has an opportunity to showcase a consistent point of view. Engagement should be favored over promotion. Posting the designs created by the designer and showing the process of his or her education through reading luxury journals and participating in webinars will be more beneficial than polished content that attracts no followers at all.
If the big brands seem to be out of reach, the designer has to realize that every giant brand has started somewhere. Emerging luxury designers should be targeted as a realistic alternative to major brands; working in a developing company gives an opportunity to improve rapidly. A full-time job at an emerging luxury brand will increase the status of a designer as the brand becomes successful; practical work experience is more valuable than name of the employer.
Conclusion
Getting a job of a high end fashion designer requires specific training, complete portfolios with finished garments, and readiness to start from whatever position possible. Starting with designing dresses is important since it forces a designer to develop every skill necessary for success. Networking, careful selection of location, and documentation of everything designed is vital. The path to becoming a high end fashion designer is difficult but rewarding for anyone able to dress design, craft and keep up with the trends.