How to Make a Fashion Design Portfolio

A portfolio displays the sampling of work done by an artist, designer or illustrator. Having a great portfolio is very important for jump starting a career and getting jobs in these areas. There are certain guidelines for a fashion portfolio. Use the tips below to get started.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get something to hold and organize the work. This can be a variety if things. If you are young and starting out, a binder with page inserts works well. It may be best to spend the money on a nice large portfolio or presentation folder from a craft store or office supply store.

2. Collect samples of your best work, and begin to organize or group them together by collection. If you have multiple collections to display, you may include a few samples of inspiration for the design. This may be a painting of a flower, a song or the texture of a rusted piece of metal.

3. Include your sketches. These should be large, colored final sketches of the design. This shows your original intentions with the design. If there is room, you may even include small preliminary sketches that show the development of your design.

4. Include fabric swatches. These are small pieces of fabric that show what you would make the designs out of, or what you intend to make the designs out of. They may be small squares, but have enough of the fabric to show the texture or pattern well. Some fabric stores may give free or sell swatches, or you may have to buy a small amount of fabric.

5. Include finished photos of the fashion design in your portfolio if you have some. Anything that you actually make should be photographed while someone is wearing it. The photo should also be in color and large enough to show detail.

6. Put the work in a logical order. Think about the emotions or feelings that each photo or design evokes when you look at it. Consider each one and whether they flow in the order of a sort of story.

7. Go digital. With the technology of today, many places prefer a digital copy burnt to disc. If you apply to colleges or jobs far away, the only source of contact may be through email and over phone. Scan all images and sketches, and creatively place them in order to be viewed easily. This can be very simple or get very complicated.

[djung]

on 10/13/2009 A great website for posting our fashion portfolio is Clashe (http://www.clashe.com). Clashe will allow you to publish your bio, press releases and pictures online for free. Check out the site or send me a message for more tips.

[erin-813]

on 9/16/2009 Hello, I am not a fashion major, so I almost don't know where to even begin in designing pieces for my portfolio. I have some very vague clothing sketches, graphic designs, and greeting card designs. Can someone suggest a list of certain mediums that need to be included in my portfolio? Also if I am not a great illustrator, do I include my sketches at all, or leave them out? Any guidelines would help! I am only looking to get started with an internship, but I thought having a portfolio would help me get that internship. Thanks!!