FASHION DESIGNERS create clothing and accessory designs. They may plan the production and marketing of their creations. Designers specialize in one type of garment or accessory such as men's or women's wear, children's garments, swimwear, lingerie, handbags, or shoes. Some high-fashion Designers are self-employed and design for individual clients. They make fashion news by establishing the silhouette, colors, and kinds of materials that will be worn each season. Other self-employed, high-fashion Designers cater to specialty stores or high-fashion department stores. They design original garments as well as follow the established fashion trends. Designers who work for apparel manufacturers do less original work; they adapt fashions set by other Designers for the mass market.

Designers' Assistants in apparel manufacturing are exposed to the fast pace of production schedules while performing routine aspects of the job. Assistant Designers acquire the knowledge of what creations will sell at a profit in an intended market, within a defined price range, at a particular time of the year. They learn the personality of firms, types of stores that buy the merchandise, and the age and tastes of the stores' clientele.

Fashion Designers perform the following tasks:

• Sketch their ideas.
• Draw and cut patterns to create sample garments.
• Select fabric and trimmings.
• Combine basic dressmaking and tailoring principles with flat pattern work and draping techniques.
• Fit and modify the finished garment.
• Arrange showings for press and buyers when the sample garment line is ready.
• Compare merchandise with those of the competitors.
• Keep current on trends by reading trade magazines and attending fashion shows.
• Visit textile showrooms to keep up to date on latest fabrics.

A large manufacturer generally has a Head Designer and several assistants. Many small firms do not employ Designers but purchase ready-made designs or copy higher-priced designs.

Head Designers are responsible for executive and creative functions. They supervise design room staff. Those with less experience may be responsible for small divisions or specialized garments.

Assistant Designers are generally all-around assistants to Designers. They make first patterns and samples or may supervise sample makers.

Specialty Designers work with other Designers to coordinate special lines of clothing, such as sweaters. They often arrange for styles to be made in foreign countries.

Theatrical Costume Designers create costumes for movies or theatrical productions, usually on a contract basis.

• Design - Knowledge of design techniques, principles, tools and instruments involved in the production and use of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Idea Generation - Generating a number of different approaches to problems.
• Active Learning - Working with new material or information to grasp its implications.
• Operations Analysis - Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.
• Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
• Visioning - Developing an image of how a system should work under ideal conditions.
• Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

The work environment for Designers varies. Some Designers work in quiet, spacious, well-lit, and well-ventilated areas. Others may work in small areas close to crowded workrooms. Designers work independently but spend much of their time coordinating their work with workroom personnel, buyers, sales personnel, firm members, patrons, and other artists. Designers may travel out of the country for showings, conferences, or shopping. They may work under pressure for long periods to meet deadlines and budget limitations. Many Designers are busy all year preparing styles for the following seasons. Others work intermittently and are laid off when a line is completed.

There are a number of professional organizations that Fashion Designers can join, such as Fashion Group International of Los Angeles, Inc. and the Costume Council, but there is, as of yet, little or no unionization of this occupation.

The figures represent the broad occupational group, Designers, Except Interior Designers, which includes Fashion Designers. Occupations in all areas of the design field are expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2008. The estimated number of job opportunities from 1998 through 2008 is expected to total 12,200. Despite the above average growth, applicants can expect keen competition for jobs as Fashion Design appeals to many.

Demand for Fashion Designers should remain strong, as consumers hungry for new fashions and apparel styles will spur the creation of new clothing and accessories.