Springsteel L.J. Becoming a fashion designer

Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2013. — 302 p. — ISBN: 978-1-118-14382-7.
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Becoming a Fashion Designer is a dynamic and comprehensive book imparting unprecedented insider tips from top fashion designers, industry insiders and prominent executives, and expert advice on establishing a fashion design career. It will take you step-by-step through the process and will become your go-to reference. Whether you are exploring a career in fashion design or are certain you want to become a designer, you will learn all the information necessary to realize your dream. If you’re already working as a fashion designer, but are interested in taking your design career to the next level, or if you’re ready to launch your own collection, you will be provided with information to help facilitate your career dreams. Anyone who has ever tried to launch a fashion design career knows how grueling it can be.
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The fashion industry is a highly prominent field, which creates a decidedly competitive environment that is greatly guarded, secretive, and difficult to infiltrate and navigate. Of the various job opportunities available in the fashion industry, the job of fashion designer ranks as the most popular position, making the competition even stronger.
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The book pays special attention to this and demonstrates several ways in which an aspiring fashion designer can stand out from the competition.
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An Introduction to a Career in Fashion Design
What Is Fashion Design?
What Do Fashion Designers Do?
History of Fashion Design: Then and Now.
The Worldwide Fashion Industry by the Numbers.
Embracing the World of Fashion.
Finding Balance.
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The Education for a Fashion Design Career
Choosing a Collegiate Educational Program.
Undergraduate Education.
The Value of Internships.
Studying Abroad.
Postgraduate Education.
Continuing Education.
The Job Market.
Determing Your Design Specialty.
Personal Branding.
Portfolio Development.
Creating a Resume that Pops.
Networking Your Way to a Job Offer.
Tried-and-True Job Search Strategie.
Perfecting the Job Interview.
Negotiating the Job Offer.
The Fashion Design Process
Conceptual Development.
Patternmaking.
Sample Creation.
Finalization, Presentation, and Hand-Off.
Launching Your Own Fashion Collection
Writing a Business Plan.
Choosing Type of Ownership.
Defining Your Brand.
Protecting Your Designs.
Creating Accounting, Budgeting, and Bookkeeping Systems.
Hiring Employees, Contractors, and Interns.
Developing a Marketing Plan.
Establishing a Sales and Order Fulfillment Strategy.
Strategic Business Trends in the Fashion Industry
Outsourcing and Globalization.
Corporate Social Responsibility.
Appendices
Professional Organizations, Associations, and Councils.
Fashion Industry Networking Websites.
Professional Networking Websites.
Social Networking Websites.
Professional Trade Publications.
Online Portfolio Websites.
Color and Trend Forecasting Companies.
Broadcast and Cable Television Programming with a Fashion Theme.
Full-Feature Movies with a Fashion Theme.
Documentaries with a Fashion Theme.
Major Fashion Magazines.