Fashion Design - Research Paper Example

Fashion Design and the role of Fashion Designers Fashion Design and the Role of Fashion Designers Introduction Various professional areas require that the individuals involved possess specific skills and experience for effective and efficient practice. These are the features that determine the success of one’s activities. While some of these may be naturally possessed, others are acquired and developed to create the required impact. Besides this, other desired characteristics should also be cultivated within the working environment. This is the case in fashion design where the designer needs to be competent in the field in order to achieve the intended goals and objectives. As indicated by Bloom, academic knowledge, passion, interest and talent are the most vital aspects that drive a fashion designer to the top among other professionals in the field (2003). Definition Fashion design is the field of art that deals with application of aesthetics, design or natural beauty on clothing and accessories. The creation of clothes, and other lifestyle accessories, is the principal activities involved. It is mainly influenced by culture and social relationship and circles hence its variation over time and place. All the different kinds of people and personality are served by varied elements of fashion design. This is in terms of the detail, techniques and finish to be applied (Bye, 2010). Roles of a Fashion Designer Carr and Pomeroy provide the steps involved in garment production. They begin by stating that fashion designers are the professionals who are involved with the every detail of the process that introduces a new fashion into the public domain. However, the first process begins with creating a basic design. This step is followed by the creation of a card design to establish that all pieces of the fabric fit well together. The final garment can then be created in accordance with the card pattern after all pieces are properly assembled. It involves the selection of appropriate materials that include buttons, zippers, as well as the selection of the suitable colors. At this point, the designer decides whether to show the clothing in a collection, modify or reject it (1992). Additionally, the fashion designer is involved in a fashion show, which is executed by selecting models, arrangement of garments in the collection, and setting the appropriate price for each garment (Frings, 1987). Required Skills of a Fashion Designer One of the important requirements of a fashion designer includes an advanced course in the field. They are offered in different colleges and universities such as the North West School of Design (2013). This is addition to the initial strong desire, talent in art and business skills. Expected Activities A number of performances are involved in the work of designing clothing and accessories. The profession is thus widely diversified as the designer is expected to choose from the broad range of textile materials and fabrics with which they can work. They also have a wide choice of colors, patterns and styles, with which they are presented. Both of these items should be correctly combined to the best of their ability. At times, there is a slight difference in the amount of attention, quality and price of materials that define the nature of a fashion designer’s work. Snell states that while some of them choose to work as individuals, others opt to achieve their career success as a team (2012). Jones indicates that there are also freelance designers who work for themselves and trade their designs to fashion houses, to shops or to companies that manufacture clothing (2007). In addition, the development of a cloth for a specific person or the mass production method may be employed. This results in the two broad categories of haute couture and ready-to-wear, which are present currently. The two create a distinction between the numerous attention needed to work on high quality and expensive material in comparison to the minimal time needed to complete mass market products (Thomas, 2012). Goals In their involvement, the main objective of fashion designers is to please their customers. They make attempts to satisfy their design for clothes that are aesthetically produced. Although their main function is to produce clothes that meet their intended purposes and functions, they also have to be pleasing in an aesthetical way. The former comes with the regard of the likely wearer of the garment and the situations under which it is likely to be worn. Their main focus is thus normally on the unusual garments to be worn on special occasions such as weddings, party and evening dresses (Jones & Rushton, 2006). Competencies As such, the creation of unique and attractive clothe designs require that a fashion designer should have both artistic drawing skills in terms of designing and creativity skills and personality to give them the ability to draw sketches of their ideas and drape fabric on the form of a dress. In this relation, good drawing skills make it possible for the individual to express his idea on sketches in many different ways. It thus necessitates the possession of good communication skills for the clear expression of these ideas. However, perfect artistic skills are not as mandatory as the special skills in color, tone and shade combination. Fashion designers always deal with fabric and should, therefore, be able to work with them as well as creatively and originally make use of textiles. As such, their visual image should be good, in addition to their ability to think in a three dimensional manner and apply their ideas onto fabric. Besides, a fashion designer should have significant knowledge and experience in tailoring. These include skills in cutting, draping, and sewing as well as the ability to establish a difference between the varied quality levels of textiles. Moreover, a fashion designer should have the ability to predict the changing tastes of producers with time due to the significant time it takes to bring a garment into the market. This means that fashion designers should be aware of the requirements on the fashion market. It can be achieved by the constant interest in getting to know the history and new trends in the field as highlighted by Fernie, Moore, Lawrie and Hallsworth by reading fashion design books, journals and newspapers (1997). Successful Fashion Design A special kind of edge and personality is required for an individual to become a successful fashion designer. It relates to the customer whose main needs should be met. These are mainly related to the application of skills and experiences possessed. Success necessitates the availability of good imagination and a strong sense of fashion and the ability to appeal visually. Moreover, they should personally possess a keen sense of fashion appearance (Breward, 2006). Attitude For a fashion designing career to be successful, the individual needs to develop a positive and confident attitude besides possessing the above mentioned relevant skills. Wanting asserts that passion plays an essential part in clearing any doubts about to complete relevant tasks successfully. With this, a fashion designer can overcome most of the challenges that are constantly presented in his or her line of work. It is because he becomes ready for anything at all times since he is well equipped with knowledge and ideas. In this sense, the adaptability to most situations is made possible. It is because of this that accuracy is attained to produce quality designs (2008). Interests In addition, a great interest in art should be developed by the designers. With this, they are able to visit art galleries and interact with other artists. In relation to the required skills, success in fashion design requires that designers understand the lifestyle of their audiences and the needs and requirements of their customers. One must possess a style that enables them to adopt the new trends in the fashion industry (Solomon & Rabat, 2002). Relationship An appropriate relationship between the designer and the customers, as well as other team members is essential in attaining success. The area is involved with many other different areas such as pattern making, making of samples, tailoring and dressmaking and modeling. All these processes are essential in attracting and appealing to the customer. These are some of the strategies needed to make fashion designers good businessmen or women. The ability to make good decisions will also be vital (Armstrong, Carpenter, Sweigart & Randock, 2006). Leading Fashion Trend Compliance with the requirements of fashion designing has put certain companies and brands ahead of others. It is as a result of this that some trends and fashion are considered as leading among others. Most of this have a “name” for their brand and are probably designed by individual designers who work under a design director. Today, most leaders in fashion are the designers themselves. They include brands such as INXS in Australia (Stecker, 1996). Those that are currently widely known include the ELLE collection. It includes a wide collection of dresses, coats and skirts. Others are Gucci footwear and handbags as well as Dolce & Gabbana shoes, handbags and dresses (Elle, 2013). Conclusion Besides the possession of skills, experiences and competencies, the success of a professional career is also highly dependent on the level of individual passion and commitment. It is this that will allow the ability to produce goods and services that satisfy the needs of customers. However, with a fashion designer extra abilities are required to make the career process a success. Nonetheless, the main ones include originality and the ability to produce fresh and innovative ideas. References Armstrong, J. H. (2010). Pattern making for fashion design. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Education/Prentice Hall. Blum, D. (2003). Shocking!: the art and fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli. Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Museum of Art. Breward, C. (2003). Fashion. New York: Oxford University Press. Bye, E. (2010). Fashion design. New York: Berg. Carr, H. & Pomery, J. (1992). Fashion design and product development. Cambridge, Mass: Blackwell publishers. Elle. (2013). Elle. Retrieved 30 March 2013 from http://www.elle.com/fashion/designers/dolce-gabbana/ Fernie, C., Moore, J., Lawrie, A., & Hallsworth, A. (1997). The internationalization of the high fashion brand: the case of central London. "The internationalization of the high fashion brand: the case of central London," Journal of Product & Brand Management, Vol. 6 (3), pp. 151 – 162. Fringes, G. (1987). Fashion: from concept to consumer. Englewood, N. J: Prentice hall. Jones, J. (2007). Fashion design: the art of style. Mankato, Minn: Capstone Press. Jones, T., & Rushton, S. (2006). Fashion now. London: Taschen. North West School of Design (NWSD). (2013). Courses. Retrieved 30 March 2013 from http://www.northwestschoolofdesign.co.za/?pid=courses_mafikeng_and_klerksdorp campus. Solomon, M. R., & Rabolt, N. J. (2002). Consumer behavior: in fashion. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall. Stecker, P. (1996). The fashion design manual. Melbourne: Macmillan Education Australia. Steven Snell (5). "17 Tips for Designers on Starting a Freelance Business" (Article). Design Magazine. Retrieved 30 march 2013. Pauline Weston Thomas. "Haute Couture Fashion History" (Article). Fashion-Era.com (inEnglish). Fashion-Era.com. Retrieved 30 March 2013. Wenting, R. (2008). “Spinoff dynamics and the spatial formation of the fashion design industry, 1858–2005,” Journal of economic geography, Vol. 8 (5): 893-614. Read More