Fashion Passion : Making Career In Fashion Industry In India 

The Indian fashion industry is making waves across the globe, making fashion design a lucrative and rewarding career option for aspirants.

The word‘fashion’ connotes a lifestyle trend that is ever-changing and can involve factors such as status and social acceptance. Over the last few years, the Indian fashion industry has been making its presence felt in markets as far as Europe and North America, inspiring an increasing number of fashion designers to carve a niche for themselves in the days to come. Beyond the glitz and glamour commonly associated with the fashion industry, it is factos such as the ability to constantly maintain a fine sense of design, possess excellent management skills, and a thorough understanding of the production process and the demands of the target consumer that enable successful fashion designers to make products household names.

Qualification

No fashion designer can get away without creativity and style. The fashion industry is in a constant state of metamorphosis, due to which fashion designers need to constantly be on their toes. They need to be able to look at old styles and conceptualise a new direction to take with their designs. They must innovate and put a fresh spin on things. Designers must have a strong sense of the esthetic—an eye for color and detail, a sense of balance and proportion, and an appreciation for beauty. Fashion designers also need excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Despite the advancement of computer-aided design, sketching ability remains an important advantage in fashion design.“You must also be a good observer. If you attend a wedding or say a party and are interested in observing what clothes the bride or groom is wearing and ponder over it, then you are going the right way,” says Samira Shah, Director, Lamark Institute of Arts,Mumbai.

Though not mandatory, it is important for students of fashion design to complete a degree or Diploma in Fashion Designing as fashion experts believe an academic course can help one go a long way.“Aspiring students can choose from two-year to four-year courses, depending upon their affordability and requirement, offered by some highly reputed and top-rank institutes in India. A course in fashion design makes your basics stronger and can serve as a direct passport for jobs in most companies. Minus the course, students will have to really work hard to market themselves, opines Shah.

What next?

So if one possesses the talent and is now armed with the academic qualifications, it is time to make sure everyone else knows this too. While still in fashion school, aspiring fashion designers should decide what aspect of fashion design they wish to specialise in, and then plan their next step accordingly. It is no secret that fashion design is a skills-based industry - creativity is crucial, but your applicable skills are just as important if you want to get your foot in the door. Potential employers want to see what you know, and what you can do, so it is never too soon to start picking up the tricks of the trade.

Moreover, building a thorough, professional-looking portfolio is imperative. Emphasising on this aspect, Shah says,“The portfolio must consist of all those projects a student does during the course, new creations if any and their internship assignments. Institutes may also conduct fashion shows to help their students showcase their designs.”

Work wise

In all likelihood, a fashion designer won't start out as the head designer or the creative directory - no matter how skilled and talented. Potential employees must aim to be seen as an asset no matter what position an employer has available.“Everyone starts at step one. Getting a big break is not important but getting a good start is,” explains Rati Balasubramanium who works as a designer withNalli,after completing her fashion design course from JD institute, New Delhi.

The various options of work that fashion students can choose from are joining a fashion company, assisting an established designer, self-employment, such as starting a business or opening a boutique, or freelancing. Elaborates Shah,“Assisting an already established name in the industry gives you a lot of exposure and can be a lucrative prospect as most renowned fashion designers have already established a significant clientele and opened stores of their own. Thus they expect an assistant to not just handle designs but also set-up the store, do the windows, etc. On the other hand, designers who freelance generally work on a contract- basis and are not bound to a particular designer.”

Future prospects

The Indian fashion industry enjoys a prominent place in the international market with its rich silks, traditional handloom fabrics, rustic textures and vibrant dyes. The creation of a world market for Indian garments is largely the contribution of Indian fashion designers and one can safely say that the foundation for growth and been set for upcoming fashion designers. The scope is wide and options many. What’s more, fashion need not be limited to designing garments and accessories. A designer may also choose to compliment their design skills and add to their portfolio by learning about other fields of expertise within the industry, such as merchandising, visual designing (designing windows), organise fashion shows and related events, become an independent stylist, retailing, fashion business management, or even run consultancies.

No matter what route one chooses to become a fashion designer, it involves constantly being on the‘cutting’ edge of style. A challenging reward, but with the right drive and desire, a rewarding one as well. Translating a love of fashion into a lucrative career ultimately depends on putting one’s talent to good use and making sure that one moves with the changing trends in fashion.

Institute Index:

National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi– 011- 6965080 (Branches also at–Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata)
J D Institute of Fashion Technology,Mumbai– Contact: 022-6154949/ 8988914
Indian Institute of Fashion Technology (IIFT), New Delhi– Contact: 011-4620430
Lamark Institute of Arts,Mumbai– Contact: 022-3296745/54/55
National Institute of Design (NID), Ahemedabad– Contact: 079-2662 3692
Sophia Polytechnic,Mumbai– Contact: 022- 2351 3157/4147
Apeejay Centre for Creative and Productive Arts, New Delhi– Contact: 011-6981050
BD Somani Institute of Art& Fashion Technology,Mumbai– Contact: 022-22188818/7102