How to Become a Kid's Fashion Designer

Of all the types of fashion design, children's fashion design is one of the most versatile. There is an abundance of smaller niches within this category of fashion, and it is very lucrative because parents will always have a need to dress their children, and they tend to spend more on their kid's clothing than they do clothing for themselves. Even independent kid's fashion designers can be successful, as long as they choose a specialization. Becoming a kids fashion designer can be fun, but takes thorough planning and preparation.

Instructions

1. Choose a niche in kid's design to focus on--this is especially important for designers launching their own line or company. Examples of niches include toddler clothing, infant and baby clothes, tween (young adolescent) girl clothing, kids formal wear, kids wedding clothes or kids accessories.

2. Decide what setting you want to work in. For example, you can work independently and develop your own fashion line, make custom orders or work as a designer for an established kids fashion brand. Each setting will require different degrees of education--most established design houses prefer to hire those with degrees in fashion or textile design.

3. Determine how you will sell your kids fashion line if you plan to venture out on your own. For example, you can start an e-commerce only business or launch a retail store.

4. Obtain a bachelor's degree in fashion or textile design, or train on your own. You will need to learn how to sketch designs, do computer aided drafting (CAD), sew and develop a fashion collection--this will be your first portfolio.

5. Apply for a position as a designer with an established kid's design house, if you want to go this route with your career. You will be asked for portfolio examples, so be sure to adhere to the company's guidelines--some only accept portfolio examples in specific formats.

6. Develop your first kid's fashion line if you will be working independently. In addition to sketching the designs, you will need to sew a prototype of each one--or hire someone to do this--and put together an online or print portfolio, also called a “lookbook”.

7. Promote your first line of kid's clothing by attending trade shows, such as the Chicago Childrenswear Collective or MAGIC International, developing a promotional or e-commerce website, producing a kid's fashion show at a local mall or distributing press releases to magazines aimed at parents.

References

• Starting a Children's Clothing Line
• Start a Fashion Business: Anticipating Trends in Children's Fashion

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• James Girone's Guide to Wholesale Children' s wear