5 answers
Ember
Student
Mount Juliet, Tennessee
1
Question
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Fashion designers and writers, what are your opinions?
I am just starting college and am thinking about pursuing a career in fashion designing or writing (novels, fiction, articles). If anyone from either of these career paths sees this, what does a day to day life look like for you? How did you get started? What education did you receive? Was the job you chose anything like you were expecting?
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5 answers
Tami Sullivan
Content Developer
15
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Tami’s Answer
I'm not trying to rain on your parade here, but even if it's your life's passion, it might not always pan out. I started designing sewing patterns at a really young age, and by the time I was 9, I had won a fair share of blue ribbons at local sewing contests. I'm not saying this to show off, but because I genuinely loved the craft. Later, I had a brief opportunity to study on a scholarship and discovered that I was more fascinated by the history of the craft than I had anticipated. Also, the history of child labor is an area to consider despite this being a great option as a craft for youngsters.
That said, there are so many other fields you can delve into, like theatre costuming, historical research, or even teaching home economics. It seems like entrepreneurship would be another way to go. It's important to keep engaging in activities you love without losing your creative spark. Writing is another field that offers a variety of opportunities. I would suggest gaining some practical experience and figuring out what works best for you in terms of give and take.
That said, there are so many other fields you can delve into, like theatre costuming, historical research, or even teaching home economics. It seems like entrepreneurship would be another way to go. It's important to keep engaging in activities you love without losing your creative spark. Writing is another field that offers a variety of opportunities. I would suggest gaining some practical experience and figuring out what works best for you in terms of give and take.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
549
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hello Ember,
It's great that you're considering fashion design and writing as potential career paths! While I don't personally work in those fields, I can share some insights from people in those professions based on common experiences:
Fashion Designers:
- Day-to-Day Life: Fashion designers typically spend their days sketching designs, choosing fabrics, and creating prototypes. They also meet with clients or manufacturers, attend fashion shows, and work on marketing their collections. A lot of time is spent collaborating with teams, adjusting designs, and overseeing production.
- Getting Started: Many fashion designers start with a degree in fashion design, fashion merchandising, or a related field. It's common to build a portfolio and intern at fashion houses or with established designers to gain hands-on experience.
- Education: A degree or diploma in fashion design, knowledge of textiles, and sewing or pattern-making skills are crucial. Some designers also study fashion business or marketing.
- Expectation vs Reality: The fashion industry can be fast-paced and demanding, with tight deadlines and a lot of competition. While creative freedom is part of the job, designers often face constraints like client preferences or budget limitations.
Writers (Novels, Fiction, Articles):
- Day-to-Day Life: Writers often have a lot of flexibility in their daily routine. Some set strict schedules for writing, while others work when inspiration strikes. Fiction writers may spend their days drafting, revising, and editing, while article writers could research and interview sources for pieces. It often involves long solitary hours.
- Getting Started: Writers can come from various educational backgrounds. While some pursue degrees in creative writing, journalism, or English, others start writing without formal training. Building a portfolio of written work, publishing in magazines or online, and networking are key to success.
- Education: A degree in literature, creative writing, or journalism can help develop technical skills, but self-taught writers can be just as successful. Regular writing practice and reading are essential to growth.
- Expectation vs Reality: Writing can be creatively fulfilling, but it can also be isolating and inconsistent in terms of income. While novelists might have periods of inspiration, much of the work is revising drafts. For article writers, deadlines and revisions based on editor feedback can be challenging.
Both paths are creative and rewarding but require dedication, persistence, and hard work.
Best wishes!
It's great that you're considering fashion design and writing as potential career paths! While I don't personally work in those fields, I can share some insights from people in those professions based on common experiences:
Fashion Designers:
- Day-to-Day Life: Fashion designers typically spend their days sketching designs, choosing fabrics, and creating prototypes. They also meet with clients or manufacturers, attend fashion shows, and work on marketing their collections. A lot of time is spent collaborating with teams, adjusting designs, and overseeing production.
- Getting Started: Many fashion designers start with a degree in fashion design, fashion merchandising, or a related field. It's common to build a portfolio and intern at fashion houses or with established designers to gain hands-on experience.
- Education: A degree or diploma in fashion design, knowledge of textiles, and sewing or pattern-making skills are crucial. Some designers also study fashion business or marketing.
- Expectation vs Reality: The fashion industry can be fast-paced and demanding, with tight deadlines and a lot of competition. While creative freedom is part of the job, designers often face constraints like client preferences or budget limitations.
Writers (Novels, Fiction, Articles):
- Day-to-Day Life: Writers often have a lot of flexibility in their daily routine. Some set strict schedules for writing, while others work when inspiration strikes. Fiction writers may spend their days drafting, revising, and editing, while article writers could research and interview sources for pieces. It often involves long solitary hours.
- Getting Started: Writers can come from various educational backgrounds. While some pursue degrees in creative writing, journalism, or English, others start writing without formal training. Building a portfolio of written work, publishing in magazines or online, and networking are key to success.
- Education: A degree in literature, creative writing, or journalism can help develop technical skills, but self-taught writers can be just as successful. Regular writing practice and reading are essential to growth.
- Expectation vs Reality: Writing can be creatively fulfilling, but it can also be isolating and inconsistent in terms of income. While novelists might have periods of inspiration, much of the work is revising drafts. For article writers, deadlines and revisions based on editor feedback can be challenging.
Both paths are creative and rewarding but require dedication, persistence, and hard work.
Best wishes!
Doc Raymond
songwriter
9
Answers
Hiawassee, Georgia
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Ember,
Those are two diverse fields, one requires an eye for design, the other the art of creative writing, which is not to say that both can also be used. I suggest you contact SCAD, the Savannah School of Art & Design https://www.scad.edu/locations/savannah a great resource for information on fashion design. As for the novel writing, start writing a daily journal of the happenings in your life, then at the end of the week read it over and compose a poem, a short story or even a song lyric from it. Practice, Practice, Practice and who knows one day you might just write a Best Seller!
Never give up on your dreams! Best Wishes for Success!
Those are two diverse fields, one requires an eye for design, the other the art of creative writing, which is not to say that both can also be used. I suggest you contact SCAD, the Savannah School of Art & Design https://www.scad.edu/locations/savannah a great resource for information on fashion design. As for the novel writing, start writing a daily journal of the happenings in your life, then at the end of the week read it over and compose a poem, a short story or even a song lyric from it. Practice, Practice, Practice and who knows one day you might just write a Best Seller!
Never give up on your dreams! Best Wishes for Success!
JOHN DARROUZET
Writer
10
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
JOHN’s Answer
Hi, Ember.
Visual storytelling seems to be a fitting path for you.
As a successful screenwriter, I would recommend taking courses on the great novels. Why? Because novels form the basis of great TV series where the best writing is being visualized. They also allow you to see what the author is trying to describe.
Film school would be a good fit.
Think big. Check out the award-winning costume designers and read about their path.
Do not judge your future based on their pasts. Nor simply go for trendy choices available in the present. You can decide to take your audience into the fashion you see for the future.
Let me know if you want to correspond further.
Thanks.
John Darrouzet
Visual storytelling seems to be a fitting path for you.
As a successful screenwriter, I would recommend taking courses on the great novels. Why? Because novels form the basis of great TV series where the best writing is being visualized. They also allow you to see what the author is trying to describe.
Film school would be a good fit.
Think big. Check out the award-winning costume designers and read about their path.
Do not judge your future based on their pasts. Nor simply go for trendy choices available in the present. You can decide to take your audience into the fashion you see for the future.
Let me know if you want to correspond further.
Thanks.
John Darrouzet
Irene Smolyanskaya
Designer Creative Draper Educator
23
Answers
Boulder, Colorado
Updated
Irene’s Answer
Hi Ember!
I believe that Chinyere’s answer pretty clearly describes the difference in the lifestyle and dat-to-day obligations for each career path.
Personally, I’ve been working in the Fashion industry for over 20 years, and my job is usually very demanding in terms of creativity, it’s stressful in terms of tight deadlines, and requires some insane work hours twice a year, in preparation for the New York Fashion Week. That said, I’d never regretted my choice of career. I am a very talented designer and a pattern maker, and I get a great satisfaction seeing the clothes I created being worn.
It sounds that you also have a talent for writing. Why not combine the two passions and train to be a Fashion Magazine Writer or a Reporter who writes about fashion and the garment industry in general.
Writing is not my area of expertise, but I’m sure there are great colleges in your area that offer some Creative Writing classes. Taking a Merchandising class, and maybe a Technical Design class at a reputable Fashion school would help you make a decision if one or the other career is of more interest to you. You might also decide to dive deeper into developing your skills in journalism.
I’m sure you'll find a career that could accommodate your talents and passions! The decision doesn’t have to be final at the beginning of your studies. There is a lot of opportunities to fine-tune your education to match your interests, as you go along.
Good luck!
I believe that Chinyere’s answer pretty clearly describes the difference in the lifestyle and dat-to-day obligations for each career path.
Personally, I’ve been working in the Fashion industry for over 20 years, and my job is usually very demanding in terms of creativity, it’s stressful in terms of tight deadlines, and requires some insane work hours twice a year, in preparation for the New York Fashion Week. That said, I’d never regretted my choice of career. I am a very talented designer and a pattern maker, and I get a great satisfaction seeing the clothes I created being worn.
It sounds that you also have a talent for writing. Why not combine the two passions and train to be a Fashion Magazine Writer or a Reporter who writes about fashion and the garment industry in general.
Writing is not my area of expertise, but I’m sure there are great colleges in your area that offer some Creative Writing classes. Taking a Merchandising class, and maybe a Technical Design class at a reputable Fashion school would help you make a decision if one or the other career is of more interest to you. You might also decide to dive deeper into developing your skills in journalism.
I’m sure you'll find a career that could accommodate your talents and passions! The decision doesn’t have to be final at the beginning of your studies. There is a lot of opportunities to fine-tune your education to match your interests, as you go along.
Good luck!