In India, the fashion industry has transformed from the embryonic stage to a blossoming take-off where designers are always on demand . One can find employment in foot wear, leather and garment manufacturing companies. One can also freelance as an Accessory Designer for a domestic company or an export house. Gili, Enchante, Nakshatra, Oyzter Bay, Tanishq and De Beers are renowned names in jewelery designing who recruit fashion designers for manufacturing jewelery items. Alternately, one can become self-employed by setting up a designer boutique of one’s own. The prospects increase in this field with increase in experience.

The different job profiles that can be availed in this industry are – Fashion marketing Merchandising,Fashion design production, Costume design, Personal stylist, Technical designer, Production pattern maker, Cutting assistant, Fashion coordinator, Apparel production manager, Fabric buyer, Fabric quality control manager, Sales representative, Fashion journalism and Fashion photography.

For undergraduate programmes – 10+2 with a minimum of 50% from any recognized board of education is necessary. Having a portfolio of sketches, drawings and other artistic creations will help. Admission to the courses are made through written test, group discussion and interview. For post-graduate courses the applicant should be a bachelors degree holder in architecture or design or interior design or equivalent. A professional diploma holder in design or a B.F.A degree holder is also eligible. Moreover, a master’s degree holder in Arts/Computer Application /Science can also apply.

Major entrance exams for Fashion Designing Courses:

• Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED)
• NIFT Entrance Test
• NID Entrance Test
• Pearl Academy of Fashion Entrance Test (PAF)

This is an extremely creative and well-paid profession. A Fashion Photographer needs to have a keen eye for aesthetic detail, a thorough knowledge of cameras and the technicalities involved in taking pictures, of light, distance and perspective to be successful. One should be inventive and have the ability to visualize and communicate his ideas, at the same time must be sensitive to the moods of the models and interact freely with them. Fashion photography is one of the choices that photographers can diversify into. They can do freelancing and find employment with fashion houses, designers, fashion journals and newspapers.

Graphic communication is the language of a Fashion Designer and therefore, drawing is a mandatory skill one should possess. If colors, textures and images turn you on, its about time to pick up that drawing board and let your imagination flow! If one is creative and artistic enough to add some style to otherwise cognate items, one can take up a career in fashion designing.