Breaking into the fashion industry can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re aiming for your first role as a Fashion Design Person. It’s a common struggle: you need experience to get a job, but how do you gain experience without one? This “chicken and egg” dilemma can leave aspiring fashion design persons feeling lost and sending out countless applications that seem to vanish into thin air.
The truth is, many fashion design programs focus heavily on the creative aspects of design but often lack practical guidance on securing that crucial first job. You’re taught to design, but not necessarily how to become a working fashion design person.
So, what’s the solution? The encouraging reality is that everyone starts somewhere. Every successful fashion design person once had zero experience. New talent breaks into the industry every year. The key is understanding the strategies they use. There are three core approaches that can significantly increase your chances of landing that first fashion design job.
Strategy #1: Showcase Commercial Fashion Designs in Your Portfolio
Fashion schools nurture your artistic vision, which is valuable. However, the fashion industry, at its core, is about creating and selling clothes. A successful fashion design person understands this balance. The vast majority of clothing sold in stores isn’t high art; it’s commercially viable apparel for everyday consumers.
While your student portfolio might be filled with stunning, conceptual designs, brands are primarily looking for commercial viability. They want to see that you, as a fashion design person, can create designs that will sell.
To make your portfolio commercially focused, research 5-10 mainstream brands you admire. Analyze their current collections. Notice the practical designs and details geared towards everyday wearers, not just runway models. Runway pieces are often for show, designed for marketing and PR, and rarely make it to retail.
Industry experts consistently emphasize this point. Bjorn Bengtson, a design director with over 20 years of experience, advises aspiring fashion design persons to include commercially relevant projects in their portfolios. He highlights that academic work is often too conceptual and suggests developing pieces that align with the commercial aesthetic of your target companies.
Carla Louise Stout, an international fashion designer, experienced this firsthand. Initially facing rejections due to a portfolio full of conceptual university projects, she shifted her focus. By creating self-directed projects reflecting current market trends, she quickly landed her first paid fashion design job.
Shellie Simpson, a Talent Director specializing in fashion recruitment, echoes this advice. She notes that fashion school graduates often overemphasize academic projects. For entry-level roles, particularly in corporate or mass-market companies, demonstrating practical skills gained through internships is crucial. This includes proficiency in software like Photoshop and Illustrator, flat sketching abilities, and understanding tech packs. Even basic internship tasks showcase valuable real-world experience.
Strategy #2: Craft Customized Resumes and Cover Letters for Each Application
In the competitive fashion industry, generic applications are easily overlooked. To truly stand out as a fashion design person, personalization is key. Avoid the temptation to send out hundreds of identical resumes and cover letters. This approach is ineffective and treats job applications like a numbers game.
Imagine two scenarios: Option A: Mass-distributing 500 generic resumes hoping one lands in the right hands. Option B: Hand-delivering 10-20 meticulously customized resumes to brands you genuinely want to work for. Option B is the clear winner.
Customizing your resume, cover letter, and application for each specific job drastically increases your chances of getting noticed. Kirby Nuñez, who landed his dream job at Puma without a fashion design degree, is a testament to this strategy. After numerous rejections using generic applications, he changed his approach.
On his seventh attempt applying to Puma, Kirby customized his application, expressing his genuine interest in the brand and highlighting relevant projects and initiatives. This personalized effort made all the difference, securing him an internship that transitioned into a full-time menswear designer role.
Many companies use automated systems to filter applications based on keywords before a human even sees them. Malie Bingham, a senior designer at Phillips-Van Heusen, emphasizes the importance of keyword optimization. Carefully analyze the job description, identify key skills and requirements, and ensure your resume incorporates these keywords. This helps your application bypass automated filters and reach a human reviewer. Without relevant keywords, your application might disappear into a digital “black hole.”
Strategy #3: Go the Extra Mile to Stand Out
The fashion industry is highly competitive. To truly become a sought-after fashion design person, you need to differentiate yourself from the crowd. While customized applications are essential, going above and beyond can significantly amplify your impact. It demonstrates initiative, dedication, and a willingness to “do the extra credit”—qualities highly valued by employers.
Embrace your creativity as a designer and think outside the box. Consider these examples to make your application memorable:
- Mini Portfolio Booklets: Mail physical mini portfolios with your resume and a handwritten note directly to hiring managers. This personal touch can make a strong impression, as demonstrated by Malie Bingham’s success.
- Bold Resume Presentation: One individual famously plastered a large-scale resume near a company advertising a job opening. While unconventional, it showcased boldness and creative thinking, leading to an interview.
- Custom Branded Merchandise: Create a t-shirt with a catchy slogan highlighting why you’re the ideal fashion design person for the role. Send it with your resume and a personalized note. Online services like Zazzle make this affordable and easy.
- Personalized Video Introduction: In today’s digital age, a short, engaging video introducing yourself, expressing your passion for the brand, and explaining how you can contribute can be highly effective.
In a digital world saturated with online applications, reverting to traditional methods like snail mail can be a refreshing way to stand out. The key is to be different, creative, and memorable. Even slightly unusual or humorous approaches can be effective. Remember to research and address your application to the hiring manager or department director directly, rather than just HR.
Bonus Strategy: Leveraging Non-Fashion Experience
Dior Bediako, a career expert, emphasizes the importance of identifying transferable skills from non-fashion experiences. Even if your background seems unrelated, you likely possess skills relevant to a fashion design role.
For example, if a job requires organization and attention to detail, highlight experiences where you demonstrated these skills. Managing a fashion show, for instance, showcases organizational abilities. Retail experience involving stock management demonstrates Excel and spreadsheet skills. Staying current with trends through magazines and blogs showcases your eye for color and style. Entry-level positions recognize that you are still learning. Emphasize your passion, initiative, and transferable skills to make your application compelling.
Bonus Strategy: Turning Internships into Full-Time Roles
Internships are invaluable for gaining experience and building connections. To maximize your chances of converting an internship into a full-time fashion design position, consistently go above and beyond.
Exceptional performance and strong professional relationships are crucial in the competitive fashion industry. Build a positive impression from day one by consistently exceeding expectations and “doing the extra credit.” This includes staying late to help colleagues, offering assistance when needed, and proactively seeking tasks. Kirby Nunez’s internship success at Puma stemmed from his willingness to go the extra mile, ultimately leading to a full-time job offer. By making your colleagues’ jobs easier, you become a valued team member and increase your chances of future opportunities.
Bonus Strategy: The “Side Door” Approach
If you’re struggling to land a direct fashion design role, consider entering the industry through a “side door.” This involves taking a position within a fashion company in a different department, such as administration or customer service.
Once inside, excel in your role and actively seek opportunities to gain design-related experience. One success story involves a customer service representative who, through exceptional performance and initiative, transitioned into a design department role within the same company. Landing your dream fashion design job takes time, effort, and persistence. However, by implementing these strategies, demonstrating determination, and confidently pursuing opportunities, you can significantly increase your chances of success and establish yourself as a successful fashion design person.
