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Careers in
Fashion
Career in fashion does
not mean merely dealing in clothes but designing of
accessories such as jewellery, leather goods and other
things. There are careers to be made in the beauty business
and modelling, closely related to the fashion industry. For
those interested in photography, there are opportunities to
become a fashion photographer. In fashion shows, one can be a
choreographer. With so many opportunities, the industry can
take a lot of talented people. Think of a career in fashion
designing provided you have the interest and are willing to
work hard.
The various options available are:
Fashion Design: This is a wide term used for stitching and
designing clothes. One must have an artistic flair, a sense
of colours and creativity. The Graduate Design Courses
offered by NIFT are three years long, but some institutes
also have a one-year course. Apart from the theory of design,
the work of internaitonal designers is taught, along with
textiles and costumes. At the end of the course, students
have the opportunity to organise a fashion show and hold an
exhibition of their work. At the NIFT, Knitwear and Leather
Design and Technology are separate two-year courses. There is
also a two-year course in Garment Manufacturing Technology
and another in Apparel Marketing and Merchandising.
Accessory Design: Accessories consist of leather goods,
footwear, gift wear, table wear, precious and costume
jewellery. These things are an essential part of fashion, as
they enhance the dress one is wearing. The three-year
programme at NIFT emphasises on application of traditional
Indian craft base in a contemporary milieu. The JD Institute
has a 16-week Jewellery Design programme in which designing
and marketing jewellery is covered.
Garment Manufacturing Technology: The curriculum involves
developing skills in pattern making, garment construction and
production machinery. Special emphasis is given to input in
textiles, process technology, production and quality
management. Students are trained in software in the areas of
design, product development, planning and execution.
Beauty and Modelling: The winning of international titles by
Indian girls has given a boost to the beauty business.
However, being pretty or smart is just not enough. A model
has to be chiseled and groomed by a team of professionals.
There could be a designer, choreographer, hairstylist,
dentist, dietician and a host of others involved in creating
a modern model. Be prepared to invest heavily in clothes and
grooming: an investment that most families are unable or
unwilling to make. The way to proceed is by getting a good
portfolio made and registering with reputed agencies. One can
join a modelling school as well. But be wary of unscrupulous
operators. Also, remember that this can never be a full-time
work.
Fashion photography: Another area which has emerged from the
fashion revolution is that of fashion photography. Fashion
photographers play a vital role in enhancing the work of a
designer. Exporters and advertising agencies are looking for
qualified photographers who can add to the visual appeal of
their products.
Good photographers can earn between Rs 3,000 to Rs 15,000 per
day. It is advisable to start as an apprentice and gradually
work one's way up. Fashion photography is a special branch of
photography that involves style shoots, props and models. It
has emerged as a career only recently. Along with advertising
photography it has now become a line in itself.
A number of institutes train people for fashion photography.
The fee for the15-week programme at JD Institute is Rs 4,500
and involves location shoots and interaction with industry
professionals.
Apparel Marketing and Merchandising: Perhaps the most
important aspect of fashion is marketing and merchandising,
since it converts the fashion business into an economically
viable and profitable proposition. The programme provides
trained professionals in the field of international
marketing, retail management, export merchandising and export
operations.
Once you have decided which course you want to join, select
an institute where you want to do it from. Some addresses are
given below. While many institutes admit students only on the
basis of an interview, you have to prepare for a written test
to get into NIFT. The eligibility for most courses is Class
12 but for Garment Manufacturing Technologyand Apparel
Marketing, it is graduation with minimum 50% marks. The test
is conducted in February every year and interviews are held
in April. Results are out by May for the session which begins
in July every year.
The written test consists of General Ability and Creative
Ability, both carrying 30% weight each. the Situation Test
and Interview carry 20% weight each. For Apparel Marketing,
there is a Managerial Ability Test instead of the Creative
Ability Test. There are 30 seats in each course.
To prepare for the General Ability portion of the test, doing
tests published in the Competition Master help, besides
building up General Knowledge. The Creative Ability Test
consists of questions that test how far the candidate can
think. An object like a sieve may be given and candidates
asked to write what it represents to them. Or a clothing
piece may be given and candidates have to think what it can
be used for. Tests on colour schemes may be given as well.
The idea is not to see the apparent representation of the
object but what it can be used for, by running the mind in
new and uncharted areas.
Future prospects
The garment business is growing in India and there is a great
scope for designers. Do not, however, expect to become a
celebrity overnight. Nor should you get carried away by the
glamour. Much of the fashion is hard work, especially if one
does not want to be labelled as a fraud. The industry can do
well with some original designers who do not plagiarise
designs of others. The market would be tremendous for an
original thinker. Perhaps the international market is waiting
for some good work by Indians so that they can be taken
seriously abroad as well. Professionals also need to get out
of the thinking that they are nothing but tailors for high
society ladies.
The first option for a trained designer is to work in a
manufacturing company or an export house. Salaries begin at
Rs 5,000 per month but go up very fast. Good designers earn
very good salaries, once their work is recognised. Export
houses pay very well too. Many people gain experience and
then start out on one's own. One can also act as an agent for
foreign buying houses, which is very lucrative indeed. Or,
one can think of starting one's own boutique. It all depends
on what you want to do.
Where to Study?
The National Institute of Fashion Technology has courses in
New Delhi, Gandhinagar, Chennai, Calcutta, Hyderabad, Mumbai
and Bangalore. It offers the professional courses and also
holds short-term industry sponsored courses. Contact address
at New Delhi NIFT Campus, Near Gulmohar Park, Hauz Khas, New
Delhi 110 016.
The JD Institute of Fashion Technology has branches in
Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Agra, Ludhiana, Mohali, Indore,
Raipur, Bangalore, Seconderabad, Vishakhapatnam and
Bhubaneshwar. It has courses ranging from Fashion Design,
Merchandising, Illustration, Visual Merchandising, Fashion
Photography, Manufacturing Technology and others. Contact
address of their Head Office: Ruby Aptt. MV Road, Near Vishal
Hall, Andheri East, Mumbai_400069.
The Pearl Academy of Fashion offers two- year programmes in
Fashion Design, Merchandising and a two-year postgraduate
integrated Fashion Technology Programme. Contact address:
C56/2, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase II, New Delhi_110 020.
The International Institute of Fashion Technology offers
three-year diplomas in Textile Management and Commercial Art,
two-year diplomas in Garment Merchandising and Production,
and several one-year diplomas. Contact address: H-12, South
Extension Part 1, New Delhi 110 049.
Diplomas are also offered by polytechnics all over the
country.
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