Fashion Designers are in tune with what’s going on in the world in terms of tastes and trends, and they must adapt their designs to these trends at a moment’s notice. Part of a Fashion Designer’s job is capitalizing on or even improving these trends in order to influence the world’s fashion opinions.

Fashion design has a lot to do with reflecting society through the design of clothing and accessories. Fashion Designers have to be knowledgeable about everything in fashion that was done in the past so that they can recognize trends that become popular again. Fashion Designers are usually involved in every part of designing such as showing, and producing all types of clothing, from bathing suits to evening gowns.

The fashion industry is extremely competitive and very difficult to make a career in, so only those with true determination, talent and vision have the greatest successes. While some fashion designers work to set trends in their clothing and accessories, other fashion designers hired to work for places like department stores design pieces that fit with a trend that’s already taking place.

Fashion Design is fairly unique because it is not a field in which students can take classes, perfect a skill and then enter the workforce with a very strict, marketable skill set. Rather, Fashion Designers usually possess an innate ability or eye for color and design, and they develop these talents through internships and sometimes a two or four year degree.

People entering the field should have a good eye for:

• color
• style
• shape
• an ability to sketch
• some formal preparation in design

Top-notch portfolios are easily as important as a degree, and must be presented on any job interview. No formal certification is required, but a knowledge of things such as textiles as well as being familiar with a large variety of fabrics can go a long way. The most successful Fashion Designers also usually have a sound knowledge of business and marketing.

Fashion Designers make clothing and accessories, and if successful, plan the production and marketing of their own fashion creations. Fashion Designers often specialize in one particular type of clothing or accessory such as men's or women's wear, children's garments, or swimwear.

Fashion Designers try to make fashion news by creating exciting silhouettes, colors and materials that will become popular and which will be work each season. Other Fashion Designers work for places like department stores, and they design garments which follow the fashion trends already in place.

In general, the hours for Fashion Designers are long, and the work is nowhere near as glamorous as many think it is. Initially, the pay is very small, as designers work under a more well-known designer and struggle and wait for the opportunity to share their own creations with the public. The pay in this profession is either hourly or salaried, and salaries can range from $25,000 to well over $100,000 for successful designers.