Occupation Description

Fashion designers develop new styles and products for clothing, apparel and accessories by creating original designs, and sometimes cutting and machining sample garments based on these designs.

Fashion designers may…

Personal Requirements

You should

Environment

Fashion designers may work individually or as part of a team, for manufacturers and sometimes for retailers. They can also specialise, for example in menswear, children's wear or knitwear. Some designers work from home as designer-dressmakers while others become costume designers in theatre, opera, film and television. Business success in fashion design, like all enterprises, depends as much on sales skills and customer service as on craft skills, and therefore some business skills training might be of benefit. There can also be considerable costs involved.

Training

Whilst you might become a fashion designer without any formal training or qualifications, in many cases an employer will require you to have completed a certificate, diploma or degree in design. Entry-level fashion design occupations will generally require a minimum of Certificate II or Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology. To work at higher levels in fashion design you may require Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma in Applied Fashion Design and Technology, or in some cases a Degree.

Of course you can work at other levels within this sector, and with further training and experience you can continue to progress along a career pathway that could see you in many senior management positions.

Certificate II in Applied Fashion Design and Technology
Certificate III in Applied Fashion Design and Technology
Certificate IV in Applied Fashion Design and Technology
Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology
Advanced Diploma of Applied Fashion Design and Technology
Degree

Earnings, Job and Employment Prospects

For detailed information about earnings, job and employment prospects for this occupation, go to the Australian JobSearch Careers page and click on Job Outlook .

Printed Resources

The INFOSHEET PDFs provide information about the Manufacturing Industry and its various sectors and occupations. To view and print these documents click RESOURCES (you will need to have Adobe Reader ® installed).

Where Can I Go From This Job?

To find out more about potential Manufacturing career possibilities click PATHWAYS.