Before deciding on any major of study it is always best to research the field beforehand. There are many great books available that teach about the fashion industry from the beginning stages to the end. One such book, The Fashion Handbook by Tim Jackson and David Shaw, provides detailed information on every aspect of the fashion industry from concept to the store front.
Gain Basic Knowledge of the Human Form
Half of what makes a piece of apparel desirable is the way it hangs on the body. Without any basic knowledge about the human form your designs, while beautiful on paper, will not hold water. You do not have to take a biology or human physiology course to understand the human form better. Enroll in a figure drawing class, purchase a fashion illustration text, or just observe other people to gain insight into how the body moves and how clothing should look on it.
Practice Sewing
While a fashion program at a university or fashion school will teach you how to sew, you will have to come up to speed on your own. This is why purchasing a good home sewing machine and a sewing book will put you ahead of the game. Practice some of the basic stitches, such as the running stitch, zigzag stitch and hemming stitches as well as sewing and finishing seams. If these terms sound like Greek to you, then you may want to go to the nearest fabric or crafts store and buy a sewing book right away.
If you already know how to machine sew, then take this opportunity to brush up on hand sewing skills. Those couture designs you love looking at on the Paris runways are hand sewn. In fact, even with many machine sewn clothing, there are pieces of a garment that are often hand sewn such as hems, buttons, beading, and lining attachments.
Tools of the Trade
Besides study texts and sewing machines, there are other tools of the trade you should become familiar with prior to entering into a fashion program. Investing in a dressform is a wise decision. The dressform allows for you to see how a garment hangs on the body while you are constructing it.
Art supplies are another wise investment. Pencils of different lead hardness, colored pencils, plastic erasers, sharpeners, and different grades of drawing paper are tools to help you illustrate your designs more effectively. Also, a swatch book is good to have. You can make your own by purchasing swatches of fabric from a fabric store. Fabric swatches are a great learning tool to figure out what fabric is best suited for design. Not to mention, many designers are often inspired by fabric when creating their seasonal collections.
Keep Current on Trends
Knowing the current trends in fashion and the top players in the industry is useful information to possess. An easy way to stay abreast of this is to subscribe to major fashion magazines such as Women’s Wear Daily, Vogue, W and Elle. Trend watching is not limited to fashion. Political, economic, environmental and social trends are heavy influences on the fashion world. Watch the news and read news media from around the world to stay up to date.
These tips will help give you a jump start on your course of study in fashion. Remember that knowledge is power and it will always benefit your career.
