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Fashion/accessory designers may transact business in their own offices, clients’ homes or offices, or may travel to other locations such as showrooms or manufacturing facilities. Designers frequently adjust their workday to suit their clients, meeting with them in the evenings, or on weekends when necessary.

Apparel marketing and merchandising professionals need to travel and coordinate with export houses, wholesalers, boutiques, etc. They would also need to be at garment manufacturing and designing workshops to understand how to pitch their sales presentation.

Fashion models are generally needed for fashion shoots in studios or location and event venues for ramp shows.

Fashion photographers travel all over the place where fashion events, exhinbitions, trade fairsare held and coordinate with fashion designers and event managers



Specialisations

Fashion design focuses on creativity and innovation with an accent on commercialism and practicality.
Accessory design, similar in focus, is more for enhancing the appeal of a garment and ornamentation hence aesthetics and appeal dominate.
Garment manufacaturing technology deals with the scientific and technical elements that go into producing a garment and ideal for those who would rather deal with the practicalities than the artistic and creative (as in fashion design)

Apparel marketing and merchandising provides the link between the manufacturer and the retailer. It involves research into general fashion trends/market competition, product planning, advertising, public relations and promotion. In an age when how you sell something is as important as what you sell, this specialization is crucial.

Fashion writing, styling, fashion communication and fashion photography are functions related to fashion but require skills typical to the work itself in addition to an excellent perception of the industry. Fashion illustration and fashion photography are alternatives for a fashion designer or allied professional since there are rarely specific training programmes for such jobs.

Stylists’ work includes magazines, promotional material such as brochures and publicity shoots, fashion shows, events, television shows, music business. Sometimes styling overlaps with display and many freelancers may do both.

Fashion modellling is a popular option for young people but requires no training in fashion. Training in deportment and personality development would be helpful, though.



Physical and Psychological Requirements

Creativity is crucial in all design occupations. Fashion/accessory designer should have an aptitude for visual expression – drawing, cutting, painting, making, exploring colour and texture; an interest in how clothes are made; ability to research information; facility for organizing and analyzing material, knowing trends and making reasoned critical judgements; curiosity and interest in society and the environment; a fascination with change and development.
Pereption, analytical ability, flexibility and good communication skills are needed for sales, marketing and merchandising jobs.
Garment technologists should have an interest in the technology of fashion, organizing ability, creative approach to problem solving, eye for details, the ability to delegate and deal with people.