Careers in the Fashion Industry

 If you are like me, the only word you associate with future is fashion. You know you love design, derive artistic inspiration from the various things inherent in daily life, and see yourself surrounded by clothes and powerful powerful people. But what exactly does this mean career-wise? How can you decipher and explain to others the title of your desired occupation? First things first, the most important idea to keep at front of mind is there is nothing as valuable as interning or gaining experience within the industry, not only to get an idea of what jobs you like and don’t like, but also to build your personal network and create connections that will serve you throughout the rest of your personal and professional life.
Still, for the driven dreamers like me, who may be unsure of which role they would thrive in, or the mere nature of careers available in the fashion industry, here is a good general guide:
Fashion Buyer: The power of the store is in your hands, Fashion Buyer. In this role, one would have to possess a good understanding of future trends and what items might be necessary to carry in their stores. They have the benefit of being a shopper for a living–visiting vast amounts of independent label shops, discovering new up and coming brands, and attending showcases and trade shows to gather a collection of items from various labels to display and sell in their store.
Fashion Merchandiser: Worried about not having studied Fashion in college? Fear not. This is one of the many positions within the industry that does not necessitate any type of fashion degree. In fact, any Marketing majors and individuals who specialize in Marketing Analytics would be great for this role, though anyone with a willingness to do some research and has creative ideas will be a good fit. Essentially, a Fashion Merchandiser is responsible for trend forecasting and analysis, in order to uniquely come up with creative solutions to then implement marketing of a designer or label’s product(s).
Fashion PR: This is a job for the more diligent, driven, and determined. Requiring a great deal of time-management and typically longer work hours, this role entails managing the image of (a) brand(s). In reality, this is a lot more complicated than it may sound. A PR expert will manage not only relationships between a brand and it’s influencers, but also relations with several publications and news outlets so as to render a positive brand image in the minds of consumers. They organize fashion shows, events, and have immensely sharp organizational skills and decisiveness.
Fashion Journalist: For the individual who always has an opinion, and is able to reference the latest trends and current events, this likely is the direction they are headed. With strong writing skills and an ability to articulate ideas concisely and in a captivating manner, a fashion journalist has a considerable amount of creative freedom in their role of writing for news publications, magazines, and online journals.
Production Manager: A Production Manager has a role somewhat similar to the Merchandiser, and sometimes the two roles are combined into one. Specifically, being a production manager necessitates utter knowledge of a company’s supply chain and ability to to excel in technology and operations management to guarantee high customer satisfaction and retention rates.
Personal Stylist: A pretty straightforward role. A personal stylist works with several clients to  provide their expertise on looks based on the respective client’s unique attributes. A personal stylist is the magic behind the beauty and often may even be a personal shopper for their clients. If you are great at picking out pieces for your friends, family, and peers, and you maintain your relationships well, this could be the space for you.
Content Creator/Blogger/Influencer: The most recent job title to hit the industry. You own this if the aspect you love most about fashion is the perspective you have on it. This occupation has by far the most creative freedom, but one should never start out thinking of this as a job. Remember, if you are interested in blogging, start it on the side as a passion or creative outlet. Continue interning, assisting, or working in the industry. In fact, working another role in fashion will give you a unique advantage and perspective for your content! And if your platform takes off to the point where more than 90% of your typical workday is occupied, then perhaps you can start to consider this as a full-time occupation, and congratulate yourself on your success of idea-sharing! If not, do not be disheartened. Continue blogging, sharing your voice, and give yourself the space to just enjoy the ride, because tomorrow is never known!
Other common roles in the industry include Art Director, Model, Market Researcher, Event Planner, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, and many more…
I want to encourage all of you to just do. Regardless of where you may think you fit in within the industry, seize any fashion opportunity that comes your way, especially early on, because learning your strengths and weaknesses will help you a great deal later in life. -MSWhich career are you most interested in learning more about? Comment below!