Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Kristen,

The main responsibility of a fashion designer is idea creation. They are also responsible for selecting fabrics, trims, and linings for each design and specifying details like buttons and topstitching. Designers usually create at least four collections each year, according to season. They must come up with far more design ideas than will be selected for each season. The designer presents the design sketches to a review team. Once the designs have been selected, the design development department begins the pattern making process. From here, pattern makers, sample sewers, graders, cutters, and many other people take over the actual production of the clothing. However, in some cases the fashion designer may create the original patterns and samples.The designer's responsibilities don't end here though. There is an enormous amount of work that goes into the planning of a line before the designer even starts sketching. The key word is research! Designers research their target market, trends, colors, fabrics, and trims. For inspiration, many research historic period costumes and different cultures, and visit historic costume and textile collections at museums. They are on the constant lookout for new influences and inspirations. They attend textile trade shows to stay aware of new colors and fabrics that are available. The designer also has to attend lots of planning meetings during the research and design stages. All of these factors flow through a designer's mind when coming up with new ideas. They have to be able to transform these details and inspirations into realistic, profitable garment ideas. Hope this answers your question! For more information about majoring in fashion design, e-mail FIDM at info@fidm.com.

Sincerely,