Popular Career Options for Fashion Designers in India

Janvi Bhambri

Updated On: February 22, 2024 12:43 pm IST

Becoming a fashion designer can be quite a chaos due to the number of career options that lay in front of you. Here are some of the most popular employment areas and career options for fashion designers in India.

Popular Career Options for Fashion Designers in India

Popular Career Options for Fashion Designers in India: Fashion Design has remained one of the most popular career choices among design enthusiasts. As the name suggests, fashion designing courses revolve around the art of designing any basic clothing into an appealing fashion brand-new look. Candidates who are enthusiastic about the fashion industry and the trend set by them must not delay and dive into this field to explore and enhance their creative skills. The popular career options for fashion designers in India are as unique as the field itself. Being one of the top vocational choices for students across the country and globe, the popularity of this course is immense, so students who are confused about career options after fashion design must refer to this article. 

Fashion Designers of India have not only gained prestigious status in the country but they have also been recognised globally for their rich culture and diversity display. With the evolution of the cultural and social spectrum in the country, fashion designers have been lucrative in their careers. Keep scrolling through the article to learn about the types of fashion designers, best courses, skills, career prospects and more.

    Types of Fashion Designers

    Fashion Designers are one of the popular career options but it is not limited to only this. It comes from clothing designs to footwear designs to jewellery designs and more. Explore different types of fashion designers here:

    • Apparel Designers: Apparel fashion designers are also known as clothing designers. They create various outfits such as party, casual, morning, and evening wear. These fashion designer careers require them to design clothes for fashion shows, events, and individual clients for their personal needs. Designers also create clothing for major brands and retail outlets
    • Footwear Designers: Footwear designers create various types of footwear. They work in the manufacturing industry, retail, and high-street stores. They may also work with clothing designers to create the best product
    • Fashion Accessory Designer: Fashion accessory designers create accessories that enhance the overall look. They create jewellery, handbags, belts, and other accessories. Fashion accessory designers also work with footwear and apparel designers to create a link between the entire style statement
    • Costume Designers: Costume designers create costumes for films and television shows. They research the fashion trends of the time period in which the performance is taking place. These fashion designer careers collaborate with directors, who select and create appropriate attire based on the needs of the production
    • Jewellery Designers: Create accessories that match the dress using precious metals such as diamonds, beads, and gemstones. Jewelers have existed since ancient times. We can see it in movies and television shows about ancient history. It gives us a taste of how the rulers and common people used to be dressed. Drawing is not the only skill required for a career as a jewellery designer

    Also Read: Fashion Designing Vs Fashion Communication

    Role of a Fashion Designer 

    To begin, fashion designers create rough sketches on paper. They also use computer-aided design (AutoCAD) or computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software to design. They design and make clothing and accessories like jewellery and handbags. To come up with effective ideas and predict the future, fashion designers must study past and present trends. Fashion designers sketch and research trends for their designs. Attending trade shows and visiting manufacturers to select fabrics and trims is required for a career as a Fashion Designer. Designers then transform those materials into various types of clothing based on market demand as well as the clients' specific needs. After that, the product is marketed to retailers and wholesalers. 

    A fashion designer also does the following:

    • Creating a design process from conception to completion
    • Participating in market research, fabric and technique trends, and looking for design inspiration
    • Editing designs in real-time and developing new ideas
    • Choosing appropriate fabrics and snips
    • Creating designs for customised packages
    • Working with the technical team to ensure that the packages are accurate
    • Product re-examination before presentations
    • Client presentations of story, theme, and seasonal boards

    Best Courses to Become a Fashion Designer

    Completing a relevant course in Fashion Designing is an extremely important and crucial step that any design aspirant will have to take on the path of becoming a fashion designer. The leading design institutes of the country offer many programmes in fashion design at the undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, as well as certificate levels. You can choose any course as per your convenience and requirements. The table given below provides a list of some of the most sought-after fashion design programmes that are offered in India. 

    There are different types of fashion designing courses available at UG, PG & Diploma levels. Have a look at the most popular degree types here:

    Course Type

    Specialisation

    Diploma Courses

    Fashion Design

    Fashion Communication

    Fashion Accessories

    Fashion Illustration

    Fashion Marketing

    Fashion Management

    Bachelors Degree

    Fashion Design

    Fashion Styling and Image Designing

    Leather Design

    Jewellery Design

    Communication Design

    Masters Degree

    Fashion Design

    Fashion Design and Business Management

    Textile Management

    Communication Design

    Fashion Merchandising and Retail Management

    List of Fashion Designing Courses in India

    Check out the table below to learn about various fashion designing courses, as well as their eligibility requirements, duration, and fashion designing course fees:

    Name of the Course

    Eligibility Criteria

    Duration

    Annual Fees
    (Approx. in INR)

    B.Design in Fashion

    4 years

    1,15,000-1,20,000

    Bachelors of Fashion Design

    4 years

    3,12,000 

    B.Sc. in Fashion Design

    Minimum 45% marks in 10+2

    3 years

    20,000-40,000

    B.A. in Fashion Design

    3 years

    30,000- 2,00,000

    B.Sc. in Fashion and Apparel Designing

    Minimum 45% marks in 10+2

    3 years

    20,000-40,000

    Diploma In Fashion Design

    Candidates must have passed 10+2 with at least 50% marks

    1 year to 3 years

    60,000-80,000

    Computer-Aided Diploma in Fashion Designing

    Candidates must have passed 10+2, however, graduates can also apply for the course

    4 months to 1 year

    75,000

    Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design and Management

    Candidates must have successfully cleared 10+2 to apply

    2 years

    90,000

    M. Design in Fashion & Textiles

    • 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Design (for NID)
    • Bachelor’s Degree in Design with minimum qualifying marks

    2 years

    97,000-1,39,000

    M.Sc. in Fashion Designing

    Graduation Degree in Fashion Design

    2 years

    1,19,000

    M.A. in Fashion Design

    Graduation Degree in Fashion Design

    2 years

    1,63,000

    Masters of Fashion Management

    • Bachelors of Fashion Design with a minimum of 50%
    • A valid score in NIFT PG Entrance Test, AIEED PG Test, etc

    2 years

    3,12,000

    P.G. Diploma in Fashion Design

    Candidates must have pursued graduation (preferably in fashion designing)

    1 year to 18 months

    60,000-90,000

    Diploma in Fashion Design & Merchandising

    Aspirants can apply after passing 10+2

    1 Year

    40,000-90,000

    Certificate Course in Fashion Designing

    6 months to 1 year

    14,000-60,000

    Advance Certification in Fashion Design

    1 Year to 2 Years

    80,000-1,30,000

    Skills Required to Become a Fashion Designer

    Becoming a fashion designer is the ultimate dream of a huge population of today's youth. However, the process of reaching those heights and becoming a fashion designer is not as easy as it looks or sounds. One has to have certain skills and a particular thinking process to become a fashion designer.
    If one day you wish to stand next to Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Ritu Beri or Manish Malhotra, you should work on some particular set of skills. An aspiring designer should have some of the same qualities which will help him/ her in the journey of becoming a fashion designer and also when he/ she has set a benchmark professionally. Here are some of the qualities you'll need to succeed as a designer:

    Creativity: Being creative is as important for a designer as for a pilot to know how to fly a plane. Being creative is the fuel for a designer’s career. To design anything you need to be artistic and a creative mind can take you ahead.

    Good Communication Skills: The creation of a garment is not only a designer’s job but many people are also associated with it like tailors, retailers etc. So, you must be able to effectively communicate with everyone involved what he or she expects.

    Time Management Skills: A Fashion Designer is required to have sound time management skills as they have to multi-task and complete the projects before the allotted deadlines.

    Strive to do Better: The need to improve and to be better should never leave your mind. The fashion industry works at a very fast pace and to keep up you need to work on yourself and your way every day. You should strive to do better than your peers to come up with quality innovative designs quickly.

    Sketching Skills: A designer is required to sketch his/ her designs to make people understand their point of view or their vision. So, having really good sketching skills is a must.

    Trendy: Being trendy is a designer’s livelihood. A designer needs to keep up with the trends and create something that people like and want. Being trendy keeps you on top of your game and top of the industry.

    Career Prospects for Fashion Designers

    The fashion industry of India is among the most emerging and successful industries due to the constant demand by consumers. The preferences for designer apparel are changing day by day and fashion brands are occupied with launching new lines for every season. People are more concerned about choosing a designer outfit and wish to have the best outfit for every occasion. Thus, it is not likely for the sun to go down on the demand for fashion in India. The fashion industry offers a lot of opportunities to the hardworking, creative, and competent candidates. Renowned fashion companies and designers hire these candidates to upgrade their garment designing creatively.

    Check out the top employment areas, job roles and recruiting companies that an aspiring Fashion Designer must know about before entering the industry.

    Employment Areas

    Job Profile

    Top Recruiting Companies
    • Fashion Brands
    • Fashion Houses
    • Retail
    • Fashion Magazine
    • Exhibitions
    • Self Employment
    • Fashion Websites
    • Textile Industry
    • Television
    • Film Industry
    • Brand Management
    • Accessory Design Sector
    • Show Business
    • Production
    • Footwear Sector
    • Marketing
    • Jewellery Sector
    • Quality Assurance
    • Illustration
    • Fashion Designing
    • Shoppers Stop
    • Myntra
    • Zara
    • Raymonds
    • Manish Malhotra
    • Pantaloon
    • Levis
    • Proline
    • Snapdeal
    • Sabyasachi Mukherjee
    • Rohit Bal

    Also Read:Fashion Designing vs.Textile Designing

    Fashion Designer's Job Role & Salary

    India is one of the oldest and most prestigious textile and handmade product hubs. It is also the second-largest textile and clothing exporter in the world. So, the popular career options for fashion designers in India are not only restricted to rewarding careers but also career growth in forthcoming. 

    The excitement and competition in the fashion design field are also leading to a variety of job opportunities for creative minds. Fashion design, garment manufacturing and research, and textile design are some of the most popular career options for fashion designers in India. Refer to the popular fashion designer job roles, along with their salaries below:

    Fashion Designer: You can make a lot of money if you are good at what you do and unquestionably relevant. Fashion design entails creating one-of-a-kind designs for clothing and accessories to meet people's fashion needs with changing trends. Fashion design is a broad field that includes jewellery, footwear, accessories, luggage, and other products. The starting salary for a fashion designer varies depending on location and reputation, but on average, a fashion designer earns between INR 3 lakh/year and INR 6 lakh/year.

    Fashion Stylists: Maintaining the appearance and elegance of fashion shows, events, publication shoots, and other similar fashion-related promotional initiatives is part of a fashion industry professional's job. They pay close attention to makeup, clothing, and hairstyle to ensure that the show and current cast members look their best. The starting salary is approximately INR 4 LPA - 5 LPA and the year's experience is approximately INR 8 LPA - INR 7 LPA.

    Fashion Merchandiser: To determine which products to provide for a company, they investigate their clients' historical purchasing habits. Budgets and revenue-generating goods are typically created in collaboration with management by fashion designers. A Fashion Merchandiser's starting salary ranges between INR 3 - INR 5 lakhs per year. After gaining experience, it is possible to earn more than INR 8 LPA - INR 9 LPA.

    Retail Manager: A store manager is in charge of a variety of tasks, including setting sales goals and promoting products. One of its primary responsibilities is to provide the highest possible level of customer satisfaction. Retail managers in the fashion industry have the same functions and responsibilities as they do everywhere else. The starting salary is around INR 3 LPA - INR 5 LPA, and after working for a few years, the income will be around INR 10 LPA - INR 12 LPA.

    Textile Designer: Textile designers in textile and fashion design studios are in high demand. Their work determines the product's inherent quality, composition, and general suitability. This field pays a starting salary of more than INR 4.5 lakh per year, which increases with experience.

    Popular Colleges to Study Fashion Design 

    Some of the most well-known colleges for aspiring fashion designers are listed below. You can use the link to learn more about the college or to apply for admission.

    Also Read:How is a Fashion Designer Different from a Fashion Stylist?

    To make the application process for a desired design college hassle-free, do not forget to either dial 1800-572-9877 (toll-free) or fill up the Common Application Form. For any further queries, write to us in the QnA zone.

    You can also go through the top design colleges in the country and shortlist the best institute for yourself. Some popular design entrance exams are conducted for selecting students for the fashion design course in India.

    Stay connected to CollegDekho to get more information about design admissions in India!

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    FAQs

    What are the career opportunities in fashion designing?

    Some of the career opportunities in fashion designing include: 

    - Fashion Designer

    - Fashion Journalist

    - Jewellery Designer

    - Fashion Photography 

    - Retail Market 

    - Fashion Model 

    - Fashion Blogger/Writer 

    - Art Direction

    Is a career in fashion designing in India rewarding?

    A career in fashion designing in India is not only rewarding but also exciting. Being one of the growing career paths, it is also the best way to stay aware of the current trends.

    Can I make a career in fashion designing after 12th?

    Yes, candidates can pursue fashion designing after 12th. They can do bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fashion design after completing their class 12th. Admission to this specialisation will be either based on merit, entrance test, group discussion or interview.

    Is fashion design a high-paying job?

    Yes, fashion design is a high-paying job. Candidates who have gained experience in this field can get handsome salary packages. The average salary package for this specialisation is INR 4.3 Lakhs.

    Is 12th marks important for fashion designing?

    Students must pass their class 12th with a minimum of 50% mark to be eligible for fashion designing. However, the merit-based or entrance-based selection will depend on the institution.

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