Careers in Fashion Editing
Fashion editing career opportunities are available to individuals that have strong writing, editing and proofreading skills, and an educational background in fashion merchandising or fashion design. Fashion editors may work for magazines, on a freelance basis or work exclusively for a boutique store in the catalog and marketing department. There are a variety of fashion editing careers available in this fast-growing industry, and job opportunities are expected to grow with the growth of fashion websites, blogs and other types of online media.
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Primary Responsibilities
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Individuals who pursue a career in fashion editing are primarily responsible for supervising the creative process for the articles and copy used in print publications and on their company's websites. Fashion editors may also be responsible for traveling to fashion shows, meeting with fashion designers and vendors, and attending parties and events to network with other professionals in the industry. Other responsibilities include: working with photographers and content writers to create magazine layouts and promotional pages, conducting interviews with fashion professionals, overseeing distribution of newsletters, and starting or maintaining a blog.
Positions
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Positions in the field of fashion editing may include: editor-in-chief of a print publication, assistant editor, publication assistant, fashion marketing writer, web site editor, fashion blogger or blog editor, fashion writer and freelance fashion editor.
The editor-in-chief is responsible for overseeing the creative process from design to the final draft review of the publication or website, and typically supervises the assistant editor and other members of the editing department. Writing, blogging and website editing positions may be where a future editor-in-chief or assistant editor begins their career.
Individuals interested in pursuing a fashion editing career on a freelance basis may be able to work with a variety of private clients as an independent contractor and offer fashion editing and consulting services. -
Qualifications
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, editors interested in specializing in fashion will need some experience in their field, in addition to a four-year liberal arts, journalism or English degree from an accredited college or university. A background in web design and web publishing may also be helpful for fashion editing professionals that want to work for publications that have an online entity. Some colleges and universities that offer fashion merchandising and design courses may also require the student to complete an internship where they can learn about the fashion publishing process and gain skills in fashion forecasting.
Career Outlook
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that jobs for individuals pursuing an editing career are expected to grow 10 percent from 2006 to 2016. Fashion editors who have both online and offline publishing skills may be in higher demand in the next decade with the growth of fashion news websites and entertainment blogs, according to Fashion-Schools.org.
Fashion-Schools.org also reports that the salary range for entry-level editors is typically $30,000 to $40,000 while the top level pay range can be $70,000 to $100,000.
Considerations
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Men and women interested in pursuing fashion editing careers, or any type of job in the fashion industry, can gain experience in the field by taking an entry-level position as a fashion writer, fashion blogger or a fashion assistant.
According to Fashion.net, the journey to becoming a fashion editor can be a long one and the field is becoming increasingly competitive. However, candidates with internship experience, a real passion for fashion and the right attitude can look forward to a rewarding career in fashion editing.
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