Fashion
Merchandising
Fashion designers’
median yearly salary
$62,860
1
Careers
Artists & Sketchers
Brand Marketing Manager
Boutique Entrepreneur
Buyer
Clothing Constructionist
Consumer Insights
Manager
Designer
Fashion Artist
Fashion Consultant
Fashion Coordinator
Fashion Editor
Fashion Journalist
Merchandiser/
Merchandise Planner
Pattern Maker
Product Development
Production Supervisor
Quality Control Inspector
Retail Manager
Sales Representative
Sample Maker
Stylist
Textile Technologist
Trend Researcher
Visual Designer
*
may require graduate studies
75% of all salaried
fashion designers work in
New York or California
2
93%
of employers
use LinkedIn
3
This field is predicted to
experience a three percent
drop in next eitght years
4
Strategies for Success
• Investigate all of the options the varying options within the fashion industry.
• Research different trends through media, comparative shopping, and trade shows.
• Understand both the artistic and business sides of design.
• Build an impressive portfolio to gain a solid internship in order to gain future
position. Fashion internships are generally unpaid and may be less glamorous
than expected.
• Be prepared to start at the bottom accepting positions that open doors and work
your way up the ladder.
• Check out favorite designers for possible internships.
• Learn beyond design; understand the steps of production and what compromises
may need to be made to meet demand.
• Seek opportunities to improve communication skills through customer service
positions.
• Work beyond the typical day, giving extra time and effort in each and every task.
• Be willing to accept criticism, developing thick skin when receiving negative
feedback.
• Meet stringent deadlines, developing the ability to work well under pressure.
• Improve networking skills by joining industry organizations in order to network
and improve communication skills.
Statistics: 1) Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2) StatisticBrain, 3)
CNet, 4) Bureau of Labor Statistics
Associations
American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences
www.AAFCS.org
American Marketing Association
www.MarketingPower.com
American Sewing Guild
www.ASG.org
Costume Society of America
www.CostumeSocietyAmerica.com
Council of International Fashion Designers
www.CFDA.com
National Association of Schools of Art & Design
www.NASAD.Arts-Accredit.org
The Fashion Industry Association
www.TheFIA.org
Society of Illustrators
www.SocietyIllustrators.org
World Model Association
www.Worldmodel.org
International Textile & Apparel Association
www.ITAAOnline.org
Holland Codes
The Holland Code system connects individuals with the
career field that best fits their personality. The system
scores the test taker on six separate scales: Realistic (R),
Investigative (I), Artistic (A), Social (S), Enterprising (E),
and Conventional (C). The two or three highest scores
represent an individual’s strongest attributes. Here are a
few examples of positions associated with this major:
Resources
On-Campus and Local Resources
• Access the Christian Service page to see where
previous students have served in the community.
One area fashion students often volunteer is in the
FACS Department’s project, sewing for women of
Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Liberty University’s Annual Fashion Show
• New York City Fashion Intensive
• Paris Fashion Tour
Online Resources
Visit the websites of the following organizations:
Fashion Jobs
Fashion Jobs Central
Free Fashion Internships
Global Experiences
Intern Match
Internships.com
Style Careers
Women’s Wear Daily
InternQueen.com
The Washington Fellowship
Consider spending a semester doing an internship
with The Washington Fellowship. Possible locations
include the following: Anthropologie, Nordstrom,
Holly Hunt, among others. To learn more, visit: www.Liberty.edu/Washington.
Sample Résumé
For a variety of sample résumés visit the
Liberty University Career Center.
-- Buyer (EC)
-- Fashion Designer (AER)
-- Fashion Editor (AEC)
-- Fashion Journalist (AEI)
-- Pattern Maker (RAC)
-- Retail Manager (EC)
The FOCUS 2 Career Assessment utilizes these Holland
Codes and is a free resource to Liberty students.
Assessment results are matched to career options and
majors offered at Liberty. To access this free resource visit
www.Liberty.edu/Focus2.
www.Liberty.edu/Careers (434) 592-4109 Careers@liberty.edu
LIBERTY
U N I V E R S I T Y
career center