Careers in Textiles & Fashion
To function smoothly, the fashion industry employs people in many types of jobs. Before clothes arrive in stores to be sold, a great deal of behind-the-scenes work occurs. Some tasks require professionals specially trained in areas of fashion and textiles.
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Fabric Development
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Fabric developers are often employed by large fashion companies and serve as a liaison between fashion designers and fabric mills. They work with mills to develop textiles to a designer's specifications and needs. Responsibilities include working with mills to develop new prints, determining when certain textile finishes are necessary, and negotiating costs. According to simplyhired.com, in 2009 the average textile developer earned $55,000. This position usually requires a four-year textiles-related education.
Fashion Design
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Designers begin the fashion design process with an idea or concept, and turn these ideas into sketches and clothing samples. A fashion designer must have a thorough understanding of the different functions and limits of various textiles. For example, a designer may need to know which fabric to use that will drape best, or what textile is best to give a garment structure. According to salary.com, in 2009 the average fashion designer salary was around $50,000. Some designers are self-taught but it is becoming necessary to obtain a two-year or four-year design degree.
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Technical Design
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Technical designers refine and perfect the fit of all garments. They give vendors detailed instructions on how each item should be constructed. A technical designer must have textiles knowledge to determine what kind of adjustments can be made to a garment. There are limits to how a textile can be manipulated, and a technical designer must be aware of these. According to simplyhired.com, in 2009 the average technical designer salary was around $55,000. A technical designer position usually requires a four-year design degree.
Sourcing
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After a designer commits to using a certain textile, the sourcing team works with mills to produce that fabric as inexpensively as possible. The sourcing representative negotiates costs and manages fabric production until the textiles arrive at the factory to be cut into garments. According to simplyhired.com, in 2009 the average salary of a sourcing manager was around $60,000. Generally, a bachelor's degree is necessary to get into this field, preferably in business.
Quality Assurance
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Quality assurance and textile testers are responsible for providing accurate care-label information and ensuring that all garments meet textile and consumer safety standards. This group will inspect a sample of every product to be sold before it arrives in stores. If a faulty issue or defective product is sent to stores, quality assurance professionals would be responsible for issuing a recall. According to salary.com, in 2009 the average quality assurance specialist salary was around $50,000.
Colorist
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A textile colorist ensures that fabric mills and factories are producing fabric to meet expected color standards. They use special lights to compare vendor color samples against the company's color standards. This guarantees that all colors in a store will look as expected and that the colors will coordinate with each other. According to simplyhired.com, in 2009 the average salary for a color technician was around $50,000. Special training is necessary; some fashion schools offer specific degrees in color theory.
Tailor
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A tailor alters clothing to custom-fit a client. A tailor can run an independent business or work for department stores and dry cleaners. A high skill level and in-depth knowledge of sewing are essential for this job, but a college education is not necessary. According to salary.com, in 2009 the average tailor's salary was around $25,000.
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