If you love fashion then a career in the industry would seem like a dream come true. However, making it in the world of fashion is perhaps a little tougher than other careers – it may take resilience, skill, and just a little bit of luck. However, getting a start in fashion is not as difficult as you might imagine, although it may still take some work on your part! However, noting ventured, nothing gained, besides with a career in fashion the journey can be just as fun as the destination!
There are plenty of courses and opportunities in fashion out there, and the real key to this is getting involved! Only by getting stuck in and meeting people will you be able to really progress in the fashion industry.
Much like the music business, the fashion industry is as much about who you know as what you know. That is not to say that you can’t come in without any contacts and get yourself noticed. For example, you might want to start a fashion blog – if so, focus on smaller brands that you feel are about to go big rather than getting caught up in competing for attention from the big brands.
An internship might be worth considering too – you might not get paid – but you will get some experience (great for the C.V.) and the chance to meet people in the industry. Make the right career connections and you could find your career taking off. The smaller the company you work with, the more likely you are to get more experience as you may have to chip in and help out in a number of different areas. You are also more likely to be noticed by those at the top – and who knows, you might become an important member of the team and land yourself a paid job.
When it comes to making your mark, try not to be swayed by other people’s opinions, but do listen to advice from those you meet. It may seem like a bit of a contradiction, but you need to take on the right advice from the right people while staying true to yourself.
Of course, you should always ask plenty of questions – knowledge is power and good advice can save you time and money compared to ignoring others and ending up making your own mistakes.
It is also worth learning as many different skills as you can – not only will it make you more employable, but if you can handle your own styling, photography, editing, graphic design, and so on, you can save money as you build your own brand. Not to mention being in better control of your creative vision!
While the creative industries (music, art, fashion) are notoriously tough to get into there is always a way in – after all, someone has to do those jobs – why not you?
